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The US protected ships from Iran in the Strait of Hormuz in the ‘80s. Could it again?
The U.S. Navy has long been familiar with the small boat tactics deployed by Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard
Jon Gambrell
Friday 24 April 2026 08:56 BST
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A cargo ship sails in the Persian Gulf toward the Strait of Hormuz, Wednesday, April 22, 2026. (AP Photo)
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A cargo ship sails in the Persian Gulf toward the Strait of Hormuz, Wednesday, April 22, 2026. (AP Photo) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
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The spectre of naval mines and Iranian speedboats targeting oil tankers in the Persian Gulf, with the United States caught in the crossfire, evokes a chilling echo of a past conflict. This isn't the current, fragile ceasefire between Iran and the US, but rather the "Tanker War" of the 1980s.
During Iran's war with Iraq, Tehran targeted shipping, prompting US warships to escort Kuwaiti tankers, ensuring crude oil flow to global markets. Today, with 20% of the world's traded oil and natural gas typically transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a similar, more aggressive US posture to protect vessels could be considered. President Donald Trump recently ordered the military to "shoot and kill" small Iranian boats.
However, replicating the 1980s escort model in the Strait of Hormuz presents significant hurdles. Military technology has advanced considerably, and the US lacks the clear, narrow objectives that characterised its 1980s intervention. Furthermore, it remains uncertain whether international shippers would feel secure under an American Navy escort, given the US's current status as a combatant.
A container ship is seen in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Qeshm Island, Iran, Saturday, April 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Asghar Besharati)
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A container ship is seen in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Qeshm Island, Iran, Saturday, April 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Asghar Besharati) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
The U.S. Navy has long been familiar with the small boat tactics deployed by Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which has adapted to international sanctions blocking its ability to access military vessels by using smaller civilian ships for military purposes.