Targeting tankers shifts Iran-US escalation to economic front, analyst says

Political analyst Dr. Khaled Batarfi said that "targeting tankers shifts the escalation between Iran and the United States from military sites to the lifeblood of the Iranian economy, posing a threat to maritime security and trade in the region."

Batarfi added, in a call with Al-Ikhbariya Radio, that this targeting represents a qualitative shift, as the confrontation is no longer limited to military sites, missile platforms, bases, and installations, but has now moved to Iran’s economic arteries.

He continued, "The message from the United States is clear: if Iran uses military force against American troops, the response will not be limited to military action but will also target the sources of funding for war. This is the first time the confrontation has linked military and economic warfare."

The analyst also warned that "even more dangerous is that draining tanker resources could trigger a wider cycle of retaliation, as Iran could respond in kind against tankers linked to the United States and its allies. This would turn the waters of the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz into a direct threat to global energy and trade."

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