Iran is Reportedly Shifting Tactics to Increase Traffic Disruption in the Strait of Hormuz

Iran is resorting to new tactics to disrupt traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a new report.

The tactics in question were not revealed by senior Iranian officials who talked to Reuters, but they seek to prevent the U.S. from bringing down oil prices ahead of the midterms.

They did say that the pace and type of attacks have changed and are targeting more vessels seeking to transit through the waterway.

However, a U.S. official told the outlet that Tehran has begun using unarmed spotters in small boats to find potential targets.

The Nicaragua-flagged Petro Dolphin was struck by a drone on Sunday, Iran International reported. Two other vessels were struck during the weekend as well.

Iran had announced on Friday it would escalate hostilities, with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps saying in a statement that it will now pursue vessels that don't transit the routes it has approved even outside the waterway and "throughout the entire region," and that "its punishment will be definitive."

Another report noted that Iranian officials have suggested sending ground troops to countries in the region if a full-fledged war with the U.S. resumes.

The Wall Street Journal detailed that the possibility is part of different options weighed by Tehran to expand the war in such a scenario.

The report did not specify which countries would be targeted, but officials have also warned that Saudi oil facilities could also be targeted. And Mohsen Rezaei, Iran's top national security official, publicly threatened the United Arab Emirates as well.

Different reports claimed that President Donald Trump and his national security team discussed resuming the campaign against Tehran in the coming weeks. Axios also detailed that the Pentagon instructed the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) to conclude preparations to that end.

The outlet went on to cite sources familiar with the matter, who said that if the campaign resumes it will include large bombings of Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear targets. It also recalled that Trump had said he hadn't made a decision on whether to attack Iran 24 hours before beginning strikes, and he had already made a decision by then.

A White House official reacted to the report saying that the U.S. "is in a very strong position with control of the Strait of Hormuz and the Iranian economy collapsing."

"Iran has been decimated, and things will go one of two ways: the easy way or the hard way," the official added.

Trump rejected attacking Iran before the midterms on Thursday. In a social media publication, Trump said the U.S. is having "productive discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran." And that "while Iran is in very bad condition, both Economically and Militarily, and while the Blockade will remain in full force and effect, with Oil flowing in Record Numbers of Barrels through the Hormuz Strait (22 Million Barrels, last night alone, with not one barrel coming from, or going to, Iran!), we will not be attacking Iran at any time prior to the Midterm Elections to be held in the United States on November 3rd."