Reuters։ Iran is changing tactics with the aim of influencing the upcoming US elections

Iran is deploying new tactics to target ships sailing through the Strait of Hormuz as it seeks to keep oil prices high and influence the US midterm elections, two senior Iranian officials told Reuters.

The two officials declined to provide details of the new strategy, but one said that Iran had started using different offensive tactics against vessels it considered in violation of its restrictions about 10 days ago, adding that this had led to an increase in attacks on such ships.

The strategy included a change in the type as well as the pace of attacks, with one goal being to influence the outcome of the US vote, they said.

"The aim is to frustrate efforts by the United States and its allies to bring ⁠down global oil prices," one of the two officials said.

A US military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Iran had changed tactics․

US President Donald Trump has been weighing next steps against Iran, but has said he will not attack again before the vote.

Tehran has tried to exert control over the Strait of Hormuz since the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28. It has restricted passage through the waterway, which carried about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade before the war, in an effort to gain leverage over Washington.