Iranian fast boats fire on tanker in Strait of Hormuz, closing it to traffic again

Iranian fast boats attack a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz. Analysis of the tactic, Iran's internal contradictions and the impact on oil.

English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published

Iranian fast boats close the Strait of Hormuz with gunfire at a tanker

On 18 April 2026, Iranian fast boats peine fire on a tanker and a container ship in waters between the islands of Qeshm and Larak, triggering the temporary closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The incident, reported by El Mundo, marks a tactical shift: Tehran has turned to fast attack boats instead of drones, its weapon of choice until now. Why?

Iran's internal contradiction
While Iran's foreign minister was calling for negotiations, the army chief was issuing bellicose threats. This duality is no accident. The military leadership, decentralised after its top commanders were killed in Israeli airstrikes, is acting autonomously. Some analysts argue that this decentralisation is an advantage in asymmetric warfare; others say it reflects a loss of control and internal contradictions. What nobody disputes is that the lack of coordination between Iran's factions has become evident.

Who is really winning the war?
One school of thought claims that Iran, despite the bombings, is winning a long-term war of attrition, like Vietnam or Afghanistan. They argue that the US and Israel win battles but are losing the strategic war, and that world public opinion favours Iran. The other side replies that if Iran were winning, it would not be negotiating, and that accepting the negotiating table is a sign of weakness. Moreover, Iran's economy has suffered sanctions for 47 years: the war has only made its situation worse.

The economic factor and OPEC
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz sparked antiestéticars over oil, but petrol prices in Spain (according to data from 18 April) barely reacted. The market seems to be pricing in that the conflict will not escalate into a total blockade. However, any new disruption could strain global supply. Meanwhile, analysts debate whether Iran is using the fast boats as a negotiating pressure tactic or as a last resort after losing its drone capability.


The question that remains: if Iran has won the war, as some claim, why is its leadership sending such contradictory signals?

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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (27 replies).

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