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Iran Keeps Up Pace of Strikes With Attack on Brand New LR2 Tanker

Shahed
Iran's low-cost attack drones have played a prominent role in its campaign to restrict Hormuz traffic (IRGC file image)

Published Oct 4, 2026 3:14 PM by The Maritime Executive

On Sunday, Iran hit another tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, extending a fast-paced run of attacks on the "shuttle" shipping trade between Gulf oil producers and the STS transfer zone in the Gulf of Oman. 

Vanguard Tech has identified the latest tanker hit as the Lipsi, a brand new LR2 linked to a Greek operator and a Chinese owner. Industry media sources have reported that the vessel sustained engine room damage. 

Over the past week, the pace of successful Iranian strikes has approached a rate of nearly one tanker per day, following weeks of relative security. The attacks put pressure on the steady flow of tanker traffic through the waterway, which had recently rebounded to more than 12 million barrels per day - enough to restore total Gulf export volume to nearly prewar levels.

There may be technical factors behind the increased hit rate. Iran's ship-targeting capability appears to be getting better, one U.S. official told the Wall Street Journal.   

An absence of deterrence may also be allowing Iran greater latitude to strike shipping. After initially pursuing a "head-for-an-eye" strategy of damaging or sinking multiple Iranian tankers every time Iran hit a GCC-linked tanker, the U.S. has ceased all (publicized) counterattacks on the Iran-linked merchant fleet.  

So far, a substantial volume of tanker traffic through the U.S.-protected southern waterway continues despite Iran's push to increase the pace of attacks, satellite imaging shows. Naval analyst Tom Bike has identified three disabled tankers in the vicinity of the Musandam Peninsula and at least four additional tankers making a daylight transit through the channel.