Iranian Newspaper Calls for Mass Attacks on Oil Tankers Amid Escalating Maritime Confrontation

A hardline Iranian newspaper has called for mass attacks on oil tankers in response to any attack on an Iranian vessel. The Kayhan newspaper argued that responding to attacks on a one-for-one basis would not provide sufficient deterrence and instead proposed a strategy of overwhelming retaliation.

The editorial, titled 'Tankers for a tanker,' suggested that Iran declare all accessible tankers in the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and beyond as potential targets if an Iranian tanker is attacked. This, according to Kayhan, would create a shortage of available tankers and disrupt global oil supplies, potentially triggering a major oil supply shortage and sending prices sharply higher.

Kayhan presented this proposal as a deterrence strategy rather than an attempt to widen the war. However, it emphasized that the threat would only be credible if Tehran demonstrated its preparedness to carry out such an action.