Iran Showcases 'Swarm Tactics' with Speedboats, Challenging US Military: Shipping Risks in the Strait of Hormuz Surge

On April 24, Iran released a video of speedboats boarding ships, claiming to strengthen its control over the Strait of Hormuz and demonstrating its ‘swarm tactics’ capabilities—conducting rapid assaults and dispersed strikes with hundreds of high-speed boats, posing a high level of uncertainty to shipping. During the incident, two commercial vessels (MSC Francesca and Epaminondas) were seized, highlighting Iran’s shift to asymmetric warfare following damage to its conventional navy. Analysts point out that this system, which combines speedboats, missiles, drones, and electronic interference, has become a core maritime deterrence strategy for Iran. Former President Trump downplayed the related threats, stating that Iran still hopes to reach an agreement but warned of military action if talks are refused; meanwhile, the US military continues to implement blockade and interception operations at sea. Industry experts generally believe that compared to large vessels, small speedboats are more difficult to track and eliminate, significantly increasing the costs of shipping disruptions and insurance, thereby posing a sustained impact on the global energy transport chain.