Iran's security chief, Mohsen Rezaei, stated on Sunday evening that the oil shuttle system in the Strait of Hormuz, operated by Arab countries with US assistance, is now a clear target for Tehran. The system is designed to help Gulf states export oil if most shipping in the strait is shut down following a US and Israeli attack on Iran.

Rezaei claimed that US Central Command, with the assistance of the UAE military, is using small vessels to transfer oil to large tankers, and said that Iran has been striking five to six participating vessels every night for weeks. He warned of a severe response if Iran's energy and civilian infrastructure is attacked again, threatening to strike UAE and US-related cables, data centers, and AI facilities around the Strait of Hormuz. Windward data shows that at least 15 vessels have been struck as of October. According to its third-quarter statistics, 87% of the 45 vessels struck by Iran were oil tankers, approximately 47% belonged to the national fleets of Gulf Arab energy companies, and 93% of the attacks occurred in the Strait of Hormuz.

These attacks have led to a significant increase in shipping costs. Windward data shows that in the last week of September, 31 vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz daily, far below the pre-war figure of 138.