Shea Levin — text status

Iran has adopted new tactics for attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz to keep global oil prices high and influence the upcoming U.S. midterm elections, two senior Iranian officials told Reuters. The strategy, approved by Iran’s top leadership, began roughly 10 days ago and involves changes to the frequency and methods of attacks. Iran also plans to expand attacks into the Gulf of Oman and surrounding waters. One official said Tehran aims to prevent President Trump from lowering oil prices ahead of the November elections and undermine U.S. efforts to stabilize energy markets.