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Retired Sailors Warn of Escalating Risks in Hormuz

4/13/2026

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Sailors Warn Escalation

Retired sailor Arild Syvertsen says memories of danger from the 1980s tanker war in the Strait of Hormuz are resurfacing amid the crisis.
Syvertsen notes tactics from that era—sailing at night and reducing radar use—that may be used by modern tankers to avoid detection.
Retired sailor Olav Myklebust highlights risks under US naval protection, citing past incidents with significant casualties.
Both men fear that military intervention could escalate the conflict.

Left

IMO Chief Rejects Iran's Tolls

International Maritime Organization (IMO) chief Arsenio Dominguez says Iran's tolls on the Strait of Hormuz are illegal and must be rejected.
The stance comes as United States–Iran ceasefire talks continue without an agreement.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced a blockade against toll-paying vessels, raising concerns about oil prices and detentions.
Around 130 container vessels are trapped in the Strait, disrupting global shipping and Philippine exports, while 20,000 seafarers remain stranded.

History

Historical Context

The Tanker War, part of the Iran-Iraq War from 1981 to 1988, saw Iraq and Iran attacking oil tankers in the Persian Gulf, with Iraq launching 283 attacks. The U.S. intervened in 1987 through Operation Earnest Will to protect Kuwaiti vessels. Today, rising tensions and U.S. sanctions against Iran threaten global shipping, echoing the past conflicts that disrupted oil supplies and escalated military involvement in the region.

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Sailors Warn Escalation

Retired sailor Arild Syvertsen says memories of danger from the 1980s tanker war in the Strait of Hormuz are resurfacing amid the crisis.
Syvertsen notes tactics from that era—sailing at night and reducing radar use—that may be used by modern tankers to avoid detection.
Retired sailor Olav Myklebust highlights risks under US naval protection, citing past incidents with significant casualties.
Both men fear that military intervention could escalate the conflict.

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