Swarm Warfare Option
Iran doesn’t need to sink every tanker; just mine it, harass with speedboats, drones, or anti-ship missiles. One day of disruption?
Oil jumps and gas in the US. Global markets freak: inflation spikes, stocks tank, China and Europe scream.
US carriers like the Ford or Lincoln are right there, but Iran’s got swarms—cheap drones, hypersonics like Fattah—to poke holes without full war.
Second, proxy swarm: Hezbollah rains rockets on Israel, Houthis drone Red Sea ships, Iraqi militias target US troops.
Israel intercepts most—like these missile trails over Tel Aviv—but some get through, casualties mount, public pressure builds.
If Iran absorbs hits—bunkers, dispersed missiles—while regime rallies “resistance.”
Their goal is to drag it out months.
US public tires of body bags and pump prices; Trump faces midterms, cuts losses, negotiates.