Iran's use of swarms of fast boats to seize two containerships near the Strait of Hormuz has exposed vulnerabilities for commercial shipping and challenged US claims of neutralizing Iran's naval threat, reported Reuters.

US President Donald Trump stated that Iran's conventional navy had been largely destroyed but acknowledged that its fast-attack craft had not been considered a major threat. He warned that any such vessels approaching the US blockade outside the strait would be eliminated using systems deployed against drug boats in the Caribbean and Pacific.

Analysts noted that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) equip the boats with heavy machine guns, rocket launchers, and anti-ship missiles, forming part of a layered threat alongside shore-based missiles, drones, mines, and electronic interference. Greek maritime security company Diaplous indicated that these tactics create uncertainty and slow decision-making.

Maritime specialists estimate that Iran had hundreds, possibly thousands, of such boats before the war, often hidden in coastal tunnels or among civilian vessels. Dryad Global reported that about 100 may have been destroyed since February. Iran has utilized fast boats at least seven times since 2019.

The boats are effective in hit-and-run attacks but vulnerable in direct clashes with warships, according to defense intelligence company Janes. High winds and swells limit their use in summer, while guided missile strikes could destroy them; however, shoulder-fired launchers pose risks to low-flying aircraft.

Shipping faces further disruption and higher insurance costs. Analysts assert that Iran has perfected asymmetric tactics since its navy was crippled in the 1980s, with fast boats now forming the backbone of its naval strategy.