Iran is signaling that it may use mines to disrupt the Strait of Hormuz, US sources said
Washington – Iran may be preparing to install sea mines The Strait of Hormuz in an attempt to further disrupt the vital shipping lane, US officials told CBS News.
U.S. officials said Iran uses small craft that can carry two to three mines each to place them in the mine. Although Iran’s mines are not publicly known, estimates over the years have ranged from nearly 2,000 to 6,000 sea mines produced mostly by Iran, China or Russia. The officials spoke to CBS News but did not want to be identified because they are not authorized to speak publicly to the media.
President Trump posted on Truth Social Tuesday afternoon, “If Iran has removed any mines in the Strait of Hormuz, and we have no reports that they are doing so, we want them removed, ASAP!”
He also threatened, “If for any reason the mines are placed, and they are not removed immediately, the military results in Iran will be at an unprecedented level,” and added, “If, on the other hand, they remove what was placed, it will be a big step in the right direction!”
CNN reported on Tuesday that Iran has begun laying mines on the crisis.
On Monday, Mr. Trump had warned Iran of the consequences of stopping commercial shipping in the Strait, writing on Truth Social, “If Iran does anything to stop the flow of oil inside the Strait of Hormuz, it will be hit by the United States of America twenty times more than it has been hit so far.”
In a press conference at the Pentagon on Tuesday morning, General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that the US Central Command, which oversees military operations against Iran, continues to hunt and strike “mine-laying vessels” and “mine storage facilities.”
At the mouth of the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy sources. Oil tankers carrying crude from countries including Saudi Arabia, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates must pass through narrow waterways to reach global markets, making the channel critical to the continued flow of energy, as 20% of the world’s oil supply passes through this channel.
Even a small disruption in the crisis could have a negative impact on oil prices and the global economy.
During the “Tanker War,” which was part of the larger Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s, Iran often placed ship mines on the main transportation routes used by oil tankers. Last year, Reuters reported that the Iranian military had loaded sea mines on ships in the Persian Gulf, which sparked tensions between Washington and Tehran, following Israel’s air strikes against Iran during the 12-Day War.
As the war continued, the major marine insurance companies withdrew. NorthStandard, the London P&I Club and the American Club have warned that they will suspend coverage of vessels operating in Iranian waters and parts of the Gulf, citing the growing risk that vessels could be caught in the conflict, according to CBS News. reporting last week.
