Iran prepared to mine Strait of Hormuz: Report

Two US officials said Iran loaded naval mines onto vessels in the Gulf last month, raising Washington’s concerns that Tehran was preparing to close the Strait of Hormuz following Israeli strikes on targets across Iran, according to Reuters.

The previously unreported preparations, detected by US intelligence, took place shortly after Israel’s initial missile strike on Iran on June 13, according to the officials, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity.

The loading of the mines, though not deployed in the strait, suggested Tehran may have been serious about shutting one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, a move that could have escalated the already growing conflict and severely disrupted global trade.

Roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas shipments pass through the Strait of Hormuz. A closure would likely trigger a sharp spike in global energy prices.

However, oil prices have dropped more than 10% since the US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, partly due to relief that the conflict has not severely disrupted crude flows.

On June 22, shortly after the US bombed three major Iranian nuclear sites in a bid to cripple Tehran’s program, Iran’s parliament reportedly backed a motion to close the strait.

But the vote was non-binding, and any final decision on closure would fall to Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, according to Iranian state-run Press TV at the time.

Iran has previously threatened to close the strait but has never followed through.

Reuters could not determine the exact timing of when Iran loaded the mines during the aerial conflict with Israel. If deployed, the mines would have prevented ships from transiting the waterway.

It also remains unclear whether the mines have since been removed.

The sources did not disclose how the United States confirmed the mines had been loaded onto Iranian vessels. Such intelligence is typically gathered via satellite imagery, clandestine human sources, or a combination of both.

A White House official, when asked to comment on Iran’s preparations, said: “Thanks to the President’s brilliant execution of Operation Midnight Hammer, successful campaign against the Houthis, and maximum pressure campaign, the Strait of Hormuz remains open, freedom of navigation has been restored, and Iran has been significantly weakened.”

The US Department of Defense has yet to respond to a request for comment. The Iranian mission to the United Nations also did not reply to requests for comment.