Iran expands naval mines in Hormuz Strait — Axios
Photo: Iran has stepped up the laying of mines in the Strait of Hormuz (Getty Images)
This week, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy laid new mines in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Axios.
"The military standoff in the world's most important oil chokepoint is escalating, with Iran laying mines and attacking commercial ships on one side and the U.S. tightening its naval blockade on the other," Axios writes.
According to the agency's sources, the US military is closely monitoring Iran’s mining operations. The Iranians are using small boats to lay the mines.
The US knows how many new mines Iran has laid but publicly refuses to disclose the exact number.
Before this apparent increase, experts estimate that Iran had deployed fewer than 100 mines.
According to US officials, the Navy is using underwater drones in the Strait of Hormuz for mine-clearing operations.
In peacetime, approximately 20% of the world’s maritime oil shipments pass through the strait. Currently, traffic, which previously numbered over 100 ships per day, has dropped to just a few.
"This is the second time Iran has mined the strait since the war began. It remains unclear whether all the mines from the first round have been found and cleared," the report states.
Strait of Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz is a critically important maritime trade route through which approximately 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas is transported.
The strait’s geographical location has allowed Iran to use it as a lever of influence throughout this war—selectively obstructing the passage of ships through the narrow waterway while simultaneously triggering a spike in oil prices.
Situation around Strait of Hormuz
On April 13, the United States announced the start of a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz after Iran restricted passage through the world’s most critical oil transport route in response to joint US-Israeli strikes in late February.
US President Donald Trump stated that violators approaching the blockade zone would be destroyed, and also claimed significant losses for the Iranian navy, including the destruction of 158 ships.
The US is also blocking vessels making payments to Iran for passage through the Strait. At the same time, US allies have refused to support the operation.
Despite this, on April 14, the Chinese tanker Rich Starry, which is subject to US sanctions, passed through the Strait of Hormuz, breaking the declared blockade.
