Iran loaded naval mines amid rising tensions in Strait of Hormuz, US officials say
Iran's military loaded naval mines onto vessels in the Persian Gulf last month, a move that raised alarms in Washington about the potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid heightened tensions with Israel, according to two US officials familiar with classified intelligence.
The loading occurred after Israel launched its initial missile strike on Iran on June 13. Though the mines have not been deployed in the strait, the officials said the activity indicates Tehran may have seriously considered closing the vital waterway.
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What would happen if Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz? All scenarios explained
The Strait of Hormuz serves as a critical global shipping route, with about 20 per cent of the world's oil and gas passing through it. A blockade would likely disrupt global energy markets and significantly raise fuel prices. However, oil prices have declined more than 10 per cent since US strikes on Iran's nuclear infrastructure, as markets responded to the absence of any actual shipping disruption.
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Strait of Hormuz remains open despite Iranian preparations
Shortly after the US airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites on June 22, Iran's parliament backed a measure to block the Strait of Hormuz. The vote was non-binding, and the authority to enforce a closure rests with Iran's Supreme National Security Council. Iran has frequently issued threats to shut the strait, but it has never acted on them.
Reuters could not determine the exact timing of the mine loading activity or whether the mines have since been removed. The officials declined to specify how the US confirmed the mines were loaded, but such intelligence is typically gathered via satellite surveillance, human intelligence sources, or a combination of both.
A White House official credited the administration's efforts for maintaining navigational access through the region. '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 official said.
Also read:
Strait of Hormuz: Iran threatens 33-km wide key oil lifeline for the world
The Pentagon and the Iranian mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
US military on alert amid Iran naval capabilities in the Gulf
US officials have not ruled out the possibility that Iran's mine-loading activity was a strategic deception. The officials noted that the move may have been designed to pressure the US or demonstrate readiness without actual intent to close the strait.
Iran could also have been making logistical preparations in anticipation of a potential future order. The Strait of Hormuz, bordered by Iran and Oman, connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. At its narrowest, the strait is 21 miles (34 kilometers) wide, with two-mile-wide shipping lanes in either direction.
Key oil exporters, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Iraq, and major LNG exporter Qatar all rely on the strait for shipping. Iran itself exports most of its crude through the passage, which could complicate any decision to disrupt it. Still, the US Defense Intelligence Agency estimated in 2019 that Iran possessed more than 5,000 naval mines, which could be deployed using high-speed boats.
The US Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, is tasked with ensuring the security of maritime traffic in the region. The Navy had temporarily withdrawn all mine countermeasure ships from Bahrain prior to the US strikes on Iran, citing the potential risk of retaliatory attacks.
Also read:
US urges China to dissuade Iran from closing Strait of Hormuz
Iran's immediate response was limited to a missile strike on a US base in Qatar, but officials say additional retaliation remains possible.
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