Iran is escalating the war by placing explosive mines along a key oil route. Here are the risks.
Iran’s Strategic Move in the Strait of Hormuz Sparks Global Concern
Iran’s recent actions in the Strait of Hormuz have raised alarms about potential disruptions to global oil flows. While the United States and Israel hold numerical and financial superiority, Tehran has leveraged its control over the critical waterway to counteract these advantages. The strait, which facilitates the passage of roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply, has become a focal point of the conflict as Iran intensifies its asymmetric tactics.
Mining the Waterway: A New Escalation
According to intelligence sources, Iran has begun deploying a handful of mines in the strait, though the scale is not yet overwhelming. This effort underscores the country’s commitment to complicating maritime traffic, even as it faces relentless airstrikes. The move has been described as a calculated step to deter passage and increase the vulnerability of vessels attempting to cross.
“There remains no confirmed evidence of mine deployment or detonation” in the waterway, noted the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a British organization under the Royal Navy.
Despite claims from former US President Donald Trump that Iran has “no navy,” intelligence indicates the country retains around 80-90% of its small boats and minelayers. A report from the US Congress estimated Iran’s naval mine stockpile at 5,000 to 6,000 units, including limpet mines, moored mines, and bottom mines. These weapons can be manually placed by divers, triggered by contact, or detonated via underwater sensors.
Incidents Highlight the Danger
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which operates its own naval forces, has demonstrated its threat with recent attacks. On Tuesday, it reportedly targeted a Thai-flagged cargo ship, the *Mayuree Naree*, causing an explosion in its engine room. Thai authorities confirmed three crew members were still missing. Earlier that day, a Liberian-flagged vessel, the *Express Rome*, was also struck by Iranian projectiles.
Meanwhile, US Central Command claimed to have destroyed 16 Iranian minelayers near the strait. However, it did not confirm the removal of any mines, which may have already been deployed. Trump, in a post on Truth Social, emphasized urgency: “If Iran has put out any mines in the Hormuz Strait, and we have no reports of them doing so, we want them removed, IMMEDIATELY!” He warned that failure to act could lead to “consequences at a level never before seen.”
“We want them removed, IMMEDIATELY!”
Analysts warn that a prolonged closure of the strait would have severe economic repercussions. Nearly 15 million barrels per day of crude oil and 4.5 million barrels per day of refined products are stranded in the gulf, pushing storage capacities to their limits. The narrow, congested channel already demands high skill to navigate, and the addition of mines raises the stakes for any vessel attempting to traverse it.
The US Navy’s ability to counter Iran’s mining efforts has been challenged by the decommissioning of its last dedicated minesweepers in September 2025. Now, littoral combat ships are tasked with this role, though their reliability has drawn criticism. Critics call them “Little Crappy Ships” due to their history of technical issues, raising questions about their effectiveness in safeguarding the vital route.