Did Iran lay more mines in Strait of Hormuz? What US intel reveals

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) navy reportedly deployed more mines in the Strait of Hormuz this week as the blockade of the strategic waterway continues. This comes as the standoff between Tehran and Washington escalates over the world’s most important shipping route, as Iran continues attacking commercial vessels, while the American forces continue enforcing a blockade of Iranian ports. Earlier on Thursday (Apr 23), US President Donald Trump ordered the US military to “shoot and kill” Iranian boats that lay mines in the strait with “no hesitation”. Reportedly, the order came after Trump was briefed on the new developments.

According to an Axios report, citing a US official and a source with knowledge of the issue, the American forces detected Iranian mine-laying operations and have been tracking them closely. The official added that the US knows the number of new mines deployed but declined to provide details on how many. Experts have estimated less than 100 mines had been laid by Iran.

The new mines in the Strait of Hormuz could deepen what the International Energy Agency has already called the largest disruption in global energy supply in history, even bigger than the 1970s oil shocks. It is the only maritime outlet for ports located in the Persian Gulf, with roughly 20 per cent of the global oil supply passing through it daily.

It is the second time that Iran has deployed mines in the strategic waterway. It is not known whether the mines from the first round have been found and cleared yet. However, US officials have estimated that they have destroyed more than 90 per cent of Iran’s large mine-laying ships, which can carry two to four mines for dropping them in Hormuz. These vessels can also be equipped with rocket launchers and mounted machine guns to target large tankers.

The officials have said that the US Navy is using underwater drones in the Strait of Hormuz to clear the mines. Trump also suggested that two mine countermeasure vessels the USS Chief and the USS Pioneer, may also be operating in the Strait.

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