Iran Places Limited Naval Mines in Strategic Strait of Hormuz

(MENAFN) Iran has placed fewer than 10 naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route, according to a report released Wednesday by a US-based research institute.
The Institute for the Study of War stated that despite having the capacity to mine the waterway extensively, Iran has shown reluctance to carry out a large-scale deployment. “Iran’s reticence to deploy the naval mines en masse indicates that while Iran is willing and capable of mining the strait, it remains hesitant to do so due to the far-reaching political and economic costs Iran would incur in doing so,” the report said.

The analysis highlighted that US Central Command has actively targeted Iranian naval capabilities in the region. On March 10, CENTCOM announced the destruction of 16 Iranian minelayers near the Strait of Hormuz as part of ongoing efforts to diminish Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping.

The institute noted that a broader deployment of mines would disrupt international maritime traffic and impose substantial costs on Iran itself. “Such a move would cause major disruptions for all shipping, not just non-Iranian shipping,” the report stated.

It also warned of political and economic repercussions, including potential tensions with China and adverse effects on Iraq’s oil-dependent economy, which Iran relies on to mitigate sanctions.

Major disruption in Iraq could, therefore, have negative economic consequences for Tehran.

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