- Iran’s ability to disrupt traffic there gives it significant strategic influence over Washington and its allies
- The disruption has already pushed global energy prices higher as markets react to the growing uncertainty
- sources said the mines were laid “within the past few days,” noting that authorities are believed to know the locations of most of them
Iran has reportedly placed roughly a dozen naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, according to two sources familiar with the situation.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the move could make it significantly harder to reopen the narrow maritime corridor, which is a critical route for global shipments of oil and liquefied natural gas.
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Energy exports through the strategic passage along Iran’s coastline have largely stopped since fighting began 12 days ago involving the United States and Israel.
The disruption has already pushed global energy prices higher as markets react to the growing uncertainty.
Iran’s military leadership warned on Wednesday that crude oil prices could surge as high as $200 per barrel if the conflict continues to disrupt the region.
One of the sources said the mines were laid “within the past few days,” noting that authorities are believed to know the locations of most of them.
However, the source did not reveal how the United States might address the threat. CNN first reported the mining of the strait earlier in the week.
Tehran has frequently warned it could block the vital waterway in response to military action against it. The strait is one of the world’s most important energy transit routes, with roughly one-fifth of global oil and LNG shipments typically passing through it.
Because of this, Iran’s ability to disrupt traffic there gives it significant strategic influence over Washington and its allies.
The U.S. military said it had already targeted vessels suspected of laying mines, destroying 16 such boats on Tuesday.
Despite the escalating risk, the United States Navy has not yet begun escorting commercial ships through the strait.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump demanded on Tuesday that Iran remove any mines that have been placed in the waterway.
The U.S. president warned that failure to do so could trigger further military action, although he did not specify what steps might be taken.
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