Iran loaded mines into vessels to block the Strait of Hormuz during 12-day war: Report

Hinting that Tehran was serious about its plans to block the Strait of Hormuz, the US received intelligence that Iran had loaded mines into its Navy vessels in the Persian Gulf last month. 

 

As per the intelligence, this happened sometime after June 13, when Israel began Operation Rising Lion against Iran, Reuters reported. The mines were, however, not deployed in the waterway between the Persian Gulf and, if the mines have since been unloaded. 

 

It is also unclear what the source of intelligence was; whether it was satellite imagery, human sources or a combination of both. Though the Pentagon has not responded to the reports, the White House statement just maintained that the Strait of Hormuz remains free due to the President's "brilliant execution of Operation Midnight Hammer, successful campaign against the Houthis, and maximum pressure campaign". 

 

The Strait of Hormuz is a 50 km waterway that is bound to the north by Iran and to the south by Oman and the UAE. It is about 33km wide at its narrowest point and connects the Gulf with the Arabian Sea.

 

Had Iran gone ahead with the blockade of the Strait, it would have hit the economy badly, as about 20% of global oil and gas flows through this narrow shipping lane. Not only would it have ratcheted up oil prices, it could also inflate the cost of goods and services, including in India, which depend on the Strait. 

 

Meanwhile, the US officials also believe this could have been a ruse to trick the US into believing Tehran was serious about closing the Strait. "Iran’s military could have also simply been making necessary preparations in the event that Iran’s leaders gave the order,"  Reuters quoted a US official. The US Defence Intelligence Agency estimates that  Iran has more than 5000 naval mines that could be deployed with the help of small, high-speed boats.  

 

As for the US, though it has mine countermeasure vessels, or MCM vessels, in Bahrain, where the US Fifth Fleet is based, they have since been moved in anticipation of a potential retaliatory attack on Fifth Fleet headquarters.

Middle East