Web Desk | Washington, D.C., United States United States officials have claimed that Iran has begun laying naval mines in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns about disruptions to international maritime traffic.
According to a report by The New York Times, an American official briefed on intelligence developments said Iran has started using smaller boats to deploy mines after US forces destroyed larger Iranian vessels capable of carrying such weapons.
The official said Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps could deploy hundreds of small fast boats, which have long been used to harass large naval ships, including those belonging to the United States Navy.
US authorities believe the mine-laying operations are slow and not highly effective, but Iran may be attempting to deploy mines faster than they can be cleared, aiming to further disrupt shipping through the strait.
The development comes after joint military strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran escalated tensions in the region.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has already disrupted maritime routes and contributed to rising global oil prices.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical energy corridors, through which nearly 20% of global crude oil and natural gas supplies normally pass.
