will lead to the mining of key sea routes in the Persian Gulf, which could paralyze shipping in the region, reports "Reuters".
A statement by the Iranian Defense Council, disseminated by state media, states that in such a scenario, access to the sea routes would be blocked using various types of sea mines, including floating ones, which can be deployed directly from the coast.
According to Tehran, such actions would turn the entire Persian Gulf into a zone with a level of risk comparable to the Strait of Hormuz - a strategic route through which a significant part of the world's oil traffic passes.
The statement comes amid information that the United States is considering options for blocking or even taking control of Kharg Island, Iran's main oil export terminal, in order to put pressure on Tehran to open the Strait of Hormuz to all commercial ships.
Iranian authorities recall that even a limited number of sea mines can create long-term problems for shipping, citing the experience of the 1980s, when international efforts with over 100 minesweepers encountered serious difficulties in neutralizing such threats.
Tehran also emphasizes that countries not involved in the conflict can pass through the Strait of Hormuz only after coordination with the Iranian authorities.