Last month, the Iranian military loaded naval mines onto ships in the Persian Gulf, raising US concerns that Iran was preparing to block the Strait of Hormuz in response to Israeli strikes on Iran, two US officials were quoted by Reuters on Tuesday as saying.
The preparations - which have not been discussed publicly - were detected by US intelligence and were carried out after Israel launched its first missile strikes on Iran on June 13, the sources said, who asked not to be named as a condition of discussing sensitive intelligence matters. The mines, which have not yet been placed in the strait, suggest that Tehran may have been serious about closing one of the world's busiest sea lanes, escalating an already tense conflict and disrupting international trade.
A fifth of the world's oil and gas supplies pass through the Strait of Hormuz, and a blockade would likely send global energy prices soaring. Crude oil prices have fallen by 10% since the US bombed Iran's nuclear facilities. The move was prompted in part by fading concerns that the war would cause major disruptions to oil trade.
Iran's military prepares to mine the Strait of Hormuz
A fifth of the world's oil and gas supplies pass through the Strait of Hormuz and a blockade would likely lead to a surge in global energy prices
Jul 2, 2025 16:53 500
