WASHINGTON – Iranian military forces loaded naval mines onto vessels in the Persian Gulf last month, U.S. officials confirmed, raising alarms in Washington that Tehran might be preparing to blockade the Strait of Hormuz following Israel’s missile strikes on Iranian targets.
The intelligence, previously unreported, was gathered after Israel’s attack on June 13 and detected by U.S. surveillance, according to two officials who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
Though the mines have not been deployed, their loading indicates that Iran may have been seriously considering closing the strategic waterway — a move that would have sharply escalated the conflict and disrupted a key route for global oil and gas shipments.
Roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas exports pass through the Strait of Hormuz. A blockade would likely have driven up global energy prices, yet benchmark oil prices have dropped over 10% since the U.S. struck Iran’s nuclear facilities, driven by relief that major disruptions have so far been avoided.
On June 22, following U.S. strikes on three key Iranian nuclear sites, Iran’s parliament reportedly supported a measure to close the Strait. However, the decision was non-binding, with the final say resting with Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.
Reuters could not confirm the exact date when Iran loaded the mines or whether they have since been removed. The U.S. did not disclose how it obtained the intelligence, though it was likely gathered through satellite imagery, human sources, or both.
Asked for comment, a White House official stated:
“Thanks to the President’s brilliant execution of Operation Midnight Hammer, successful campaign against the Houthis, and maximum pressure campaign, the Strait of Hormuz remains open, freedom of navigation has been restored, and Iran has been significantly weakened.”
Neither the Pentagon nor Iran’s mission to the United Nations responded to requests for comment.
Strategic Significance of the Strait
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between Oman and Iran, connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. At its tightest point, it is only 21 miles wide, with shipping lanes just 2 miles wide in each direction.
It is vital to the global energy market, serving as a transit route for oil exports from OPEC members such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, and Iraq, as well as liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Qatar. Iran also relies heavily on the strait for its own oil exports.
Despite this dependence, Iran has heavily invested in capabilities to close the strait if needed. The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency estimated in 2019 that Iran possessed more than 5,000 naval mines that could be deployed using fast attack boats.
The U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, is tasked with protecting navigation in the region. Four mine countermeasure vessels (MCMs) were stationed in Bahrain but were temporarily withdrawn prior to the U.S. airstrikes on Iran to avoid retaliatory attacks. These are being replaced by Littoral Combat Ships (LCS), which also have mine-clearing capabilities.
Iran’s immediate response to the U.S. strikes was limited to a missile attack on a U.S. military base in Qatar, though American officials continue to monitor for further retaliation.
The two U.S. officials acknowledged the possibility that the mine-loading was a strategic bluff by Iran to pressure the West without any actual intention to close the strait. Still, they did not rule out that Iran’s military was genuinely preparing for a future order to act.