Iran is escalating the war by placing explosive mines along a key oil route. Here are the risks.

Iran’s Strategic Move: Placing Mines in the Vital Oil Passage and the Risks Ahead

Despite being outgunned and outspent by the U.S. and Israel, Iran retains a critical edge through its dominance of the Strait of Hormuz. This narrow waterway, crucial for global oil flow, has become a focal point in the ongoing conflict. Recent reports suggest Iran has expanded its tactics by deploying mines, further complicating navigation and signaling a new phase in the war.

According to intelligence sources, Iran has laid a modest number of mines in the strait, though the effort isn’t extensive. A U.S. official noted that Tehran maintains control over 80 to 90 percent of its small boats and minelayers, contradicting former President Donald Trump’s claim that the country “has no navy.” This underscores Iran’s focus on asymmetric warfare, which could disrupt supply chains even amid sustained attacks.

“There remains no confirmed evidence of mine deployment or detonation in the waterway,” said the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, a Royal Navy-backed organization.

Iran’s arsenal includes approximately 5,000 to 6,000 naval mines, as per a congressional report. These vary in design—some are manually attached by divers, others float near the surface, and a few rest on the seabed, triggering explosions when vessels approach. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which operates its own navy, remains capable of deploying a mix of mines, suicide boats, and shore-based missiles, earning the strait the grim label “Death Valley” from U.S. analysts.

Tuesday saw a direct confrontation when the IRGC fired on the Thai-flagged ship Mayuree Naree, damaging its engine room. Thai authorities reported three crew members missing. Later that day, the Liberian-flagged Express Rome was also hit by Iranian projectiles. Meanwhile, U.S. Central Command claimed to have destroyed 16 minelayers near the strait, though mines may have already been planted.

Trump’s statements on social media added to the uncertainty. He argued, “If Iran has put out any mines in the Hormuz Strait, and we have no reports of them doing so, we want them removed, IMMEDIATELY!” He warned that failure to clear mines could lead to “consequences at a level never before seen,” while acknowledging that removing “what may have been placed” would be a “giant step in the right direction.”

U.S. minesweeping capacity has diminished, with the last dedicated minesweeper decommissioned in September 2025. Now, littoral combat ships are tasked with this role, despite their track record of technical issues. Critics have dubbed them “Little Crappy Ships,” highlighting their limited effectiveness in the region.

The prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz has severe economic repercussions. Analysts estimate that nearly 15 million barrels per day of crude oil and 4.5 million of refined products are trapped in the gulf, straining storage facilities. Even in normal conditions, the strait’s tight channels and high traffic require precise navigation, and mines now heighten the peril for any vessel attempting to pass.