Iran deploys mines in Strait of Hormuz, reports say

KABUL (Pajhwok): The government of Iran has reportedly deployed several mines in the Strait of Hormuz in an effort to complicate the reopening of the narrow waterway, according to media reports.

Reuters, citing two sources familiar with the matter, said the move is likely to complicate the reopening of the strategic passage, a key route for shipping oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Exports of oil and LNG through the chokepoint along Iran’s coast have effectively been halted by the war launched 12 days ago by the United States and Israel, contributing to a surge in global energy prices.

Meanwhile, the spokesman for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said in a video statement on Tuesday: “We will not allow even a single litre of oil to pass through the Strait of Hormuz in favour of the United States and its allies.”

Earlier, US President Donald Trump also called on Iran to immediately remove any mines deployed in the Strait of Hormuz, warning that failure to do so would result in “unspecified military consequences.”

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important maritime routes, linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean. Around 20 per cent of the world’s crude oil passes through this vital corridor, and any disruption could have significant effects on global energy markets.

kk/sa