U.S. Officials: Iran Has Deployed At Least a Dozen Naval Mines in Strait of Hormuz
U.S. officials confirm Iran has deployed at least a dozen "Maham" underwater mines in the world's most critical oil chokepoint. As the U.S. strikes back, sinking 16 mine-laying vessels, the global energy market braces for a potential total shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. officials have told CBS News that Iran has laid at least a dozen underwater mines in the Strait of Hormuz, according to current American intelligence assessments.
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive national security matters, said the mines are Iranian-manufactured Maham 3 and Maham 7 limpet mines. One U.S. official described the number as “at least a dozen,” while another put the count at fewer than a dozen.
American intelligence indicates Iran used smaller crafts, each capable of carrying two to three mines, to deploy them into the waterway.
The development comes amid repeated demands from the Trump administration that Tehran keep the Strait of Hormuz open for the free flow of commerce. The narrow passage between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman is a critical global chokepoint through which about 20% of the world’s oil supply normally transits.
In response to the threat, U.S. forces have struck multiple Iranian mine-laying vessels in the area in recent days, including at least 16 such boats, according to U.S. Central Command.
The presence of the mines has heightened concerns over shipping safety and global energy prices, as commercial traffic through the strait has already slowed sharply due to ongoing regional tensions.