Media: Iran began mining the Strait of Hormuz

Despite daily shelling, Iran has been able to retain more than 80-90% of its small boats and minelayers, which it is preparing for large-scale mining in the Strait of Hormuz, CNN reports .

As two sources familiar with American intelligence data told the publication, Iran has already begun laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Several dozen mines have been laid in recent days, and their number could later reach hundreds.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) now effectively controls the strait. Also, the IRGC, as the publication notes, is capable of deploying a kind of “obstacle course” of dispersed mine boats and boats filled with explosives in the strait.

“If Iran has placed any mines in the Strait of Hormuz and we have no reports that this has happened, we want them removed immediately! If for any reason the mines are installed and are not immediately removed, the military consequences for Iran will be unprecedented,” US President Donald Trump wrote on the Truth Social social network.

An hour later, Trump was “pleased to report” that the United States had completely destroyed ten inactive mine boats and vessels. As CNN notes, at a press conference on Monday, March 9, Trump said that the United States has the best equipment in the world to search for mines, so “the Strait of Hormuz will remain safe.”

Consulting company Rapidan Energy has analyzed that the US and Israeli war against Iran has led to the largest oil supply disruption in history. According to experts, since the beginning of the conflict, about 20% of the world's oil supplies remain unavailable to the market. The main reason for the disruption was the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.