Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy has reportedly deployed additional naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz this week, according to US officials and sources familiar with the matter, as reported by Axios.
The move signals a sharp escalation in tensions over the strategically vital oil shipping route, where Iran has previously been accused of laying mines and targeting commercial vessels. The United States, meanwhile, has increased its naval presence in the region, the report said.
Following briefings on the latest developments, US President Donald Trump reportedly directed the US Navy to “shoot and kill” any Iranian vessels found laying mines, reflecting a more aggressive posture, according to the report.
Speaking at a press briefing on April 23, Trump said that if Iran is laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, it would ultimately harm Iran more than the United States. “They can drop the mines in there, do all the stupid things, but it’s going to take them longer to make money because the mines are going to affect them much more than they are going to affect us. We don’t know if they are doing that, but they could be. If they do, it’s a foolish thing to do,” he said.
Nearly one-fifth of global seaborne oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz, though shipping traffic has reportedly dropped significantly amid rising tensions. The International Energy Agency has warned that prolonged disruption could have global economic consequences comparable to the oil shocks of the 1970s.
This is reportedly the second instance of mine deployment in the waterway since the conflict escalated, with uncertainty over whether earlier mines have been fully cleared. US officials said the situation is being closely monitored, though exact numbers of newly deployed mines have not been disclosed. (Agencies)
