Iran Unable to Find Mines It Planted in Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Says
The New York Times • • world
Key Points:
- Iran has been unable to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz to increased shipping traffic because it cannot locate all the mines it laid in the waterway and lacks the capability to remove them, according to U.S. officials.
- The presence of mines, along with threats of drone and missile attacks, has drastically reduced vessel traffic through the strait, driving up energy prices and giving Iran leverage in the ongoing conflict with the U.S. and Israel.
- Iran left a limited safe passage open for ships that pay a toll and has issued warnings about potential collisions with mines, but the mined areas are poorly mapped and some mines have drifted, complicating navigation.
- Both Iran and the U.S. lack robust mine removal capabilities, making it difficult to clear the strait quickly and contributing to ongoing tensions as peace talks between Iranian and U.S. delegations take place.
