Desk Report,
US concerned over Iran’s mine-laying preparations in Strait of Hormuz
US concerns have grown after Iran’s military planted naval mines on its ships in the Persian Gulf last month. US authorities feared that Tehran was preparing to block the Strait of Hormuz in response to Israeli attacks on various facilities.
US concerned over Iran’s mine-laying preparations in Strait of Hormuz
Two US officials said the information was obtained after analyzing classified intelligence.
The officials said the previously unknown preparations were detected after Israel launched a missile attack on Iran on June 13.
The mines have not yet been used in the Strait of Hormuz. But the preparations indicate that Iran is serious about closing one of the world’s busiest trade routes. Taking steps to close the route would further complicate ongoing Iran-Israel tensions and cause a major blow to global trade.
About a fifth of the world’s oil and gas passes through the Strait of Hormuz. If it were closed, the price of fuel in the world market would have increased sharply. However, the opposite happened. The price of crude oil in the world market has fallen by more than 10 percent in the past few weeks after the United States attacked Iran’s nuclear facilities. According to analysts, the market has regained comfort since the Strait of Hormuz was not closed. The United States carried out the attack on three important nuclear facilities in Iran on June 22. Immediately after this, the Iranian parliament voted in favor of a resolution to close the Strait of Hormuz. Although it was not mandatory to accept it. Only Iran’s Supreme National Security Council can make the final decision to close the strait. Iran has threatened to close the strait many times before, but has never implemented it.
US concerns have grown after Iran’s military planted naval mines on its ships in the Persian Gulf last month. US authorities feared that Tehran was preparing to block the Strait of Hormuz in response to Israeli attacks on various facilities.
Two US officials said the information was obtained after analyzing classified intelligence.
The officials said the previously unknown preparations were detected after Israel launched a missile attack on Iran on June 13.
The mines have not yet been used in the Strait of Hormuz. But the preparations indicate that Iran is serious about closing one of the world’s busiest trade routes. Taking steps to close the route would further complicate ongoing Iran-Israel tensions and cause a major blow to global trade.
About a fifth of the world’s oil and gas passes through the Strait of Hormuz. If it were closed, the price of fuel in the world market would have increased sharply. However, the opposite happened. The price of crude oil in the world market has fallen by more than 10 percent in the past few weeks after the United States attacked Iran’s nuclear facilities. According to analysts, the market has regained comfort since the Strait of Hormuz was not closed. The United States carried out the attack on three important nuclear facilities in Iran on June 22. Immediately after this, the Iranian parliament voted in favor of a resolution to close the Strait of Hormuz. Although it was not mandatory to accept it. Only Iran’s Supreme National Security Council can make the final decision to close the strait. Iran has threatened to close the strait many times before, but has never implemented it.
