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How mines could tighten Iran’s Gulf chokehold
The US Navy appears ill-prepared for the potential use of a relatively cheap and plentiful weapon in the narrow Strait of Hormuz.
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Minesweeping is fraught with difficulties in the Strait of Hormuz, and the sheer fear of triggering one can deter tankers (above) from using the waterway, say experts.
PHOTO: REUTERS
DeeperDive is a beta AI feature. Refer to full articles for the facts.
Jacob Judah
It is a frightening scenario for US naval strategists and shipping companies: that an embattled and embittered Iran could seek to enforce its chokehold on the strategic Strait of Hormuz by seeding its narrow waters with deadly mines.
Many mine warfare experts believe Tehran has already done just that by deploying a handful of seabed devices that it could turn on at any time to threaten shipping on a route that carries a fifth of global seaborne trade.
