Iran Threatens to Lay Mines in Persian Gulf if it is Attacked

Kharg Island, Iran/PHOTO: Reza Hatami (TASNIM) via Wikimedia Commons

Iran has threatened to deploy sea mines across the Persian Gulf if the US and Israel attack Iranian shores or islands, warning the move could effectively shut down vital waterways in the region.

In a statement reported by the Fars news agency, Iran's National Defense Council said any attempt by "enemies" to target Iranian coasts or islands would lead to the installation of mines in access and communication lines throughout the Gulf.

The measures will cover various types of sea mines, including floating mines that can be launched from the shore.

The statement, reported by ANTARA from Anadolu, Monday, March 23, warned that in such a scenario, the entire Persian Gulf "will face conditions similar to the Strait of Hormuz for a long period of time," which effectively closes the maritime route.

"The responsibility for the results will be on the side that initiated the attack," he added.

The council also said the only way for "non-aggressive countries" to safely cross the Strait of Hormuz is "through coordination with Iran."

The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively disrupted since early March. Around 20 million barrels of oil normally pass through the route every day, and the disruption it has caused has increased shipping costs and pushed global oil prices higher.

Regional escalation has continued to flare since the US and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran on February 28, which has so far killed more than 1,300 people, including Iran's then-supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.

Iran has retaliated with drone and missile attacks targeting Israel, along with Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf states hosting US military assets, causing casualties and infrastructure damage as well as disrupting global markets and flights.