WASHINGTON, March 11 (Reuters) - Iran has deployed about a dozen mines in the Strait of Hormuz, two sources familiar with the matter said, in a move likely to complicate the reopening of the narrow
Iran Lays Mines in the Strait of Hormuz, Disrupting Oil and LNG Exports
Escalation in the Strait of Hormuz and Its Impact on Global Energy Markets
Deployment of Mines by Iran
WASHINGTON, March 11 (Reuters) - Iran has deployed about a dozen mines in the Strait of Hormuz, two sources familiar with the matter said, in a move likely to complicate the reopening of the narrow waterway, an important route for shipping oil and liquefied natural gas.
Immediate Effects on Oil and LNG Exports
Exports of oil and LNG through the strategic chokepoint along Iran's coast have effectively been halted by the war launched 12 days ago by the United States and Israel, helping to drive a surge in world energy prices.
Market Reactions and Predictions
Iran’s military command on Wednesday said the world should be prepared for oil to hit $200 a barrel.
Details of the Mining Operation
One source said the mines were deployed "in the last few days" and that most of their locations were known. But the source declined to say how the U.S. planned to deal with them.
CNN first reported the mining of the strait on Tuesday.
Strategic Importance of the Strait
Iran has long threatened to retaliate against any military attack by mining the strait. About a fifth of global oil and LNG normally passes through the strait, and Tehran's ability to stop shipping through the channel gives it enormous leverage over the U.S. and its allies.
U.S. and International Response
Military Actions and Protective Measures
The U.S. military says it has targeted Iranian mine-laying vessels, eliminating 16 of them on Tuesday. But the U.S. Navy has so far declined to provide protective escorts to commercial ships through the strait.
Political Statements and Warnings
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday demanded that Iran immediately remove any mines deployed in the strait and he said that it would face unspecified military consequences if it failed to do so.
(Reporting by Jonathan Landay and Erin Banco; Editing by Don Durfee and Timothy Heritage)
