Iran laying ‘sea mines’ across Strait of Hormuz shipping lane

The Strait of Hormuz sees 20% of oil and gas shipments flow through it (Picture: Reuters)

Iran is preparing to plant mines in one of the most important shipping lanes in the world, US officials claim.

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway off Iran’s southern coast that sees around 80 oil and gas tankers pass through it every day.

But marine traffic has dried up since the US and Israel launched a deadly attack on Tehran, prompting Iran to attack any ships veering towards it.

A satellite map shows how shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has effectively stopped since Iran said it has closed the key route (Picture: Marine Traffic)

American intelligence has seen signs that Iran is using small vessels in the transitway that can carry up to three naval mines, CBS News reports.

Iran’s feared Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said last week it is in full control of the strait.

Analysts warn that the conflict could impact oil and gas prices across the world and increase inflation. The longer the war drags on, the less oil and gas there is out in the world.

Natural gas prices in Europe and Asia, which rely heavily on imported liquefied natural gas, have seen prices spiral.

A barrel of oil was priced at about £73 yesterday, an 81% increase since before the war.

US President Donald Trump warned Iran earlier today that if the country stops the flow of oil through the Hormuz, they will be ‘hit by the United States of America 20 TIMES HARDER than they have been hit thus far’.

He added in a post on Truth Social: ‘Additionally, we will take out easily destroyable targets that will make it virtually impossible for Iran to ever be built back, as a Nation, again — Death, Fire, and Fury will reign upon them — But I hope, and pray, that it does not happen!’

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