Iran unable to find mines in Strait of Hormuz: report
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US officials say that Iran remains unable to locate all the naval mines it deployed in the Strait of Hormuz last month, a situation that has hindered Tehran’s ability to restore full commercial shipping through the critical waterway, according to the New York Times.
The development follows a fragile ceasefire between the United States, ‘Israel’, and Iran, amid ongoing efforts to reopen the passage that carries approximately one-fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.
The mines were laid by Iranian forces using small boats shortly after the onset of the US-‘Israeli’ military campaign against Iran in March 2026.
Combined with threats of drone and missile attacks, the operation sharply reduced maritime traffic, elevating global energy prices and providing Iran with significant strategic leverage during the conflict.
Iran has maintained a limited transit corridor, permitting certain vessels to pass upon payment of a toll, while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has issued maritime warnings and published charts designating restricted zones to avoid potential mine hazards.
Nevertheless, commercial shipping volumes have remained minimal, with only a handful of Iran-linked ships transiting in recent days, leaving thousands of vessels stranded and disrupting international supply chains.
According to US assessments cited by the New York Times, the mines were emplaced in a haphazard manner, with incomplete records of their locations.
Some devices have drifted from their original positions, further complicating recovery efforts. Naval mine removal is inherently more demanding than deployment, and Iran lacks the rapid-response demining capabilities required to address the issue promptly, the report says.
