Iran considering mine-carrying dolphins to target US Navy: WSJ
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Iran is reportedly exploring the deployment of dolphins equipped with mines to target US warships in the Strait of Hormuz amid an ongoing US naval blockade that has severely restricted its oil exports.
According to Iranian officials cited by The Wall Street Journal, this unconventional measure forms part of broader considerations for countering the blockade, which has imposed significant economic pressure on Tehran.
The proposal emerges as hardliners within Iran advocate for renewed military action, viewing the blockade as an act of war rather than a diplomatic tool.
A fragile cease-fire holds between the parties, yet the financial strain from disrupted oil shipments has intensified internal debates.
Moderates reportedly favor negotiations, while others argue that escalated conflict may prove less costly than prolonged economic isolation.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies, handling approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas trade.
US forces have enforced the blockade following Iranian attacks on commercial vessels earlier in the conflict, which disrupted maritime traffic. Iranian capabilities have been degraded, with reports indicating substantial losses to its conventional navy.
This would not represent Iran’s first engagement with military marine mammals. In 2000, Iran acquired dolphins from a former Soviet program, along with their trainer.
Those animals were reportedly trained for tasks including attaching harpoons to targets and conducting kamikaze-style strikes by carrying mines to enemy vessels.
US officials and analysts have expressed skepticism regarding the immediate feasibility and effectiveness of such tactics, noting the advanced mine countermeasures employed by the US Navy, which include its own trained dolphins for detection and clearance.
