The US Pentagon has notified Congress that clearing the Strait of Hormuz from Iranian military mines could take up to six months and is unlikely to happen until the conflict concludes, as reported by the Washington Post. Social media is abuzz with images suggesting Iran’s continued mining activities in the strait.
Several social media users have shared satellite images purportedly showing Iranian gunboats moving towards Iranian coastlines after departing from the middle of the Strait of Hormuz to lay mines. However, the authenticity of these images has not been independently verified by the Mirror.
One user speculated that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) might be actively laying mines in the Hormuz transit channel with numerous speedboats. The strait has been a focal point in the US-Iran conflict, with joint strikes by the US and Israel on key Iranian sites leading to Iran’s retaliation by disrupting the trade route responsible for 20% of global oil trade.
In response, the US has enforced a blockade on Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz to impact the Iranian economy, urging the lifting of the closure for negotiation purposes. Accusations have been made against Iran for placing mines in the strait, endangering ship passage and causing disturbances in global economies.
