Iran deployed sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz using small vessels as the conflict with the US and Israel escalated. But now Iran cannot locate the many mines, US officials have told the New York Times. As a result, the prospect of free passage through the vital strait remains a long way off.
It was the sea mines laid in the Strait of Hormuz, combined with threats of missile attacks, that very quickly brought virtually all traffic through the Strait of Hormuz to a halt, causing the price of oil to rise from $70 per barrel to over $100 per barrel.
According to US sources, the mines were laid in a relatively haphazard manner, and Iran does not have a complete overview of their location. Some mines may also have drifted with the current, making the clearance operation even more difficult, writes the New York Times.
İlginizi çekebilir:
Dispute over Lebanon’s status keeps the Strait of Hormuz closed
“Complete, immediate and secure opening”
Iran has kept open only one shipping lane very close to the Iranian mainland, which has been passed by only a handful of ships during the conflict involving Iran. As a precondition for the two-week ceasefire, Donald Trump has demanded a “complete, immediate and secure opening” of the Strait of Hormuz.
However, Iran has not met this demand – citing, among other things, the fact that Israel has not ceased its attacks on Lebanon, which the ceasefire agreement – according to the Iranians – required. This has been rejected by the US and Israel. But even if this weekend’s negotiations between an American delegation led by US Vice-President J.D. Vance and Iranian officials were to lead to an actual peace agreement – which very few believe will happen – a full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz remains a long way off.
For the sea mines are still drifting around in the strait. The Iranians cannot locate them – and, moreover, have no capacity to remove them. And according to the New York Times, the US Navy lacks strong mine-clearing capabilities and is dependent on so-called Littoral Combat Ships – smaller, fast warships for operations in coastal waters – which are equipped with mine-sweeping systems.
Iran has previously indicated that a full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz depends on “technical limitations” – a phrase which, according to US sources, masks the problems with the mines. And until that problem is resolved, traffic through the strait, which carries around 20 per cent of the world’s total oil consumption, cannot resume. At least not to its full extent.
