Regarding reports that the United States is deploying thousands of troops to the Middle East, preparing for a possible ground invasion of Iran, Iran's National Defense Council has warned it may lay mines in the Persian Gulf as a response. Iranian officials issued a statement saying this move "would naturally result in all shipping routes in the Persian Gulf and coastal areas being mined," potentially causing long-term navigation disruptions.
Tehran currently holds significant influence over traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, leveraging its ability to attack ships using drones and short-range missiles. This makes passage risky for vessels from countries deemed "unfriendly" by Iran, rendering commercial navigation unfeasible.
Latest U.S. military estimates indicate Iran possesses over 5,000 naval mines. Common types include buoyant contact mines, which are either anchored to the seabed or drift freely, as well as large bottom mines equipped with sophisticated sensors that are harder to detect in areas where wreckage is common.
Smaller mines can be deployed without complex platforms. Iran's statement claims Tehran intends to directly release floating objects from the coastline.
Cleaning up large minefields requires lengthy operations. During the 1991 Gulf War, Saddam Hussein's forces deployed approximately 1,000 naval mines, and a U.S.-led coalition required nearly two months and dozens of ships to clear them.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1860502536139776/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.