Key Points and Summary on Iran’s Naval Strategy – The Iranian military was actively preparing to lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz following Israel’s initial “Operation Rising Lion” strikes in mid-June, two anonymous U.S. officials confirmed to Reuters this week.
-The intelligence, possibly gathered by Israeli “boots on the ground,” revealed that Iran was moving naval mines onto vessels in the Persian Gulf in anticipation of a potential US attack.
-This plan was likely a precursor to the Iranian parliament’s later vote to approve a measure to close the strait after US B-2 bombers struck its nuclear sites.
-The plot underscores the real threat Iran posed to global oil supplies during the crisis.
Iran Could Have Mined the Strait of Hormuz
Two U.S. officials confirmed this week that the Iranian military was preparing to mine the Strait of Hormuz in anticipation of American strikes after Israel launched its aerial campaign in Iran.
Speaking to Reuters, the officials confirmed that the Iranian military moved naval mines onto vessels in the Persian Gulf, raising concerns in Washington that Tehran would move to block the vital trade corridor connecting the Persian Gulf to the open sea.
The previously unreported plans are said to have been uncovered as part of U.S. intelligence efforts. Reuters reported that the preparations began “some time” after Israel launched its first strike on Iran on June 13.
While the two sources did not confirm how the United States was able to confirm that the mines had been moved onto Iranian vessels, this kind of intelligence is typically obtained via satellite imagery.
It’s possible that the intelligence was the result of an Israeli covert operation in Iran, especially in light of reports that Israel had “boots on the ground” in Iran for as long as 15 years. According to a report by The Times, Israel spent years gathering intelligence on Iran’s military and nuclear infrastructure with the help of intelligence officers embedded within their operations.
The confirmation of Iran’s plans to disrupt trade in the strait follows direct threats made by Iran after U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy B-2 stealth bombers to Iran on the night of June 21, 2025. The following day, Iranian state media confirmed that the Islamic Consultative Assembly – Iran’s parliament – had approved a measure to close the sea passage.
The decision, however, was not binding, leaving the final decision to Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.
It echoes a July 2 order to suspend cooperation between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency, which also followed a parliamentary vote. As with the Strait of Hormuz vote, the decision to resume cooperation was also left to the Iranian Security Council.
If the claims made by anonymous U.S. officials are valid, it confirms reporting from this outlet that Iran’s most feasible method for “closing” the strait would have entailed “harassment tactics,” including the use of mines, drones, and speedboats.
Had the plans gone ahead, Tehran could have caused oil prices to spike beyond $100 a barrel, disrupting the safe and efficient passage of approximately 21 million barrels of oil per day.
The news quickly prompted global condemnation, including from China, which likely contributed to Iran’s decision not to follow through on the plans.
It remains unclear, however, whether Iran was fully committed to closing the strait or simply making preparations for a worst-case scenario.
About the Author:
Jack Buckby is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society. His latest book is The Truth Teller: RFK Jr. and the Case for a Post-Partisan Presidency.
The Best Tanks on Earth
AbramsX: The Tank the US Army Wants
Pingback: Could Iran Really Close the Strait of Hormuz? (And What Would Happen If They Tried) - National Security Journal