Iran May Block Key Oil Route US Warns

Iran May Have Prepared to Block Key Oil Route, U.S. Intelligence Says

U.S. intelligence discovered that Iran may have secretly prepared to block the Strait of Hormuz after Israel launched a missile attack on Iran on June 13, according to officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Iran reportedly loaded sea mines onto ships, though they have not been placed in the water. This move suggests Iran might have been serious about closing the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. If the strait were blocked, it could have made the ongoing conflict worse and disrupted global trade.

Why the Strait Matters:

About 20% of the world’s oil and gas passes through the Strait of Hormuz.

If blocked, energy prices around the world could rise sharply.

However, oil prices have dropped over 10% since the U.S. attacked Iran’s nuclear sites, because the conflict hasn’t stopped oil shipments.

Iran’s Internal Moves:

On June 22, after the U.S. bombed three nuclear sites in Iran, Iran’s parliament supported a plan to block the strait.

But this plan was not final. Only Iran’s top security council could make that decision.

Iran has threatened to block the Strait many times before, but it has never actually done it.

Mine Details:

It’s unclear exactly when Iran loaded the mines or whether they are still on the ships.

The U.S. didn’t say how it found out about the mines, but such info usually comes from satellites or secret sources.

A White House official said U.S. actions had kept the strait open and weakened Iran.

Could It Be a Bluff?

U.S. officials said Iran might have just been pretending to scare the U.S.

Or, Iran might have been getting ready in case it decided to block the strait later.

About the Strait of Hormuz:

It lies between Oman and Iran and connects the Persian Gulf with the Arabian Sea.

At its narrowest, it’s only 21 miles wide.

Big oil producers like Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iraq, and Kuwait ship oil through it.

Qatar ships most of its liquefied natural gas through the strait.

Iran also exports oil through the strait, which is why closing it would hurt Iran, too.

U.S. Response:

In 2019, Iran had over 5,000 naval mines, and it could use small fast boats to deploy them quickly.

The U.S. Navy has ships in Bahrain to keep the sea lanes safe.

Just before the U.S. attacks on Iran, these ships were moved in case Iran struck back.

So far, Iran’s only response has been a missile attack on a U.S. base in Qatar.

But U.S. officials say Iran could still take more action.