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NickB79

(20,304 posts)
Tue Mar 10, 2026, 05:23 PM 4 hrs ago

Iran begins laying mines in Strait of Hormuz, sources say

Source: CNN

Iran has begun laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most important energy chokepoint that carries about one-fifth of all crude oil, according to two people familiar with US intelligence reporting on the issue.

The mining is not extensive yet, with a few dozen having been laid in recent days, the sources said. But Iran still retains upward of 80% to 90% of its small boats and mine layers, one of the sources said, so its forces could feasibly lay hundreds of mines in the waterway.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which now effectively controls the strait along with Iran’s traditional navy, has the capability to deploy a “gauntlet” of dispersed mine-laying craft, explosive-laden boats and shore-based missile batteries, CNN has reported.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/10/politics/iran-begins-laying-mines-in-strait-of-hormuz



Looks like Iran is serious about closing Hormuz.
10 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Iran begins laying mines in Strait of Hormuz, sources say (Original Post) NickB79 4 hrs ago OP
Mine Palm Beach ! Bread and Circuses 4 hrs ago #1
But the great orange anus mouth said UpInArms 4 hrs ago #2
Nobody could have predicted that. bluedigger 4 hrs ago #3
That's the thing about existential threats like regime change.... paleotn 3 hrs ago #4
This oughta strike mortal fear into their hearts BeyondGeography 3 hrs ago #5
Looks like blue-wave 3 hrs ago #6
Navy is good at minesweeping OC375 3 hrs ago #7
I didn't know about underwater drones! 70sEraVet 1 hr ago #10
Oh, isn't this going to be a fun war? ananda 2 hrs ago #8
didn't you hear? It's all but over, per Trumpler democratsruletheday 1 hr ago #9

UpInArms

(54,793 posts)
2. But the great orange anus mouth said
Tue Mar 10, 2026, 05:30 PM
4 hrs ago

HE was going to take control of the Strait of Hormuz

bluedigger

(17,429 posts)
3. Nobody could have predicted that.
Tue Mar 10, 2026, 05:44 PM
4 hrs ago

Once you start bombing their oil facilities, Iran doesn't really need it.

paleotn

(22,074 posts)
4. That's the thing about existential threats like regime change....
Tue Mar 10, 2026, 05:58 PM
3 hrs ago

The party being threatened has nothing to lose going all out to retain their position. And precisely the reason they want nuclear weapons. Just ask Kim. They're the ultimate insurance against regime change. When Shitler tires of this and moves on, Iran will crash course functional nukes and delivery systems. There will be no regime change since that takes a step Shitler can't make and he knows it. Full invasion. And no, we're not going into a country nearly the size of Western Europe and spirit away the 440 kg of enriched material, wherever the hell it might be hiding. Even the US doesn't have that level of capabilities.

BeyondGeography

(41,019 posts)
5. This oughta strike mortal fear into their hearts
Tue Mar 10, 2026, 05:58 PM
3 hrs ago
President Donald Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Tuesday that “if Iran has put out any mines in the Hormuz Strait, and we have no reports of them doing so, we want them removed, IMMEDIATELY!”

OC375

(743 posts)
7. Navy is good at minesweeping
Tue Mar 10, 2026, 06:36 PM
3 hrs ago

At least 15 of the littoral combat ships are minesweepers by now, and they have underwater drones that do a lot of the work. Then there's the aircraft capability which I think everyone in NATO has...

If true it's going to be more bad PR for Iran, and probably more ammunition for someone to push for a permanent naval force of some sort "running" Hormuz.

70sEraVet

(5,431 posts)
10. I didn't know about underwater drones!
Tue Mar 10, 2026, 08:34 PM
1 hr ago

Cheap to manufacture, cheaper to operate, and no service personnel
injured.
That's good news, but there are still a number of options for the Iraqis to close the strait.

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