Iranian mines close Strait of Hormuz to shipping since February

Iranian mines have blocked commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz since the end of February 2026. No shipowners or insurers have been willing to send vessels through the strait under the mining threat. The request implied that the U.S. Navy could not complete the task alone.

Historical precedents In October 1950, North Korean mines delayed a planned U.S. amphibious landing at Wonsan for weeks. Rear Admiral Smith reported that U.S. forces had lost control of the sea to mines laid from small craft. The U.S. Navy had only six small wooden minesweepers and one steel minesweeper available at the time.

The delay allowed South Korean forces to capture the city before the planned landing occurred. In 1991, Iraqi mines damaged the USS Princeton and USS Tripoli during Operation Desert Storm. General Norman Schwarzkopf stated that the incidents contributed to cancellation of a planned amphibious assault into Kuwait.

Current situation The U.S.

Navy removed its four Avenger-class minehunters from Bahrain in 2025 for scrapping. HMS Dragon, a Type 45 destroyer, has been sent from Portsmouth but lacks mine countermeasures equipment. Modern mines can be activated by magnetic, acoustic, or pressure signatures and can be programmed to ignore initial vessels.

They can be laid from merchant ships, fishing boats, or dhows without specialized equipment.