2/7/2025–|Last update: 02:37 (Mecca time)
Two US officials said that the Iranian army shipped marine mines on ships in the Persian Gulf last month, in a move that increased Washington’s concerns about Tehran’s willingness to close Hormuz Strait After Israeli strikes on locations across Iran.
The two officials – who asked not to be named – told Reuters that these preparations that were not previously reported and which were discovered by the American intelligence, occurred after a period of Israel launched its first missile attack on Iran last June 13.
The loading of mines – which was not published in the strait – indicates that Tehran may have been serious about the closure of one of the busiest freight corridors in the world, a step that would have already escalated a escalating conflict and strongly disabilities of global trade.
It passes about five global oil and gas shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, and its closure is likely to lead to a sharp rise in global energy prices.
On June 13, Israel launched a 12 -day American support on Iran, which included military and nuclear sites, civilian facilities, and the assassination of military leaders and nuclear scientists, while Iran responded by targeting Israeli military and intelligence headquarters with ballistic missiles and drones.
On June 22, the United States attacked Iran’s facilities and claimed that it had ended its nuclear program. Tehran replied bombing The rule of many The air in Qatar, which has American forces, and then Washington announced on the 24th of the same month a ceasefire between Tel Aviv and Tehran.