The Iranian military loaded naval mines onto ships in the Persian Gulf in June in preparation for a possible blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Reuters reports this, citing two American officials.
Iran was preparing to mine the Strait of Hormuz: what is known
US intelligence discovered the mining preparations shortly after Israel's first missile attack on Iran on June 13.
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The loading of mines onto ships that have not yet been installed in the strait confirmed Tehran's serious intentions to close the strategic waterway.
It is not yet known whether the Iranian military unloaded the mines from the ships after initial preparations.
Let us recall that on June 22, the Iranian parliament supported the idea of blocking the Strait of Hormuz.
This came after the US launched an attack on Iran, attacking three key nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.
The final decision to close the strait would have to be made by Iran's Supreme National Security Council. However, this could have been a serious escalation of the regional conflict.
It is worth noting that about one-fifth of the world's oil and gas supplies pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
According to experts, its blocking could lead to a sharp rise in global energy prices and serious disruption of international trade.
The US reacted sharply to the possible closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
In particular, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that this step would also affect Iran's allies and would be suicidal for the country itself.
