Iran admits it cannot locate all mines in Strait of Hormuz

Saturday 11 - 11:20

By: Dakir Madiha

Iran admits it cannot locate all mines in Strait of Hormuz

Iran has acknowledged it cannot locate or remove all naval mines laid in the Strait of Hormuz during its conflict with the United States, U.S. officials said Friday. The admission adds a major risk to an already fragile ceasefire and to high-stakes talks scheduled in Islamabad.

The disclosure, first reported by The New York Times, undermines a central condition of the two-week ceasefire: the full, immediate, and safe reopening of the world’s most critical oil shipping route. U.S. intelligence said Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps deployed hundreds of small vessels to lay mines in an uncoordinated manner since late February, without recording many of their locations. Some mines have since drifted, making Tehran’s designated “safe routes” unreliable.

Despite agreeing to reopen the strait, Iran continues to tightly control transit. The Revolutionary Guards have established what analysts describe as a de facto toll system. Ships must submit documentation, obtain authorization codes, and pass through a single escorted corridor under Iranian supervision.

Reports indicate Iran is charging about one dollar per barrel of cargo, reaching up to two million dollars for a fully loaded supertanker. Payments are reportedly accepted in Chinese yuan or cryptocurrency to bypass U.S. sanctions.

INTERTANKO, which represents more than 190 independent tanker operators and over half of the global fleet, urged members not to comply. Its representative said toll payments violate international law and the principle of free navigation. International Maritime Organization Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez told the BBC that international straits must remain open to all without imposed fees.

Donald Trump warned Iran against enforcing such measures, signaling rising tensions as ceasefire terms come under strain.

Meanwhile, JD Vance traveled to Islamabad to lead U.S. negotiations with Iranian officials in what authorities describe as decisive talks. The U.S. delegation includes Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Iran’s side is expected to be led by Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Shipping activity remains sharply reduced. Only about 15 vessels have passed through the strait since Tuesday’s ceasefire, compared with a pre-conflict average of roughly 140 per day. Around 800 ships remain stranded in the Gulf.

Araghchi acknowledged “technical limitations” in mine-clearing operations, suggesting that a full reopening of the strait could take months rather than weeks.