Iran’s Defense Council on Monday threatened to have sea mines deployed throughout the Persian Gulf if the enemy tries to launch a land invasion of the country. Earlier, the media reported that the administration of US President Donald Trump is considering plans to occupy or blockade the Iranian island of Khark in order to force Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, writes TASR.
In short:
- Iran’s Defense Council has threatened to deploy sea mines in the Persian Gulf
- Iran has announced the mining of all access roads in the Persian Gulf
- Vessels of neutral states can use the Strait of Hormuz only after an agreement with Iran
- Trump has given Iran a 48-hour ultimatum to reopen the Strait of Hormuz
In a statement, the council warned against “any attempt to attack Iran’s coast or islands.” According to her, this will result in all access roads in the Persian Gulf and along the coast being mined with various types of sea mines.
Blockade of the Persian Gulf
“In such a case, the entire Persian Gulf will practically find itself in a situation similar to the one in the Strait of Hormuz for a long time,” the council warned. She also reminded that the vessels of states that are not involved in the fighting in the Middle East can pass through the Strait of Hormuz only after an agreement with Iran.
A 48-hour ultimatum Trump gave Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which normally passes 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas supplies, expires Monday evening Washington time. Otherwise, according to him, the US is ready to destroy power plants in the Islamic Republic.
Trump’s ultimatum and threats
In response to Trump’s ultimatum, Iranian forces threatened to attack the energy and desalination infrastructure of countries in the region.
The AP agency reported last week, citing an unnamed source, that the US military has sent three more warships to the Middle East with about 2,500 Marines. According to the media, this deployment may signal a ground operation being prepared more than three weeks after the start of the US-Israeli attack on Iran.
The strategic island of Chárk
According to news website Axios, the Trump administration is considering an occupation or blockade of Khark Island, which is a key hub of Iran’s energy infrastructure, providing about 90 percent of the Islamic Republic’s oil exports. In response, the White House said the US military could “neutralize the island at any time” if Trump issues the appropriate order.
Iran’s effective blockade in the area has paralyzed commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and contributed to a sharp rise in world oil prices.
