Iran confirmed: ~12 mines deployed in Strait of Hormuz — 'most locations known'

Two sources familiar with the matter confirmed to Reuters that Iran has deployed approximately a dozen mines in the Strait of Hormuz, saying the mines were laid 'in the last few days' and that most of their locations are known to US forces. The source declined to say how the US plans to deal with the mines. CNN had first reported the Hormuz mining on Day 11. The mine deployment — even of a dozen mines — is strategically significant far beyond the physical threat of 12 devices. Iran has long threatened to retaliate for any military attack by mining the strait, and the confirmation that it has acted on this threat validates the threat credibility. Approximately one fifth of global oil and LNG normally transits the strait, and Tehran's ability to stop shipping through the channel gives it enormous leverage. The 12 mines — combined with Iran's declaration that all US/Israel-bound tankers are legitimate targets and the ongoing IRGC naval interdiction campaign — effectively close the strait to commercial shipping regardless of whether all mines are located. The US had preemptively destroyed 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels overnight, but the confirmation of actual mine deployment means at least some mines were laid before that strike. The CENTCOM port warning issued earlier on Day 12, combined with confirmed mine deployment, signals an imminent US mine-clearing operation in the strait.