Iran has begun laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, The New York Times reported, citing a US official.
The publication notes that the actions of the Islamic Republic could complicate US efforts to restore shipping through the Persian Gulf canal.
“While the US military claimed to have destroyed larger Iranian naval vessels that could be used to quickly lay mines in the strait, Iran has begun using smaller vessels for the operation“, the publication states.
According to the newspaper, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps may deploy more than 1,000 small boats in the strait, which are already being used to harass larger ships, including from the US Navy.
On March 12, US Treasury Secretary Scott Besant announced that the United States was considering forming an international coalition to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
Following attacks by Israel and the United States, Iran announced the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's main oil routes. The Islamic Republic extended the ban to all vessels, including merchant ships and tankers. As a result, traffic in the strategic corridor has almost come to a standstill. The situation has led to a sharp rise in oil prices.