Iran warns any strike on coast would trigger mines across Gulf waters

DUBAI: Iran has warned that any attack on its southern coastline or islands would lead to sea mines being deployed across Gulf access routes, sharply escalating the threat of a wider maritime shutdown beyond the Strait of Hormuz.

According to Iranian state media, the country’s Defence Council said on Monday that any move against its coastal areas or islands would prompt a response aimed at blocking movement through Gulf waters. The statement came amid reports that the United States is weighing options involving Iran’s Kharg Island, the country’s main oil export terminal, as part of efforts to pressure Tehran over shipping access through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran said such an attack would not remain confined to one location. Instead, it warned that multiple Gulf routes could be disrupted through the use of different types of naval mines, including floating mines that could be released from coastal areas.

The statement suggested that, under such a scenario, the Gulf could effectively face the same long-term navigational paralysis associated with a closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials also pointed to the difficulties of mine-clearing operations, invoking the 1980s tanker war to argue that even large-scale minesweeping missions struggled to eliminate limited numbers of sea mines.

Iran further maintained that countries not directly involved in the conflict may only pass through the Strait of Hormuz in coordination with Tehran, underlining its view that it retains decisive influence over maritime access in the region.

The warning adds to growing fears over the security of one of the world’s most critical energy corridors, as tensions continue to mount around Gulf shipping routes and regional oil infrastructure.