Iran has begun laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most important energy chokepoint that carries about one-fifth of all crude oil, according to two people familiar with US intelligence reporting on the issue.
It still makes a lot of sense for them; a set of mines which Iran knows the location of would be pretty dramatically to their advantage, just as it did in the 1980s.
The straight is a very narrow area to cover. Tankers are slow moving through the straight. It’s just different than trying to deny a wide open space from both vehicles and infantry.
Still makes a lot of sense to me that they’d try to deploy at least some mines; needing an Iranian pilot to get through the strait would provide one more advantage.
Just that they weren’t deployed in a way that prevents a pilot who knows where the mines are from avoiding them. In the 1980s, tankers regularly transited despite a risk of mines.
Do you think a competent offer, that is looking to embarrass the western narrative would only be made available for less than 24 hours?
Stop and think man, these aren’t blood crazed actors you have been told they are.
It still makes a lot of sense for them; a set of mines which Iran knows the location of would be pretty dramatically to their advantage, just as it did in the 1980s.
Drones didn’t exist in 1980s. It is a completely different landscape.
The fact that the only source is the White House, the same White House posting gamer propaganda memes makes the entire thing suspect.
Land mines are still getting widely used in Ukraine despite there now being drones. Why is this any different?
The straight is a very narrow area to cover. Tankers are slow moving through the straight. It’s just different than trying to deny a wide open space from both vehicles and infantry.
Still makes a lot of sense to me that they’d try to deploy at least some mines; needing an Iranian pilot to get through the strait would provide one more advantage.
More proof they aren’t currently interested in mines and likely haven’t deployed them yet.
Just that they weren’t deployed in a way that prevents a pilot who knows where the mines are from avoiding them. In the 1980s, tankers regularly transited despite a risk of mines.
“There are, in fact, tankers coming through now, Iranian tankers, I believe some Chinese flag tankers have come through. So we know that they have not mined the straits.”
You’re understanding of the situation is not based on how mines work in the straight.