- Iran has asserted complete control over the Strait of Hormuz, deploying sea mines that have trapped hundreds of ships and caused global oil prices to surge.
- The blockade follows three weeks of relentless airstrikes on Iran by the United States and Israel, with the Strait being a crucial waterway for a quarter of the world’s liquefied natural gas and seaborne oil trade.
- Experts warn that clearing the mines is a 'slow and grinding business', complicated by the seabed's debris and the sophisticated nature of modern mines, which can target specific ship types.
- Naval mines, which are inexpensive and widely produced, have been responsible for a significant majority of US ship casualties since 1950, with Iran possessing a substantial arsenal of various types.
- Reopening the Strait is considered unlikely without a political settlement, as mine clearance operations would expose US and UK minehunting ships to severe risks from Iranian missile and drone attacks.
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