Iran Threatens to Mine Persian Gulf in Response to Potential US Ground Operation

(SeaPRwire) –   Tehran has issued a threat to plant explosives in this vital global trade corridor as a reaction to a possible U.S. ground operation

Following reports that the U.S. is sending thousands of troops to the Middle East in preparation for a potential ground invasion of Iran, the nation’s National Defense Council has warned it might lay mines in the Persian Gulf in retaliation.

During the second week of the conflict with Iran, U.S. Central Command announced it had destroyed 16 Iranian mine-laying ships near the Strait of Hormuz; these vessels were said to be unmanned when targeted.

Deploying naval mines—known for being extremely hard to clear—would allow Tehran to exert significant control over Persian Gulf shipping routes and increase the stakes for any U.S.-Israeli effort to overthrow the regime.

In a Monday statement, Iranian officials stated that such an action would “naturally lead to the mining of all entry points in the Persian Gulf and coastal regions,” which could halt navigation for an extended period.

Why would Iran mine the Persian Gulf?

Right now, Tehran holds considerable sway over traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, thanks to its capacity to target ships using drones and short-range missiles. This has made traveling through the strait too dangerous for commercial ships from nations Iran considers “unfriendly.”

The U.S. has been careful about stopping Iranian vessels, even granting a waiver for Iranian crude oil exports because of worries about further disruptions to the global energy market.

A large-scale placement of sea mines would disrupt shipping for all involved parties for an extended time, no matter how the conflict ends.

How many mines is Iran capable of placing in the Persian Gulf?

Recent U.S. military assessments indicate Iran has over 5,000 sea mines. Typical types include floating contact mines that are either anchored to the ocean floor or allowed to drift, plus larger bottom mines fitted with advanced sensors—these are harder to spot if placed in debris-heavy areas.

Smaller mines don’t require complex equipment to deploy. The Iranian statement noted that Tehran plans to launch floating mines directly from its coast.

Has there been a prior case of large-scale mine clearance in the Persian Gulf?

Clearing a large minefield would take a long time. In the 1991 Gulf War, Saddam Hussein’s forces laid about 1,000 sea mines, and it took U.S.-led coalition forces almost two months and dozens of ships to clear them—this happened after Iraq was defeated.

The Persian Gulf faced a similar crisis during the 1980s’ “tanker war.” During the Iran-Iraq conflict, both sides attacked commercial ships to harm each other’s economies, impacting neutral nations like Kuwait.

Unlike Iraq, which leaned more on airstrikes, Iran tried various naval warfare strategies. Per U.S. naval researcher Ronald O’Rourke, sea mine attacks—though not numerous—were a significant part of Iran’s tactics.

The conflict led to more than 300 maritime casualties and dozens of ships either sunk or written off as total losses. A UN-supported U.S. military mission started in 1987 to escort neutral ships; this served as a deterrent since both Iran and Iraq wanted to avoid clashing with the U.S.

How an Iranian mine nearly sank a U.S. warship

A key incident from the “tanker war” took place in April 1988: the USS Samuel B. Roberts hit an Iranian sea mine in the Persian Gulf and came close to sinking.

The guided missile frigate—part of U.S. escort operations—sustained major damage, and 10 crew members were hurt. The U.S. retaliated by attacking Iranian ships and oil platforms, leading to dozens of Iranian military fatalities; the U.S. also lost a Marine Corps helicopter and its two crew members.

Will the U.S. and Israel invade Iran and spark a Persian Gulf crisis?

It’s still uncertain if Washington will go ahead with a ground invasion.

Military analysts note that even sending thousands of troops wouldn’t be enough for a large-scale operation. Meanwhile, limited goals like securing islands or coastal areas would leave U.S. forces vulnerable to Iranian counterattacks, as the region’s terrain benefits a well-prepared defending force.

The potentially catastrophic political consequences would put pressure on U.S. President Donald Trump, as reports indicate there were divisions within his administration before the U.S.-Israeli attack.