Without naval mines… How can Iran completely close the Strait of Hormuz?

Exclusive Report – Al-Khabar Al-Yemeni:

American media have published intelligence reports talking about Iranian preparations to deploy naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most important sea lanes for transporting oil in the world. However, military experts have confirmed that Tehran possesses multiple military options enabling it to disrupt or even completely close the strait without the need to use naval mines.

Missiles and Drones Instead of Mines:

Military experts and observers have confirmed that naval mines are not Iran’s only option for closing the strait. Tehran has a vast network of missiles and naval drones that can target military and commercial ships at great distances, potentially making travel through the strait so dangerous that navigation would cease.

Experts point out that Iranian anti-ship missiles can strike maritime targets at distances of up to more than a thousand kilometers, in addition to offensive and reconnaissance drones capable of tracking ships and targeting them in territorial waters or even deep in the Gulf, the Arabian Sea, and reaching the Indian Ocean.

Analysts say these capabilities mean Iran can practically turn the Strait of Hormuz into a closed area, which could prompt shipping and insurance companies to halt the movement of commercial vessels through it, effectively equating to its closure without needing to lay mines.

The Red Sea Experience as a Model:

Observers cite the experience witnessed in the Red Sea over the past two years, where Yemeni forces managed to disrupt the passage of ships linked to Israel, the US, and Britain using only missiles and drones.

Those operations led to a complete disruption of the movement of ships linked to Israel towards the port of Eilat, whose activity ceased entirely for two years, without the use of naval mines.

According to experts, this model could be used as a real-world illustration of how to use low-cost precision attacks to disrupt navigation in strategic crossings, supporting predictions that Iran might use a similar tactic in the Strait of Hormuz if military tensions rise.

An Advanced Naval Missile Arsenal:

Iran possesses one of the largest anti-ship missile arsenals in the region, including cruise and ballistic missiles designed to target naval vessels in the Arabian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.

Among the most prominent of these missiles are the following:

– The “Abu Mahdi” Missile:
Considered one of Iran’s latest long-range naval cruise missiles, with a range exceeding 1,000 kilometers, capable of accurately hitting various naval targets.

– The “Nasir” Missile:
A short-range cruise missile typically used in rapid and surprise operations against naval targets.

– The “Zulfiqar” and “Qiam” Missiles:
Ballistic missiles for which versions have been developed with a naval seeker to become capable of hitting moving targets at sea.

– The “Soumar” Missile:
A long-range cruise missile with a range between 2,500 and 3,000 kilometers, usable against naval or land targets.

Launch from Underground and Maneuverability:

Iranian missile systems are characterized by several features that enhance their effectiveness in any potential naval confrontation, most notably:

– Launch from mobile platforms or underground bunkers inside mountains, making detection and destruction extremely difficult.

– Diversity of speeds and ranges between subsonic cruise missiles and high-speed ballistic missiles.

– Advanced targeting technologies allowing for ship tracking and hitting targets accurately.

– Integration with drones that carry out reconnaissance and target designation missions.

Alongside missiles, Iran also possesses a large fleet of naval and attack drones capable of striking commercial and military vessels at distances of up to more than a thousand kilometers, extending the threat beyond the Strait of Hormuz itself.

Experts affirm that combining long-range missiles, drones, and fast attack craft could grant Iran the ability to impose a wide maritime exclusion zone, making ship passage through the strait risky, which could effectively disrupt global trade and energy flows.