According to US intelligence, Iran has already placed floating mines in the Strait of Hormuz, which are anchored just below the water surface. Their Iranian version, known as Mahan 3, is a 300 kg payload equipped with acoustic sensors that can detect the presence of a ship from a distance of approximately 3 m. Since such a mine is activated acoustically, the type of material the hull of the attacked vessel is made of does not matter.
It is not known how many mines Iran has
The second type of mine used by the IRGC, detected by the Americans, is the 220-kg Maham 7 bottom mine, which can be deployed using small cutters or helicopters. The device is intended to attack smaller units, such as landing craft or patrol ships, and can be deployed in waters at a depth of 3 to 91 meters.
To counter such threats, the United States has adopted the tactic of destroying all Iranian vessels capable of deploying mines, including barges and motorboats. The Americans mainly use Apache helicopters and A-10 close support aircraft for this purpose.
CBS emphasized that it is not known exactly how many naval mines Iran has in its arsenal, but estimates in recent years have ranged between 2,000 and 6,000. These are devices manufactured in Iran, but also in China or Russia, and – as the station reported – it cannot be ruled out that the Iranian army is also equipped with naval mines produced in the times of the former Soviet Union.
“If Iran has placed any mines in the Strait of Hormuz and we have no reports of them, we want them removed. IMMEDIATELY!” — CBS recalled President Donald Trump's entry in response to US intelligence reports.
The Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20 percent is transported. world's supply of oil and natural gas, is only 21 miles wide at its narrowest point, making this waterway much easier to control, and even a small minefield can pose a very serious threat to world trade.
