Iran says it laid more naval mines south of Strait of Hormuz

Iran has said it placed additional naval mines south of the Strait of Hormuz, while rejecting US claims that it controls the strategically important maritime passage, according to Middle East Eye.

Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, announced the reported mine-laying operation in a post on X. He said more mines had been deployed during an operation conducted the previous night along routes south of the strait that he described as illicit.

Zolfaghari also dismissed claims by US Central Command, or CENTCOM, concerning control of the waterway. He accused the command of responding by digitally renaming the strait rather than addressing the Iranian operation. His remarks referred to images released earlier by the Trump administration, according to the Middle East Eye report.

“During last night's operation, more naval mines were laid along the illicit routes south of the Strait of Hormuz; The only thing CENTCOM could do in response was rename the Strait using Photoshop,” Zolfaghari wrote.

He continued the criticism in a second comment, saying: “Problem solved! You can just use Photoshop to get the oil tankers through, too!” The statement used mockery to challenge the US portrayal of its position in the passage.

The report did not provide independent confirmation of the claimed mine deployment, details about the number or type of mines, or further information about the operation. It also did not include a response from CENTCOM to Zolfaghari’s assertions.

The exchange centres on competing claims over the Strait of Hormuz, with the Iranian spokesperson presenting the alleged mine-laying as evidence against US assertions of control. The information available in the Middle East Eye update was limited to Zolfaghari’s comments and his reference to images issued by the Trump administration.

Reporting attribution: based on reporting by Middle East Eye — original source: https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/iran-dismisses-us-claims-control-over-hormuz-strait-says-it-laid-more.