NAVAL MINE WARFARE IN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ: TIMELINES, CAPABILITIES, AND STRATEGIC CHALLENGES FOR DEPLOYMENT AND CLEARANCE OPERATIONS
Authors: Saqib Almas, Taha Nazir, Israr Ahmed , Nafasat Hussain
Keywords:Strait of Hormuz, maritime chokepoint, naval mining, IRGC Navy, mine countermeasures, commercial shipping disruption, Gulf security, maritime security, traffic separation scheme, U.S. Navy MCM
Abstract
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, through which approximately 20–21% of global seaborne oil normally transits. In a high-intensity conflict, Iranian naval mining operations—primarily executed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN)—could rapidly disrupt commercial shipping in the narrow Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS). Coalition mine countermeasures (MCM) in a contested environment would face substantial technical, operational, and threat-related challenges. This analytical review assesses deployment and clearance timelines using open-source data on Iranian mine inventories (estimated 2,000–6,000 units), platform capabilities, historical precedents from the 1991 Gulf War, and current U.S. Navy MCM systems centered on the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Mine Countermeasures Mission Package. Effective interdiction could occur within days to weeks, while comprehensive clearance may require several months to ove
Article Type:Review article
Received: 2026-04-25
Accepted: 2026-04-28
First Published:2026-04-30
First Page & Last Page: 72 - 79
DOI: -
Collection Year:2026