Has Iran modified its rocket systems to fire mines into the Strait of Hormuz?

The motive behind the US strikes on Sunday, which hit Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz, appears to have been the prevention of a new threat to shipping in the vital waterway. Officially, the US military decided to resume its strikes after a month-long hiatus because Iranian forces from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were preparing to “launch rockets loaded with sea mines into the strait.” Read moreIran, Qatar hold Hormuz talks as US blockade squeezes Iran oil exports Rocket launchers as mine launchers Some maritime security experts say they were taken by surprise by the US’s claim. “This alleged new capability by the Iranians to deploy mines into the strait is puzzling,” said a specialist in maritime conflicts who preferred to remain anonymous. Since the conflict with the United States and Israel began, Iranians have typically transported sea mines in small, fast boats and then scattered them across the Strait of Hormuz. This has made the strait extremely dangerous as vessels have had to navigate it not knowing the exact location of the underwater explosives. To display this content from YouTube, you must enable advertisement tracking a...