As tensions simmer across the Middle East, U.S. officials warn that Iran could mine the Strait of Hormuz if American forces join Israel’s widening military operations—an act that could entrap U.S. warships and ignite a broader regional war, reported by Anadolu Agency.
According to intelligence reviewed by Washington, Iranian commanders have drawn up contingency plans to mine the narrow maritime chokepoint, through which a fifth of global oil supply flows daily. The tactic is seen as a means to deter U.S. naval movement and exert pressure on Western powers.
The warning, first reported by The New York Times, underscores escalating concerns that Israeli military action—particularly a rumored strike on Iran’s fortified Fordo nuclear facility—could provoke Iranian retaliation, pulling Washington deeper into a potential regional conflagration.
U.S. Central Command has responded by raising alert levels for over 40,000 troops stationed in the Middle East, including personnel in the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. Missile defense systems have also been repositioned amid signals that Iran has armed ballistic systems within striking range of U.S. bases in Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE.
Iran, for its part, has issued stern warnings. “Our enemies must understand that military threats cannot bend the will of the Iranian people,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared Monday, adding that the U.S. and Israel would be held responsible for any escalation.
While Pentagon planners reportedly continue discussions over potential long-range strikes—possibly involving B-2 stealth bombers and the Massive Ordnance Penetrator—defense experts have urged restraint.
“It is never too late not to start a war,” said Rosemary Kelanic of Defense Priorities, cautioning that military intervention would likely accelerate Iran’s drive toward nuclear armament rather than halt it.
As the Middle East stands at the edge of a knife, the strategic Strait of Hormuz may once again become a flashpoint with global stakes.
