Hormuz Naval Mines

The Strait of Hormuz is currently facing a complex crisis following Iran’s deployment of a large number of naval mines during recent hostilities. Although Iran announced on 17 April 2026 that the strait is open, this declaration appears largely political rather than operational. Estimates of the number of mines vary significantly, ranging from around 5,000 mines according to Iranian figures to between 10,000 and 12,000 mines according to U.S. assessments. The strait normally carries about 20 million barrels of oil per day, representing roughly 20% of global energy flows, yet traffic has collapsed from approximately 140 ships per day before the crisis to only 7 ships shortly after the reopening announcement. This sharp decline illustrates that the core issue is not political permission to transit, but whether ships can safely pass through a heavily mined environment.