The National Interest reported that Iran has effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for one-fifth of global oil supply, following drone and missile attacks on Israel and Gulf energy facilities. The closure has sharply increased insurance rates and halted most shipping through the strait, threatening to paralyze international trade for weeks or months.

According to the report, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) could turn the narrow waterway into a minefield, with an estimated five to six thousand naval mines capable of sealing the passage within hours. The United States faces limited options to remove the mines, as its mine-clearing fleet relies mainly on coastal ships and helicopters, insufficient for the scale of the threat. Western nations have pledged assistance to reopen the strait, but their commitments remain uncertain.

The report warns that prolonged mine-clearing operations could keep global oil markets unstable, drive up insurance premiums, and disrupt tanker movements, potentially shaking the world economy.