Iran Has Mined Large Segments of the Strait of Hormuz, Rubio Tells Senate
CNBC reported Tuesday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Congress Iran has mined extensive portions of the Strait of Hormuz. He described the explosive deployment as far broader than previously understood.
Rubio’s Senate Testimony Raises Alarm
Appearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rubio stated that Iran has been firing on commercial vessels while simultaneously mining large sections of the strait. He called both actions unlawful under international law.
It was his first congressional appearance since the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran on February 28. Rubio made clear that any future deal with Tehran must include a commitment to stop charging transit tolls, cease attacks on commercial shipping, and assist in removing mines already laid.
Strait of Hormuz Mining Disrupts Global Energy Markets
The Strait of Hormuz is among the world’s most critical energy chokepoints. Before the conflict began, roughly 20% of global oil supplies moved through the waterway each day.
Tanker traffic has fallen sharply since hostilities began, creating what analysts describe as the largest supply disruption in recorded history. Jack Kennedy, head of Middle East country risk at S&P Global Market Intelligence, told CNBC that the precise number and location of remaining mines is still unknown. A full return to prewar shipping volumes is unlikely until a thorough demining operation is completed, he added.
A Timeline of Contradictory Signals
The mining issue has been clouded by shifting statements from Washington. President Donald Trump warned Tehran in a March 10 Truth Social post to remove any mines immediately. The following day, speaking to reporters, he said he did not believe Iran had actually laid any.
By late April, Trump ordered the U.S. Navy to destroy any vessel caught deploying mines and said American minesweepers were clearing the strait at an accelerated pace. Despite that, the White House on Friday again demanded Iran complete the immediate removal or detonation of all remaining mines.
Demining Effort Still Incomplete
A White House official told CNBC the Pentagon has neutralized numerous mines and destroyed more than 40 minelaying vessels. The official described the disruptions as short-term and temporary, framing them as conditions the president anticipated. The White House did not provide a figure for how many mines are believed to remain in the waterway.
Analysts caution that uncertainty about the mine count will continue to suppress tanker traffic and keep upward pressure on global crude benchmarks until a verifiable clearance operation is confirmed.
Read Next: Oil Markets Brace for Extended Supply Shock as Hormuz Tensions Persist
