Iran has laid about a dozen mines in Strait of Hormuz, sources say

WASHINGTON, March 11 - Iran has deployed about a dozen mines in the Strait of Hormuz, two sources familiar with the matter said, in a move likely to complicate the reopening of the narrow waterway, an important route for shipping oil and liquefied natural gas. Read more at straitstimes.com.

WASHINGTON, March 11 - Iran has deployed about a dozen mines in the Strait of Hormuz, two sources familiar with the matter said, in a move likely to complicate the reopening of the narrow waterway, an important route for shipping oil and liquefied natural gas.

Exports of oil and LNG through the strategic chokepoint along Iran's coast have effectively been halted by the war launched 12 days ago by the United States and Israel, helping to drive a surge in world energy prices.

Iran’s military command on Wednesday said the world should be prepared for oil to hit $200 a barrel.

One source said the locations of most of the mines are known but declined to say how the U.S. planned to deal with them.

CNN first reported the mining of the strait on Tuesday.

Iran has long threatened to retaliate against any military attack by mining the strait. About a fifth of global oil and LNG normally passes through the strait, and Tehran's ability to stop shipping through the channel gives it enormous leverage over the U.S. and its allies.