Sea Mines
A Maritime Security Threat
Sea mines are naval weapons placed in water to damage or destroy ships. They are a relatively low-cost, asymmetric tool that can impose disproportionate costs on maritime trade.
- The Strait of Hormuz reportedly contained over 80 sea mines during the 2026 conflict, combined with GNSS (GPS) jamming, making standard navigation hazardous.
- Sea mines have historically been used in the Persian Gulf; during the Iran-Iraq "Tanker War" (1984–1988), both sides attacked oil tankers and Iran laid mines in the Gulf.
- The 1988 UNCLOS provisions on straits apply regardless of mine threats, but practical navigation becomes impossible without mine clearance or secure corridors.
- Mine countermeasures (MCM) — the process of detecting and neutralising sea mines — require specialised naval vessels and considerable time.
● Tracked since April 23, 2026 · last seen June 24, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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