Iran Partially Opens Strait Of Hormuz, But Admits To Placing Naval Mines

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh informed the world that Tehran would open the Strait of Hormuz in a limited capacity during an interview on Thursday.

Khatibzadeh admitted in the interview with ITV that the Iranian regime has laid naval mines in the strait. These mines will have to be cleared after the conflict is resolved, which can be expensive and dangerous.

“Anybody who communicates with the Iranian authority has got permission to pass,” Khatibzadeh said in the ITV interview.

Khatibzadeh explained in the interview that the Iranian regime will have to guide vessels through the strait for the foreseeable future. Tehran told mediators that it would limit passage to only 12 ships per day, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Iran plans to impose a transit toll of $1/barrel payable in Chinese yuan or cryptocurrency, according to the Financial Times.

Iran may have as many as 2,000 to 6,000 mines, according to statements provided by U.S. officials to CBS News. Declassified CIA documents from 1984 state that the Iranians may have mines with explosive payloads larger than 1100 pounds (500 kilograms). Explosive charges of this size have the power to cripple or even sink large vessels.