Iran threatened on Monday to mine all access routes and communication channels in the Persian Gulf if its islands are attacked by the United States, which on Sunday pointed out that the invasion of Jarg Island, home to Iran's main oil center, is on the table. «Any attempt by the enemy to attack Iranian coasts or islands will naturally, in accordance with usual military practice, lead to the mining of all access routes and communication channels in the Persian Gulf and its coasts with various types of naval mines, including deployable floating mines from the coast,» warned Iran's Defense Council. The body stated that if it came to that, «the entire Persian Gulf would for long periods be in a situation similar to that of the Strait of Hormuz, that is, the entire Gulf would be practically blocked». Under such circumstances, passage through the Strait of Hormuz for «non-hostile countries» will be coordinated by Iran. It added that all responsibility would lie with the «aggressor,» referring to the United States. The warning comes after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent declared on Sunday that all options, including sending troops to secure Jarg Island —which houses the Islamic republic's largest crude oil export terminal— are on the table. U.S. President Donald Trump threatened on Saturday night that «if Iran does not fully open the Strait within 48 hours, from this moment, the United States will attack and obliterate its various power plants». The Islamic Republic has responded to Trump with a defiant tone, in turn threatening to attack energy facilities in the Persian Gulf and completely block the Strait of Hormuz. 20% of global crude oil exports pass through this strategic passage, which has decreased enormously since the start of the war due to Iranian attacks, which has driven up oil prices.
