Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi today (12 March 2026) denied reports that Iran was laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Takht-Ravanchi's remarks come days after the US said it had struck multiple Iranian vessels, including 16 minelaying vessels operating near the Strait of Hormuz.
"Some countries have already talked to us about passing the Strait, and we have cooperated with them," the Deputy FM was quoted as saying by AFP. "As far as Iran is concerned, we feel that those countries that joined the aggression should not benefit from safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz."
News sources in the middle east report that India has agreed passage for 28 ships through the strait, but this is not confirmed.
UK Defense Secretary John Healey said the reports had become "clearer and clearer that the Iranians may have started mining in the strait."
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba says the closure of the Strait of Hormuz should be continued as a tool to pressure the enemy as reports from Reuters and other international sources suggested Iran has begun marine mine laying operations to further block sea traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
He additionally stated that "all US bases should immediately be closed in the region and those bases should be attacked."
Attacks on US bases in the Gulf region and as far away as the Mediterranean have been ongoing this week, as the cross Gulf drone and missile strikes continue, most recently in northern Iraq, and around Erbil.
On the question of base attacks, he claimed that Iran "only" targets military bases and sites, and says this will continue. However, he did try to assure angry Gulf neighbors, who have been pummeled by Iranian missiles and drones for close to two weeks now, that Iran believes in "friendship with our neighbors".
The message, which may have been released in response to reports that the Ayatollah had been seriously injured in a bomb strike and was in a coma, further praises 'martyrs' of the Islamic Republic and is
one that emphasizes Iran is not backing down, despite the immense daily
US-Israeli bombings so the economic outlook for the west is grim as we face a months long oil and energy crisis.
He also 'thanked' regional militias for their
'support' - at a moment Shia Iraq militant groups are said to be
launching strikes on US targets inside neighboring Iraq. Ominously, the
new Ayatollah is warning of opening "other fronts".
Elsewhere in The Gulf two oil tankers were struck overnight in the Gulf asas Iran intensified its attacks on foreign ships across the region. The vessels were reportedly hit by small, fast, remote-controlled boats on Iran's Mosquito Fleet, in effect marine drones laden with explosives. The attack took place in Iraqi waters, with footage showing one of the tankers ablaze.
Picture: screen grab from AFP
Iraqi authorities said oil Iraqi ports had “completely stopped” operations following the attack, hours after Donald Trump insisted the United States had already won the war.
The attacks sent oil prices soaring on Thursday, with crude hitting more than $100 (£80) a barrel, despite record releases of strategic crude reserves to dampen one of the worst oil shocks since the 1970s.
The two tankers - carrying cargos of extremely flammable naphtha and condensate, - were attacked while present in loading area.Tanker ZEFYROS was scheduled to head to Khor Al-Zubair Port on March 12 to load additional 30,000 tons shipment of naphtha. This incident negatively affects Iraq’s security and economy and also represents a threat to safety of maritime navigation and oil activities within Iraqi territorial waters, SOMO says.
According to an Iraqi port official speaking to the Reuters news agency, authorities have successfully evacuated 25 crew members from the two ships. Despite these efforts, the fires have remained ablaze on both vessels.
One tanker, which was flying a foreign flag, is believed to be American, though its specific nationality has not been confirmed. The attack took place within Iraq’s territorial waters, but no group has claimed responsibility for the incident.
It turns out that perhaps the area is not as "safe" as President Trump said it was. And as a reminder, the US Navy already said it was 'too dangerous' to escort tankers through still.
As a result of these hits on tankers, Iraq one of the first Persian Gulf majors to start reducing oil production after the near-closure of Hormuz, closed its oil ports, followed by Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. The cuts forced forced the International Energy Agency to act with a co-ordinated release of 400 million barrels — a historic drawdown that is significantly higher than the volume that followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Oil prices are surging higher on the news with WTI back above $91 - now up on the week and 20% higher than yesterday's lows.
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