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Iran struggles to restrict Hormuz traffic after US strikes degrade maritime capabilities

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Analysis Named sources Ongoing story
  • The Institute for the Study of War said US strikes likely degraded Iran’s ability to monitor the Strait of Hormuz and lay naval mines.
  • US officials said about 40 vessels carrying millions of barrels of oil crossed the strait on September 1, while more than 17 million barrels passed through on August 31.
  • The assessment said Iran has turned to less efficient methods, including shore-based rocket launchers and fast-attack craft, to deploy mines and identify vessels.

Iran appears to be struggling to keep commercial traffic away from the southern route through the Strait of Hormuz after US strikes damaged parts of its maritime surveillance and mine-laying capability, according to the Institute for the Study of War.

About 40 vessels carrying millions of barrels of oil crossed the strait on September 1, US officials told Axios. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said tankers carried more than 17 million barrels through the waterway on August 31, the highest daily volume since the US-Israel-Iran war began. That figure came close to the pre-war average of 21.6 million barrels per day recorded in the fourth quarter of 2025.

ISW said the increased flow suggested Iran could not prevent all commercial vessels from using the southern route. The institute also reported signs that Iranian forces faced operational limits when trying to identify ships and lay mines efficiently. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had reportedly used shore-based rocket launchers to deploy mines instead of fast-attack craft. It also used fast boats to identify vessels because only a few Iranian radars could cover the southern route.

highly degraded

· Adm. Brad CooperThe CENTCOM commander described the condition of naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz after US forces cleared a shipping pathway.

The institute said those improvised methods indicated that US attacks had degraded some of Iran’s maritime capabilities. Although the IRGC has repeatedly claimed that ships struck naval mines in the strait, ISW assessed that the claims likely aimed to maintain the impression that the southern passage remained dangerous. US Central Command previously said American forces had cleared mines from the waterway. CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper said they had opened an effective route for ships leaving the Persian Gulf and that the mines had been “highly degraded.”

Iranian military spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari disputed that account on Wednesday, saying new mines had been laid. He said, “During last night's operation, more naval mines were laid along the illicit routes south of the Strait of Hormuz; The only thing CENTCO.”

During last night's operation, more naval mines were laid along the illicit routes south of the Strait of Hormuz; The only thing CENTCO

· Ebrahim ZolfaghariThe Iranian military spokesperson claimed that new mines had been laid, challenging the US account.
About this summary

Originally published by Jerusalem Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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