These mines can lie dormant for months before activating. Tehran has already marked safe shipping routes along its coastline — while leaving the rest of the Strait dangerous.
Iran’s mine threat has laid bare the US Navy’s vulnerabilities:
Limited mine countermeasures (clearing could take 6+ months)
No diesel-electric submarines
Relies on carrier groups (forced hundreds of kilometers away by missile threats, reducing airpower reach)
Large ships struggle in confined waters while submarines are vulnerable to mines.