Middle East war: Iran says coastal attack will lead to full Gulf closure and mine-laying

DUBAI: An attack on ​Iran's southern coast and ​islands will lead to Gulf ​routes being cut with the laying of sea mines, the country's Defence Council said on Monday ‌according ⁠to state ⁠media.

The U.S. is considering plans to occupy or blockade Iran's Kharg Island, the country's main oil export hub, to pressure Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to all shipping, according to ⁠Axios.

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"Any attempt ‌to attack Iran's coasts ​or ​islands will cause all access ⁠routes in the Gulf (...) to be mined ​with various types of sea mines, ​including floating mines that can be released from the coast," the statement read.

"In this case, the entire Gulf will practically be in ‌a situation similar to the Strait of Hormuz for a long ​time (...) One ​should not ⁠forget the failure of more than 100 minesweepers in the 1980s in removing a few ​sea mines."

The Defence Council recalled that non-belligerent states can only pass through the Strait of Hormuz by coordinating passage with Iran.