The United States military ended a month-long lull in its conflict with Iran on Sunday by launching strikes against military positions on Larak Island. US officials characterized the operation as a “limited, precise action” intended to neutralize Iranian forces allegedly preparing to deploy sea mines within the Strait of Hormuz using rocket systems.
Central Command (CENTCOM) spokesman Tim Hawkins stated that US forces, which are currently maintaining a blockade of Iranian ports near the strait, observed members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) readying rockets equipped with sea mines. In response, Iranian leadership condemned the operation as an “act of aggression.” The IRGC subsequently launched retaliatory strikes against two US army bases located in Jordan. Official statements from the IRGC confirmed fatalities among their personnel and civilians, while the Tasnim news agency reported at least two deaths and two injuries resulting from the US bombardment.
The US assertion that rockets could be used to lay mines has sparked debate among military analysts. Harlan Ullman, a retired senior US naval officer, described the premise as “implausible,” noting that the force of a rocket impact in water would likely destroy the mines themselves. Ullman suggested that the US might be downplaying intelligence regarding other, more conventional deployment methods to justify the strike.
Despite skepticism, Iran has previously showcased such capabilities. During naval exercises in January 2025, Iranian state media broadcast footage of the IRGC utilizing the Fajr-5 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) to distribute mines. The Fajr-5, a 333mm medium-range system developed in the 1990s, is typically mounted on mobile trucks and fires rockets with 175kg fragmentation warheads. While primarily designed for ground-based artillery, the system has a range of approximately 75km, with newer variants like the Fajr-5c capable of reaching targets up to 130km away.
The theoretical application of this system for mine-laying would involve replacing explosive warheads with sea mines. Upon reaching designated naval coordinates, the rocket casings would open mid-air, releasing the mines, which would then be slowed by parachutes or similar mechanisms to ensure a soft landing in the water. This method could theoretically allow for the rapid dispersal of dozens or even hundreds of mines across the strait, potentially overwhelming traditional minesweeping efforts while keeping Iranian vessels out of range of CENTCOM forces.
Traditionally, sea mines are deployed via specialized warships, submarines, or aircraft, with Iran historically relying on small, fast-attack boats to drop explosives before retreating. US President Donald Trump recently claimed that CENTCOM had cleared the Strait of Hormuz of mines, warning that any further deployment attempts would be met with force. Experts note that clearing the strait is a labor-intensive, slow process, typically requiring specialized Avenger-class mine destroyers designed to minimize magnetic signatures.
The US military itself maintains aerial mine-laying capabilities, utilizing the Quickstrike mine system. These are 2,000lb (907kg) bombs retrofitted with mine components and guidance kits, such as the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM), which allows for precision delivery from aircraft. These munitions can be deployed from ranges of up to 25km, allowing US forces to operate from beyond the reach of enemy air defenses. Recent tests, including the April evaluation of the GBU-75 guided munition, demonstrate the ongoing development of these high-altitude, precision-guided naval strike and mining tactics. The report also notes that he suggested that the US may have received intelligence that Iran was prepared to use launchers from ships to deploy new mines but wanted to downplay the threat. The report also notes that “They (Iran) have got a lot of options they could use to plant these mines. The report also notes that waiting to detect the magnetic signature or vibration of passing ships before detonating, they can be dropped to the seabed or moored slightly above the bottom. The report also notes that exploding when they come in contact with vessels, mines can also be positioned to bob just beneath the water surface. The report also notes that to clear Hormuz of mines to make it safe for general shipping, CENTCOM would have needed to launch a painstakingly slow operation to find and trigger controlled detonations of every single mine, experts say.
