American media claims that the Iranian Navy laid landmines in the Strait of Hormuz, and the US Navy launched an attack to counter the threat. The US Navy destroyed 16 Iranian minelaying vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Britain claims that one of its merchant ships was attacked by a missile in the Strait of Hormuz. In total, three merchant ships in the Strait of Hormuz were attacked with various weapons. The US attack in the Strait of Hormuz and the missile attacks on the merchant ships have demonstrated the heightened threat to this vital global oil route. Iran has tightened its grip on the Strait of Hormuz.
Strait of Hormuz
This small stretch of ocean is bordered by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar. Oil from all these Arab countries reaches the world through the Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Ships traveling from the Arabian Sea pass through this Strait of Hormuz to reach the Persian Gulf. This movement occurs through two lanes, each 3 kilometers wide. After reaching the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, ships are refueled, and the ships carrying the oil return through the narrow Strait of Hormuz, returning from the Gulf of Oman to the Arabian Sea. It is so narrow that if a ship were to stop in this area due to shelling, the entire route would be disrupted.
Approximately 20 percent of the world's oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz. This is why it's feared that if Iran disrupts this route through landmines or attacks, it could severely impact global oil supplies. You may have read the term "strait" in your school geography textbooks. So, let us remind you once again what a strait is, geographically, and why this place is named Hormuz.
In geographical terms, a strait refers to a section of ocean that connects two large bodies of water. A narrow section connecting two seas is called a strait. According to ancient Iranian beliefs, this area was home to abundant date palms. This is why it was called the Strait of Hormogh, which later became the Strait of Hormuz.
You've seen the history and significance of the Strait of Hormuz. Now you understand why the US has attempted to prevent this route from being disrupted by attacking Iranian ships. Trump's Navy destroyed Iranian naval vessels, but this military action hasn't completely secured the Strait of Hormuz. The US media itself is claiming that landmines have been laid in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran hasn't just laid landmines, but has created a complete web of encirclement around the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian Chakravyuh and Naval Mines
Iran has planted landmines in this part of the sea. This means that any ship passing through these areas will be destroyed by the mine explosions. This is the initial attack plan. Following this, Iran has deployed high-speed attack boats in Bandar Abbas, a port adjacent to the Strait of Hormuz. These fast-moving boats are equipped with rocket-like weapons. These boats can suddenly emerge from the port and attack ships leaving Hormuz. The third part of this battle plan is Iran's long-range artillery. These cannons are deployed along the shores of the Strait of Hormuz. The shells fired from these cannons can bomb ships from a distance of 140 to 160 kilometers. Even if the Israeli-American coalition destroys these weapons located on the shores, Iran can still destroy merchant ships from its own soil with short-range missiles. These short-range missiles can cover a distance of 300 kilometers. This means that even after a retaliatory strike on the seashore, Iran still has ammunition options.
This lethal deployment of weapons is raising questions about whether Trump will liberate Hormuz from Iran, or whether the resulting chaos in Hormuz will lead to Trump's surrender. We're going to explain the technology behind naval mines.
Like land mines, sea mines also use explosives to damage ships. Two types of land mines are used for warfare at sea: the first are those that reach the seabed, or the second are those that float on the surface. These mines are anchored to a type of anchor chain to prevent them from drifting away. These mines have two types of sensors. The first sensor detects the sound of a ship's engine and alerts the mine. The second sensor detects the pressure exerted on the water by the ship's movement and sends an alert. Once both signals are received, the mine detonates a massive explosion, creating a massive wave of water that can rip small ships apart and damage vital components of larger vessels.
Due to the lethal weapons and the encirclement, it is being said that it will be difficult for Trump to free the Strait of Hormuz from Iranian influence. To understand how the Strait of Hormuz has become a weak point for Trump, you should carefully examine two photographs of this stretch of water.
Due to the Iran war and the threat from the Strait of Hormuz, the movement of merchant ships through this region has decreased by 98 percent.
The Strait of Hormuz has become Iran's most powerful weapon today. A weapon more dangerous than nuclear weapons. A weapon whose radiation has spread throughout the world. Iran's mobilization in Hormuz is what forced Trump to agree to talks for the first time. If the US had attacked Iran 18 years ago, in 2008, perhaps the US would not have faced so many challenges. In 2008, General Mohammad Ali Jafari, the legendary commander of Iran's Special Forces (IRGC), had developed a plan to turn Hormuz into a weapon.
Strategy of the Iranian commander
Commander Jafari's first move regarding the Strait of Hormuz is now known in military parlance as swarm tactics, meaning a strategy of large-scale attack with a large number of weapons. Commander Jafari planned to purchase high-speed attack boats to mobilize in the Strait of Hormuz. Since the Strait of Hormuz is very narrow, Commander Jafari believed that an attack by a large number of small boats across its 33-kilometer width could be very effective. Commander Jafari was the one who adopted the strategy of establishing coastal batteries, i.e., missile and artillery positions along the coast. Today, under this strategy, Iran has deployed rocket launchers and artillery near Hormuz. It was also at Commander Jafari's suggestion that Iran purchased a large number of landmines from Russia. By laying these mines, Iran has filled the waters of the Strait of Hormuz with gunpowder.
That is, 18 years ago, Commander Jafari understood that if a war broke out with the US, the only way to suppress it was through the Strait of Hormuz. Eighteen years later, Commander Jafari's vision appears to be coming true. While Commander Jafari was developing his plan, an American professor also assessed the threat posed by Iran.
In 2008, American thinker Caitlin Talmadge wrote a research paper that stated that during a war, Iran would first exert pressure on the Strait of Hormuz to disrupt global oil supplies. In her research, Caitlin also stated that even if the US were victorious in a war-like situation, it could take up to 15 days to remove the landmines from the Strait of Hormuz. This means that even after defeating Iran, the Strait of Hormuz cannot be declared safe immediately.
The Strait of Hormuz could pose a significant challenge to US military plans. It was written and predicted years ago, but Trump and his military failed to learn their own lessons. The US military remained reliant on artificial intelligence, and as a result, the first attack, which should have been directed towards the Strait of Hormuz, was not carried out, and Trump is now facing the consequences of this mistake. The disruption of oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz has forced Trump to such an extent that he is not even refusing to cooperate with adversaries like China.
It's nearly impossible for the US to seize Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz is often referred to as the lifeline of oil and gas. Its closure has significantly impacted oil and gas supplies. But if tensions escalate further in this region, it will impact not only oil prices but also internet, cloud services, and global data traffic. It will also impact you. How is your mobile phone connected to Hormuz? How is your internet connection to Hormuz established? Now you should understand this.
Most of the world's internet traffic is transmitted not via satellites but via undersea fiber-optic cables. These cables are the true backbone of the global internet. Reports indicate that over 95% of the world's international data traffic travels through these undersea cables, including email, banking transactions, and cloud data.
Damage to these cables could slow the internet, cause websites to crash, or disrupt cloud services. The Strait of Hormuz, which is used by oil tankers, also carries a dense network of fiber-optic cables crucial to India's international internet connectivity. Nearly one-third of India's westward-bound internet traffic passes through it.
Any disruption in the Strait of Hormuz will impact not only oil and gas but also India's digital network, which powers India's internet, cloud services, and global data flows. A single cable cut during war will disrupt internet traffic. Damage to multiple cables simultaneously will have a greater impact. It's also unlikely that a disruption on one route will result in traffic being diverted to another, as their capacity is also limited.
#DNA Friends | Press the 'Hormuz' button…panic spreads across the world!…Whoever captures Hormuz…will be the winner? #DNA #DNAWithRahulSinha #Iran #Israel #StraitofHormuz | @RahulSinhaTV pic.twitter.com/wzsxD8eoEu
— Zee News (@ZeeNews) March 11, 2026
Repairing an undersea cable is no simple task. It takes months and costs millions of dollars. It requires specialized ships that are afraid to venture into war-torn areas. By then, the country's economy will suffer significant losses. You should also understand the difficulties it causes.
Due to the cable outage, people will face reduced speeds, increased latency, and poor performance when using international services. They will also face buffering and slow speeds on social media, foreign-operated OTT platforms, and video sharing platforms.
Additionally, banking transactions with foreign countries will be disrupted. IT and BPO companies will face difficulties connecting with clients, posing a direct threat to the $250 billion-plus IT export economy. Furthermore, cloud services, which are used by every Indian startup and company, will experience poor performance.
Domestic internet networks will continue to function, but connections to servers abroad will slow down and malfunction. This isn't just a matter of internet speed, but also poses a significant challenge to India's ambition to become a digital superpower. This means the Hormuz crisis poses a double threat to India. From energy to internet access, there's a potential for disruption.
Disclaimer: This article is automatically curated and rewritten by AI for UnsaidBharat. While we strive for accuracy, global news is subject to rapid updates. Readers are encouraged to verify facts independently. For any concerns, contact us at utkarshsen@unsaidbharat.com
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