Barak Ravid, a correspondent for the American news site Axios, stated on Friday that Iran planted more mines in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this week.
Writing on the X platform, Ravid added that this move came shortly after US secretary of defense Pete Hegseth declared that any attempt to lay additional mines would be considered a violation of the ceasefire. Meanwhile, U.S. chief of staff Dan Keen clarified that the United States continues to enforce a strict blockade on Iranian ports, applying it comprehensively to all vessels without exception.
During a press conference, Keen said, “We are monitoring suspicious vessels, whether they are heading to Iran or were previously outside the blockade zone,” emphasizing, “We are on high alert and ready to intercept ships as part of our naval blockade on Iran.”
He noted that the military is prepared to resume major combat operations immediately upon receiving orders from US president Donald Trump.
The US chief of staff continued, “We have received orders to carry out maritime interceptions of ships subject to sanctions on Iran worldwide, and we will continue interception operations against Iran’s ghost fleet.”
