Days after Bab Al-Mandeb blast, US finds more Iranian naval mines across Hormuz strait | Trump, war

Fresh U.S. intelligence warns that Iran may be tightening control over key Gulf waterways after at least 10 naval mines were reportedly detected in the Strait of Hormuz. The findings part of a series of assessments that previously flagged underwater mines across the region have heightened fears for warships and commercial vessels transiting the chokepoint. U.S. officials say the suspected devices could include Iran’s domestically produced Maham-3 and Maham-7 systems, which are designed to detect and strike nearby vessels or act as seabed “sticking” mines against medium-sized ships and submarines. Commercial traffic is being rerouted away from vulnerable routes as Washington cautions that normal passage through Hormuz may now be “extremely hazardous.” The developments follow an explosion reported near the Bab-al-Mandeb Strait, stoking concerns that Tehran could seek leverage across multiple shipping corridors. The squeeze on Gulf security has already pushed global fuel prices higher and forced naval assets into heightened alert. Meanwhile, President Trump has said he paused planned strikes and asserted diplomatic talks are possible, even as on-the-ground preparations and intelligence warnings continue.