The US Navy faces 'a huge liability' in countering one of Iran's favorite and most dangerous weapons

In the wake of President Donald Trump's decision to pull out of the nuclear deal signed with Iran and five other countries in 2015, Tehran has responded with one of its most frequent threats: Closing the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow channel in the Persian Gulf through which roughly 30% of world's oil flows. "If Iran's oil exports are to be prevented, we will not give permission for oil to be exported to the world through the Strait of Hormuz," a Revolutionary Guards commander said in July. Coastal defenses and naval vessels would have a big role in that effort, but it would likely revolve around one of Iran's favorite military assets, sea mines — a vicious weapon that presents an acute challenge for the US Navy, which is in the process of shifting between old and new mine-countermeasure systems. ...
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