US escorts oil through Strait of Hormuz as Iran responds with naval mines

Military friction in the Strait of Hormuz has escalated after the United States executed a large nocturnal operation using air, naval, and space assets to transport millions of barrels of crude oil through the blocked waterway. In conjunction with the transport effort, US forces targeted Iranian installations on Larak Island to counter threats against commercial shipping.

In response, Iranian forces deployed rocket-launched naval mines to reinforce their blockade of the corridor. Tehran reaffirmed that the strategic passage—which historically carried roughly 20 million barrels of oil daily—will remain closed until Washington halts military operations, lifts petroleum sanctions, unblocks Iranian ports, and unfreezes Iranian assets. Observers warn that both nations face a shrinking timeframe to exert leverage as the risk of further escalation grows.

Sources: Expresso, Expresso das Ilhas, RTP (Rádio e Televisão de Portugal)