The problem is that simply sinking a ship or two in the Strait is enough to block it for some time.
Not so much a hazard to navigation, as the absence of insurance in the face of real peril. Underwriters explicitly exclude acts of war. Watch for more foreign owned vessels being registered in the U.S., and flying the America flag. Best maritime insurance in the world.
How is that? It's 20 miles wide. Is it shallow or something?
Shipping lanes are about six miles wide, so it would take a lot more than a ship or two, but certainly could be blocked for some period of time with mines and suicide boats.
“The problem is that simply sinking a ship or two in the Strait is enough to block it for some time.”
“On the north coast lies Iran, and on the south coast the United Arab Emirates and Musandam, an exclave of Oman. At its narrowest, the strait has a width of 29 nautical miles (54 km).” - Wikipedia
That trick worked for Nasser in 1956 because the Suez Canal is so narrow. Took months to clear out all the ships he sunk in it. Didn’t accomplish anything except anger nations dependent on Suez shipping.
IMO if the mullahs try to sink ships in the Strait, the list of sunken ships will include the Iranian navy. Besides, they’ll just be cutting off their nose to spite their face. The Silk Road isn’t much of a substitute & besides where would they get their fuel?
It’s also enough to encourage a visit from USAF and USN Aviation ...
“The problem is that simply sinking a ship or two in the Strait is enough to block it for some time.”
The deep water shipping channel is several miles wide. It would take a couple of dozen ships to create a true navigation hazard in those shallow waters.
Besides, Iran would then cease to exist. How do they gain by that?
You are totally incorrect. Go to google earth and look at the width and water depths. The only way to close the straits is with a superior surface fleet or mines. Iran's surface fleet would be wiped out in hours as would their ability to lay mines. If Iran were a sophisticated military they could close the straits. They do not have this sophisticated military and all their oil also goes through these straits.