Tensions Simmer as Iran Publishes Chart Hinting at Strait of Hormuz Mining During Ceasefire
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — A fragile two-week ceasefire between the United States, Israel, and Iran faced new pressure Thursday after Iranian semiofficial news agencies published a maritime chart suggesting the country’s Revolutionary Guard had laid sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz during the recent conflict. The move is widely seen as a pointed signal to Washington as contentious negotiations to solidify the truce are set to begin in Pakistan this weekend.
The chart, released by the ISNA and Tasnim agencies—the latter known for its ties to the elite Guard—depicts a large "danger zone" in Farsi superimposed on the Strait's standard Traffic Separation Scheme. This vital waterway, the narrow entrance to the Persian Gulf, once carried 20% of globally traded oil and gas. The advisory, dated from late February to April 9, recommends vessels take a northern route closer to Iran's Larak Island, a path observed during the hostilities. It remains unclear if any mines have since been cleared.
The publication immediately rattled global markets and diplomatic circles. Oil prices, which had retreated after the ceasefire announcement, surged again with Brent crude climbing 2.9% to $97.46 a barrel. The news fueled skepticism about the durability of the pause in fighting, which has been marred by conflicting interpretations from Tehran and Washington from the outset.
“The chart is a not-so-subtle reminder of Iran’s capacity to disrupt global energy supplies,” said David Chen, a maritime security analyst at the Gulf States Institute. “It’s leverage on the eve of talks, implying the Strait’s status is still very much in play.”
Israel insists the ceasefire does not cover its operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon and escalated strikes there this week, killing at least 182 people in Beirut. Iran claims these actions violate the spirit of the deal, while also asserting—contrary to U.S. statements—that the agreement recognizes its right to control the Strait, charge tolls, and continue uranium enrichment.
“This is pure, unadulterated blackmail,” argued Sarah Jenkins, a former State Department official now with the Atlantic Council, her tone sharp. “Publishing minefield charts while diplomats pack their bags for talks isn’t diplomacy; it’s coercion. It shows Tehran’s bad faith and makes a mockery of the entire process.”
In response, former President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social, vowing U.S. naval forces would remain deployed "until the REAL AGREEMENT... is fully complied with." He warned that otherwise, "the 'Shootin' Starts,' bigger, and better, and stronger than anyone has ever seen before," and insisted "the Strait of Hormuz WILL BE OPEN & SAFE."
Ship-tracking data indicated minimal commercial traffic through the Strait on the ceasefire's first day, though this excludes a "dark fleet" of vessels that disable trackers, often to transport sanctioned Iranian oil.
The White House confirmed Vice President JD Vance will lead the U.S. delegation to Islamabad for talks starting Saturday. Iran's ambassador to Pakistan stated an Iranian team would arrive Thursday night for "serious talks" based on Tehran's 10-point plan, which includes the contentious demands cited above—all previously rejected by Washington.
“We’re on a knife’s edge,” observed Khalid Al-Mansouri, a political commentator based in Doha. “The mining chart, the strikes in Lebanon, the public posturing—all of it threatens to unravel a deal that the world desperately needs to hold. The Islamabad talks have become a salvage mission.”
The Soufan Center, a security think tank, warned Thursday the ceasefire "hovers on the verge of collapse," noting that Israel’s strikes in Lebanon, even if technically outside the agreement, are likely viewed as escalatory by Iran.
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Reporting contributed from Athens, Hong Kong, Washington, and Beirut.