According to the reports, members of the IRGC’s special naval commando force, known as the SNSF, have been spotted operating in the area in diver teams accompanied by fast attack boats.

The forces reportedly belong to Iran’s elite naval units deployed throughout IRGC-controlled sectors of the Persian Gulf.

Any attempt to mine the Strait of Hormuz would represent a major escalation and pose a direct threat to international shipping through one of the world’s most important maritime routes.