The Strait of Hormuz — 33 km wide at its narrowest — carries approximately 20% of the world's oil supply. Iran's arsenal of anti-ship missiles, combined with mines, fast attack boats, and coastal defense systems, gives it the theoretical ability to disrupt or close this critical chokepoint. This capability is central to Iran's deterrence strategy.
Anti-Ship Missile Arsenal
Iran has developed and deployed a diverse range of anti-ship missiles:
Noor (C-802 derivative)
Based on the Chinese C-802, the Noor is Iran's most widely deployed anti-ship cruise missile. Range ~120 km, Mach 0.9, 165 kg warhead. Sea-skimming terminal approach makes it difficult to detect. Deployed on fast attack boats, coastal launchers, and larger warships.
Khalij Fars (Persian Gulf)
A unique weapon — an anti-ship ballistic missile derived from the Fateh-110 with an electro-optical terminal seeker. Range ~300 km, reaching across the entire Persian Gulf. The ballistic approach trajectory means it arrives at very high speed, giving ship defenses minimal reaction time.
Ghader
An extended-range development of the Noor with ~200 km range and improved guidance. Carried by coastal launchers and the IRGC Navy's larger vessels. Turbojet-powered for extended range compared to the rocket-boosted Noor.
Hormuz-1 and Hormuz-2
Anti-radiation and radar-seeking missiles designed to target naval vessels' radar systems. Based on the Fateh-110 airframe, they home in on the electronic emissions from ship-based radars — a weapon specifically designed to counter Aegis-equipped destroyers and cruisers.
Coastal Defense Network
Iran has fortified both sides of the Strait of Hormuz with hardened anti-ship missile batteries:
- Northern shore (Iran): Dozens of concealed launch positions in mountains overlooking the strait
- Islands: Abu Musa, Greater and Lesser Tunb islands are fortified with missile batteries
- Mobile launchers: Truck-mounted Noor and Ghader launchers can relocate along the coast
The geography favors the defender. Ships transiting the strait must pass within 50-100 km of Iranian shores and islands — well within range of shore-based missiles. Mountains and islands provide natural cover for launchers.
Fast Attack Boat Swarm Tactics
The IRGC Navy operates hundreds of small, fast attack boats carrying C-704 and Noor missiles. In a conflict, these boats would launch from concealed positions along Iran's coast and islands in coordinated swarms, firing missiles and then retreating into small harbors and coves.
While individual fast boats are vulnerable, dozens attacking simultaneously from different directions could overwhelm a warship's defenses. This is the naval equivalent of Iran's missile saturation doctrine — use numbers to overcome quality.
Mine Warfare
Iran maintains a large stockpile of naval mines — estimated at 5,000-6,000 — including modern influence mines that can be programmed to target specific ship types. Mining the Strait of Hormuz, even partially, would force a time-consuming and dangerous minesweeping operation that could take weeks.
Can Iran Close the Strait?
Permanently closing the strait is beyond Iran's capability — the US Navy would eventually clear mines, suppress coastal defenses, and restore transit. But Iran could temporarily disrupt shipping for days to weeks, causing oil price spikes and global economic consequences far exceeding the military significance.
Even the credible threat of closure — demonstrated through exercises and occasional harassment of commercial vessels — gives Iran significant coercive leverage. This is, in many ways, more valuable than actually closing the strait, which would also cut off Iran's own oil exports.