British Defense Secretary John Healey said on Thursday that it is likely that Iran has planted mines in the Strait of Hormuz. He added that the United Kingdom has deployed autonomous mine-hunting systems in the region and that he is considering additional options to secure the area. However, he insisted that de-escalation is the fastest way to reopen the strait. “Recognizing the huge impact this potentially has on oil prices and the cost of living, there is an international imperative to try and see this resolved,” Healey said. However, he also warned that, if the Iran conflict worsens, “we have to be ready should evacuations be required.”