American President Donald Trump said the United States Navy is removing Iranian mines from the Strait of Hormuz. Experts warn that sweeping for underwater explosives could take months, despite a tenuous ceasefire between Washington and Iran after weeks of war.
Currently, about 20% of the world’s oil passes through this route, and restoring the confidence of commercial shipping companies and insurance companies is a challenge, given that Tehran can claim the existence of explosives not found even after cleanup.
Demining takes six months
Pentagon officials told lawmakers in a private meeting this week that complete demining of the strait would take about six months.
Asked about the deadline, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated on Friday (24) that the military did not speculate on a timeline, although he did not deny the estimate. Trump reiterated that he ordered the attack on any vessel trying to launch explosives and ordered the Navy to triple the activity level of scanning teams.
The initiative is part of a strategy that includes blocking Iranian ports, seizing ships linked to Tehran and holding a second round of peace talks in Pakistan this weekend.
Drones and divers
The operation includes combat ships equipped with underwater drones that use sonar and other technologies to locate and destroy explosives, as well as specialized technicians and divers. Two Avenger-class minesweepers were also deployed from Japan to reinforce the fleet in the Middle East.
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Industry analysts point out that the Iranian strategy benefits from the psychological factor, as the perception of risk forces companies to operate with caution or change routes to the coast of Iran. Insurance companies have already included clauses that require contact with Iranian authorities to guarantee passage, aiming to protect vessels against missiles, drones and seizures.
