The U.S. is ramping up operations to clear mines in the Strait of Hormuz, which has been blocked for several weeks. This comes after reports emerged that Iran has placed even more mines around this crucial oil transit route.
“Our ‘minesweepers’ are currently mopping up the Strait,” President Trump mentioned on Truth Social on Thursday. He emphasized that he has increased the operation’s scale by three times.
While the specifics of the U.S. mine-clearing operations are somewhat unclear, at least four vessels are reportedly working in the area.
Axios highlighted that U.S. officials believe more mines have been laid by Iran in the Strait, a passageway for approximately 20% of global crude oil when it’s open.
The president also stated he had directed the navy to take lethal action against an Iranian vessel caught attempting to deploy a mine in the region.
“There’s really no reason to hesitate,” he added.
Clearing mines in this area has posed challenges, both historically during conflicts and in subsequent recovery efforts.
Politico reported that British divers are gearing up for demining missions in the channel, as part of a potential multinational initiative. The U.K. Ministry of Defense mentioned that experts trained in explosives disposal are on standby, along with autonomous demining technologies.
Currently, two U.S. minesweepers, the USS Chief and USS Pioneer, have been dispatched from Japan to assist in the operation against the Iranian mines. The littoral combat ship USS Tulsa also departed the Strait of Malacca recently.
These ships are equipped to detect and neutralize mines, although their exact positions are not yet accessible through maritime tracking devices.
Another littoral combat ship, the USS Canberra, is in the Gulf, but it’s uncertain if it’s in the Strait of Hormuz for mine-clearing activities.
In addition to these vessels, underwater drones have also been sent to the Strait for the same purpose, according to the Wall Street Journal.
However, industry sources indicate that fully clearing the strait could take as long as six months, although the Pentagon reportedly denies this. The Trump administration has downplayed the threat from the mines, suggesting their presence is more of a nuisance than a significant danger, yet cargo ships and tankers remain wary of navigating these waters.
