The U.S. Department of Defense has assessed that clearing the Strait of Hormuz of Iranian-laid mines could take up to six months, according to a Washington Post report citing officials familiar with the matter.
The assessment was reportedly shared during a classified briefing to members of the House Armed Services Committee. Lawmakers were told that Iran may have deployed 20 or more mines in and around the waterway, including remotely controlled devices using GPS technology, making detection and removal more complex.
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy corridor through which nearly one-fifth of global oil and gas flows in normal conditions, has been severely disrupted amid ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. Shipping through the route has slowed significantly due to security risks, including mine threats and naval restrictions.
According to the report, officials said mine-clearing operations are unlikely to begin before the end of hostilities. Even after a ceasefire, restoring full maritime safety could take several months, potentially prolonging volatility in global energy markets and keeping oil prices elevated.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell, however, rejected parts of the report, describing the information as “inaccurate,” according to the Washington Post.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has previously declared large sections of the waterway a “danger zone,” warning of widespread mine deployment. Iranian officials have also indicated that the strait will remain closed while U.S. naval operations continue in the region.
The potential mine threat has raised concerns among global shipping operators, with industry groups warning of increased risks to commercial navigation even during a fragile ceasefire period.
In parallel, a UK- and France-led multinational naval planning effort began discussions in London involving representatives from more than 30 countries to explore post-conflict maritime security arrangements and potential mine clearance operations in the region.