The U.S. Department of Defense Warns: Clearing Mines in the Strait of Hormuz May Take Up to Six Months

Recently, the U.S. Department of Defense informed Congress that fully clearing the mines allegedly deployed by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz could take as long as six months. This assessment has triggered heightened concern across both political parties in Congress, with worries that even if a ceasefire agreement is reached between the U.S. and Iran in the future, global oil and gas prices will remain elevated for an extended period, continuing to exert significant economic and political pressure.

According to sources familiar with the matter, The Washington Post reported that a senior Pentagon official first presented this timeline during a classified briefing to the House Armed Services Committee on Tuesday. Members from both the Democratic and Republican parties expressed dissatisfaction and concern, arguing that the war’s impact on energy markets may persist into later this year or beyond.

In the briefing, the Department emphasized that Iran has already deployed over 20 mines in the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters—some placed via small vessels, others remotely floated using GPS technology—making detection and removal significantly more challenging for U.S. forces. Officials acknowledged these mines would greatly delay efforts to restore safe maritime navigation.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s critical energy transport arteries. Before the conflict, about 20% of global oil shipments passed through this channel, making Asian economies such as Japan, South Korea, and China highly dependent on it. Any disruption to shipping would directly affect global supply chains and energy pricing.

Since the outbreak of hostilities, the Trump administration has consistently demanded that Iran halt its nuclear program, surrender all enriched uranium, and fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning of further military action otherwise. However, Iran maintains that it will not return to negotiations unless the United States lifts its recent maritime blockade.

Reports reveal that Iran began laying mines in the strait starting in March, coinciding with attacks by the U.S. and Israel. President Trump previously warned that if Iran failed to remove any "potentially deployed" mines, it would face "unprecedented consequences." In response, U.S. forces have intensified strikes against suspected mine-laying vessels. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated on social media that U.S. forces are destroying these ships with "relentless precision," emphasizing that "the U.S. will not allow terrorists to hold hostage the Strait of Hormuz."

However, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi denied the allegations, asserting that Iran did not deploy mines in the area. Meanwhile, U.S. officials cited intelligence suggesting Iran itself might not even know the exact locations of the mines it placed, further complicating clearance operations.

Notably, the Pentagon’s latest assessment contrasts with recent statements by Trump. Earlier this week, the president claimed on his social media platform that "Iran, with American assistance, has already removed or is in the process of removing all sea mines," attempting to calm market anxiety and signal that the war may be nearing an end. Yet internal assessments provided by the Department of Defense to Congress indicate that mine-clearance efforts would still be time-consuming even after a ceasefire.

This week, Trump further announced that the ceasefire would be extended until Sunday, stating that Iran’s leadership is "deeply divided" and must present a "unified proposal." Nonetheless, multiple signs suggest Iran remains hesitant about resuming negotiations.

Military experts say it remains unclear what specific mine-clearance strategy the U.S. military will adopt, though options may include helicopters, drones, and explosive ordnance disposal divers. Nevertheless, shipping risks will remain high until all mines are fully cleared.

In fact, although some commercial vessels briefly resumed passage during earlier periods of truce, Iranian forces recently opened fire on oil tankers and re-imposed a blockade, bringing maritime activities to a standstill once again. This recurring instability continues to undermine market confidence.

Richard Nephew, a researcher at Columbia University and Iran expert, noted that a six-month mine-clearance period would have a substantial impact on oil and gas markets. He said, "You won’t see many people willing to take this kind of risk." He added that even if full shipping isn’t interrupted, the inability to use certain sections of the route would still carry severe consequences.

The economic repercussions of this conflict could extend through the remainder of this year and possibly beyond, potentially fueling domestic political debate in the United States. As the November midterm elections approach, the Trump administration’s foreign military decisions are facing growing scrutiny. Polls show that most Americans do not support this war, undermining the administration’s original pledge to avoid overseas military entanglements.

Source: rfi

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1863206314990601/

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