The United States has been conducting a covert mine-clearance operation in the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing tensions with Iran, but uncertainty remains over the true state of navigational safety in the vital maritime corridor. Over the past four months, U.S. Navy divers, robotic vessels, and specialized underwater equipment have been deployed primarily during nighttime hours to locate and neutralize explosive devices reportedly placed by Tehran in the strategic waterway.
The operation has been carried out amid overlapping conflicts and escalating hostilities following attacks by the U.S. and Israel on Iranian interests earlier this year. Tehran has asserted that it deployed mines both in international waters and in waters under Omani jurisdiction in the strait. In June, the International Maritime Organization confirmed the presence of approximately 80 mines in key shipping lanes, underscoring the potential risk to commercial traffic.
Last week, President Donald Trump announced that all mines in the strait’s international waters had been cleared or detonated, a claim verified by U.S. military officials. However, the announcement was met with skepticism from some maritime experts and shipowners, especially since several mine-countermeasure vessels reportedly remained outside the Gulf region during the clearance period. Industry specialists stressed that such demining operations are painstaking and time-intensive, typically requiring months of systematic sweeps using sonar-equipped robotic craft to detect mines before navy divers safely approach and destroy them.
The U.S. employed a combination of divers working from inflatable boats and unmanned systems equipped with high-resolution side-scan sonar to locate underwater threats. Destroying mines remains a hazardous task, often involving explosive charges placed by divers or the use of remotely operated vehicles designed to detonate devices in-situ. No U.S. casualties connected to the clearance efforts have been reported, despite the inherent dangers of underwater demolition in a contested maritime environment.
Despite U.S. claims, Iranian officials have dismissed the notion that mines have been fully cleared. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated that no parties besides Iran know the precise locations of its mines. The Joint Maritime Information Center, under U.S. Navy direction, also cautioned of ongoing risks posed by drifting or uncharted explosives. Iran’s military further asserted last week that additional mines had been laid near Omani waters.
This information disparity complicates the situation for shipping companies, which have largely avoided the strait since the outbreak of hostilities due to threats not only from mines but also missile and drone attacks by Iran. Insurers have increased coverage costs up to tenfold, translating to potential fees of around $10 million per supertanker. Given these hazards, only limited commercial traffic has been observed, with vessel operators reluctant to risk passage without assurances of security.
Security analysts highlight that Iran’s primary strategic leverage may stem less from the physical presence of mines and more from the uncertainty and fear they generate. The Gulf’s heavy small-boat traffic allows for mines to be reintroduced quickly, maintaining a persistent threat. U.S. officials have warned Iran against deploying new mines, with President Trump stating that vessels involved in mine-laying would be "immediately and systematically destroyed."
Recent U.S. strikes on Iranian rocket launchers preparing to deploy sea mines underscored continued concern about fresh mining attempts. While Iranian media claimed at least two tankers were recently struck, no independent or maritime authority has confirmed mine-related incidents during the current conflict. Satellite imagery has yet to provide clear evidence of new mine deployments.
With about one in 30 ships facing missile or drone attacks in the region, achieving confidence among shipowners that the strait is safe remains a substantial challenge. The U.S. is focused on sustaining a navigable passage that allows commercial and strategic shipping to resume, but significant uncertainty prevails. Experts contend that the battle over perception and information control may prove to be as consequential as actual mine-clearance activities in determining future access to this crucial maritime chokepoint.