Over the past several months, the United States has conducted a covert operation to clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow and strategically vital waterway linking the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. This effort has coincided with an ongoing conflict between the US and Iran, which has involved exchanges of military strikes and heightened tensions in the region.
According to individuals familiar with the operation, US Navy divers, unmanned robotic vessels, and specialized underwater craft carried out a four-month mission, primarily at night, to locate and neutralize explosive devices suspected to have been placed by Iran. Tehran has asserted that it deployed approximately 80 naval mines in international and Omani waters within the strait since the start of hostilities in February, a claim supported in part by the International Maritime Organization's mid-year report.
Despite these assertions, US President Donald Trump last week declared that all mines in the strait’s international waters had been cleared or detonated, a statement confirmed by the US military. This announcement surprised some observers, given that traditional mine countermeasure vessels appeared absent from the region since early June, with some tracked well outside the Gulf.
The mine removal process, which can take months even under peacetime conditions, was augmented by the use of the US Navy’s Common Uncrewed Surface Vessel and other robotic submersibles equipped with advanced sonar technology capable of high-resolution seabed imaging. These devices helped to reduce risk to human operators by identifying potential mines remotely. Following detection, Navy divers cautiously approached identified devices to place charges and detonate them underwater, a hazardous task that requires precision and patience.
Experts note the operation’s inherent dangers, citing the vulnerability of slow-moving mine-clearing forces in contested waters. There have been no reported casualties linked directly to the mission. Observers from the shipping and security sectors expressed cautious optimism that the southern section of the strait near Oman is free of mines, based on US guidance for vessel transit in the area. However, skepticism remains over claims that the entire strait is clear.
Since the conflict’s outbreak, commercial shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has dramatically reduced, hindered by the risks posed not only by mines but also by Iranian missile and drone attacks. The mere threat of mines has driven insurance premiums sharply higher, with coverage costs for supertankers reportedly up to ten times prewar levels.
Iran has dismissed US claims of complete mine clearance, with Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stating that only Iran possesses accurate knowledge of mine locations. On the same day as President Trump’s announcement, the US Navy’s Joint Maritime Information Center warned of ongoing risks from drifting or uncharted mines. The disparity in information highlights a broader contest over control and narrative regarding the strait’s safety.
The US has also warned Iran that any vessels attempting to deploy new mines will face immediate destruction. Intelligence assessments indicate Iran retains a significant stockpile of Malham mines, some designed to detonate on physical contact with ships, others triggered by electromagnetic signatures. Iranian media recently reported mine strikes on two tankers and claims of fresh mine deployments near Omani waters, though independent verification has been lacking.
Military analysts say small, rocket-deployed mines are unlikely to pose a major threat in the deep waters of the strait, but remain concerned about the potential for re-mining. Authorities have noted that shipping through the strait must balance compliance with Iranian demands to seek passage permission—which could contravene US sanctions—against the risks of navigating closer to Omani shores.
Overall, the standoff underscores Iran’s strategic leverage derived from the perception of control over Hormuz. While the US does not need to guarantee the total removal of mines, it must establish sufficient confidence to allow the resumption of shipping in an environment where missile and drone attacks persist. Analysts highlight the significant influence of information and perception in this ongoing maritime contest.