US Navy secretly cleared Hormuz Strait mines with robots over four months, FT reports
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The US military conducted a four-month covert operation to clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Financial Times. Navy divers, robotic boats, and underwater drones were deployed, working mainly at night. The operation followed a February US-Israel war with Iran that disrupted shipping through the strait.
Key Facts
- The US military conducted a four-month covert operation to clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Financial Times.
- Navy divers, robotic boats, and underwater drones were deployed, working mainly at night.
- The operation followed a February US-Israel war with Iran that disrupted shipping through the strait.
- President Donald Trump announced last week that US forces had destroyed or removed all mines in the strait's international waters, a claim confirmed by the Pentagon.
- Insurance costs for transiting the Strait of Hormuz have risen up to tenfold compared to pre-war levels, potentially costing around $10 million for a large oil tanker.
The Operation
The US military conducted a four-month covert operation to clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Financial Times. Navy divers, robotic boats, and underwater drones were deployed, working mainly at night. The operation followed a February US-Israel war with Iran that disrupted shipping through the strait. Small teams of divers performed most of the work, using sonar-equipped robotic boats and underwater vehicles to scan the seabed. When a mine was found, a diver would descend, place a charge, and retreat before the mine was detonated.
Claims and Denials
President Donald Trump announced last week that US forces had destroyed or removed all mines in the strait's international waters, a claim confirmed by the Pentagon. Iran has rejected Washington's statements, with Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi saying no one but Iran knows the location of the mines. Iranian media claimed at least two tankers hit mines in the past week, but maritime services have not confirmed any mine explosions since the conflict began. Satellite imagery does not support Tehran's claims, and the only confirmed mine was identified by a Pakistani hydrographer in May.
Shipping Impact
Insurance costs for transiting the Strait of Hormuz have risen up to tenfold compared to pre-war levels, potentially costing around $10 million for a large oil tanker. Ship owners and experts believe the US likely cleared the southern part of the strait near Oman's coast, and American forces are now guiding ships along that route. However, experts doubt that no mines remain elsewhere in the strait, according to the Financial Times.
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