The U.S. Navy conducted a secret, four-month operation to clear Iranian mines from the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global oil transport, The Financial Times reported. The covert demining efforts primarily took place at night, involving U.S. Navy SEAL divers utilizing specialized underwater equipment, robot boats, and sonar technology.
Retired U.S. Navy Captain Bill Hamblet described the process to The Financial Times, explaining that SEALs would first locate and clear areas of mines, followed by divers who would attach explosive charges to destroy them. The Navy also employed advanced underwater robots, including the Common Unmanned Surface Vessel (CUSV) and the MK 18 Mod 2 Kingfish submersible, which is equipped with sonar for scanning the seabed. These technologies enhance safety by allowing for remote mine destruction, though the process is time-consuming.
Despite the perilous nature of the mission, no U.S. casualties have been reported. The United Nations' International Maritime Organization estimated in June that approximately 80 mines had been deployed in the Strait of Hormuz, a passage through which about 20% of the world's oil is transported.
By August, President Trump announced that all mines had been removed. This declaration followed a period of heightened tensions, including U.S. attacks on Iran, which were reportedly sparked by an alleged Iranian operation to re-seed the waterway with explosives. The potential for Iran to re-mine the strait continues to create uncertainty for vessels transiting the area.
Shipping companies and maritime analysts report that while areas near the Omani coast, which the U.S. has been escorting ships through, are likely cleared, there is less certainty about the remaining sections of the waterway. Ethan Connell, an expert on mines at Taiwan Security Monitor, noted the difficulty in verifying claims, suggesting Iran may be attempting to re-mine the strait. The combination of potential mines and repeated missile and drone attacks has reduced visible traffic in the Strait of Hormuz to its lowest level since May, according to maritime intelligence firm Kpler. On a recent weekend, only two ships crossed the Strait on Saturday, with six making the trip on Sunday, most utilizing Iran's approved route. Some ships have reportedly been navigating the strait covertly by disabling transponders and traveling at night under U.S. military escorts.