Clearing all naval mines from the Strait of Hormuz could take up to six months. The Pentagon has informed Congress that such an operation would only begin after any war between the United States and Iran has ended.
A senior Pentagon official shared this assessment during a closed briefing with members of the House Armed Services Committee, according to The Washington Post.
The task is made more difficult by Iran’s use of remotely controlled, GPS-guided mines, as well as small boats to deploy them, which complicates the detection of explosive devices.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that U.S. forces are destroying Iranian vessels capable of laying new minefields.
For future clearing of the waters, the military command is considering using helicopters, unmanned systems, and specialized diving teams.
Iran is unable to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping because it cannot locate all the naval mines it has laid.
According to The New York Times, Tehran lacks the technical capability to clear them quickly.
