Reopening the Strait of Hormuz may take far longer than expected, even after hostilities end, according to a new report citing U.S. defense assessments. As reported by the The Washington Post, the Pentagon estimates that mine clearance operations in the strait could take up to six months.
U.S. officials reportedly briefed the House Armed Services Committee on the situation, noting that even with advanced mine countermeasure capabilities – including assets deployed on Independence-class littoral combat ships – the process would be prolonged.
The estimate is based on an assumed presence of around 20 mines currently in the waterway. However, the actual scale of the threat remains uncertain. Iran is believed to retain the capability to deploy additional mines using both military and civilian vessels, and its pre-war stockpile reportedly numbered in the thousands.
The precise locations of the mines remain unclear. Iranian authorities have issued a “danger zone” warning covering the central traffic separation scheme, effectively pushing commercial traffic toward alternative routes.
Some vessels have continued to transit via southern lanes in Omani waters, while others have used routes closer to Iranian territorial waters near islands such as Qeshm and Hormuz Island. So far, no confirmed mine strikes have been reported along these corridors.
