US Central Command says American forces have cleared Iranian sea mines from the internationally recognised shipping lanes of the Strait of Hormuz.
The operation could remove one of the main physical obstacles to restoring commercial traffic through the strategic waterway. CENTCOM commander said US Navy divers, special operations forces and aircraft had spent several months locating and removing mines along established transit routes.
US forces also supported the passage of nearly 1,500 commercial vessels carrying about 750 million barrels of crude oil during the operation.
The announcement does not mean the entire Strait is mine-free. It covers only the internationally recognised shipping lanes. Earlier assessments by US allies suggested that 80 to 150 mines could still be unaccounted for elsewhere in the waterway. US officials said those estimates were outdated.
For ship operators, the clearance does not yet mean a return to normal routing. Commodity-vessel traffic remains below pre-conflict levels. Other security risks also remain. UKMTO continues to advise vessels to maintain heightened situational awareness in the region.
Mine clearance removes a major navigational hazard, but it does not restore safe passage on its own. A sustained return of commercial shipping will depend on the wider security situation and confidence that the transit routes remain accessible.
