Strait of Hormuz mine clearance: US Navy efforts may not reassure oil shipping and insurers

President Donald Trump says the US Navy is clearing Iranian mines from the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for oil shipments. Experts say mine-sweeping could take months and may not restore confidence among commercial shipping and insurers, even with a ceasefire, as perceived risk can persist without confirmed clearance.

President Donald Trump said the US Navy was clearing Iranian mines from the Strait of Hormuz. The route carries about 20 per cent of the world’s oil. Experts said the effort could last for months, even with a fragile US-Iran ceasefire. They also warned that shipping firms and insurers may still doubt safety.

Specialists said even unproven mine reports can deter traffic and raise costs. "You dont even have to have lain mines - you just have to make people believe that youve laid mines,\" said Emma Salisbury. \"And even if the US sweeps the strait and says everythings clear, all the Iranians have to do is say, Well, actually, you havent found them all yet,\" Salisbury added.

Strait of Hormuz mine clearing timeline and Pentagon briefing

Pentagon officials told lawmakers mine clearance would likely take six months. A person familiar with the matter shared the estimate anonymously. The details came in a classified House Armed Services Committee briefing on Tuesday. On Friday, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth avoided a firm schedule. \"Allegedly that was something that was said,\" Hegseth told reporters.

Hegseth said the military would not guess at timing for the work. Hegseth also did not reject the reported estimate. \"But we feel confident in our ability, in the correct period of time, to clear any mines that we identify.\" Analysts said months of checks may still fail to restore full trust among shippers and insurers.

Strait of Hormuz mine clearing orders and US Navy operations

Trump said the Navy had orders to strike any boat placing mines. \"Additionally, our mine sweepers are clearing the Strait right now,\" the president said on social media Thursday. \"I am hereby ordering that activity to continue, but at a tripled up level!\" Adm. Brad Cooper said the US military would work to remove mines, but gave no specifics.

There was no sign that US warships were clearing mines in the strait at that time. Experts said the Navy could use divers and explosive ordnance disposal teams instead. Such smaller units may draw less attention than large ships. Some equipment could also be shifted off vessels and operated from land, specialists said.

Strait of Hormuz mine clearing challenges and Iranian mine threat

It remained unclear if any mine had been laid. Iran referred before the war only to the possibility of mines on earlier routes. Salisbury said Iran’s mine stocks were estimated in the low thousands. Many were thought to be older Soviet designs. Some newer types may be Chinese or locally made.

Salisbury said placing mines was simpler than detecting them. \"Minelaying is a lot easier than minesweeping, so you can literally push these things off the back of a speedboat,\" Salisbury said. Salisbury added that the US could likely spot that activity. Salisbury also said Iran had small submarines able to lay mines, and these were harder to track.

Any mines would likely not resemble floating devices shown in films, Salisbury said. The explosives may rest on the seabed or be tethered below the surface. They could activate when water pressure shifts as ships pass. They could also respond to engine noise. This makes detection difficult and time-consuming, experts said.

Strait of Hormuz mine clearing assets and detection methods

A defence official said the Navy had two littoral combat ships in the Middle East for mine work. The official spoke anonymously due to sensitive movements. Two Avenger-class minesweepers based in Japan also left for the Middle East. However, the official said they were still in the Pacific Ocean as of Friday.

Retired lieutenant commander Steven Wills said the Navy may aim to open a safe channel. Wills served on an Avenger-class ship. \"Minehunting is walking through your yard pulling individual weeds and dandelions so that you can walk safely from one side to the other. Minesweeping is more like mowing the grass,\" said Wills.

Wills said ship teams can deploy uncrewed vehicles with sonar to locate explosives. The systems can also carry charges to destroy mines. Wills added that explosive ordnance disposal divers can hunt and neutralise devices. Helicopters may search using lasers, he said. Experts said such efforts often come after active conflict ends.

Strait of Hormuz mine clearing impact on shipping insurance and routes

RAND researcher Scott Savitz said full removal may not be required to restart some movement. \"Theres still areas that have not been cleared from World War II - and in some cases, World War I - just because it is so resource intensive and it takes a lot of time,\" he said. Savitz said firms may accept risk because the route is profitable.

Under Iran’s approval process, ships must follow a different path than before the war. Vessels now transit further north, closer to Iran’s coastline. Insurers have added wording requiring owners to contact Iranian authorities, said Dylan Mortimer of Marsh. Mortimer said the clearance covers many threats, including missiles, drones, or seizures.

Mortimer said mines also shape decisions through fear and uncertainty. \"But mines do, at the very least, play a psychological role,\" Mortimer said. Mortimer called this the \"specter of threat.\" \"That plays in the Iranians favour, because whether there are mines there or not, people think theres mines there and they will operate accordingly,\" Mortimer said.

The Trump administration also used other steps to pressure Iran and reopen the route. The US blockaded Iranian ports and seized ships linked to Tehran. Trump said on Saturday that envoys would not travel to Pakistan for ceasefire talks. The move followed Iran’s top diplomat leaving Islamabad, according to the president.

Experts said clearing the Strait of Hormuz may take months and still leave doubts. The Pentagon briefing suggested a six-month timeline, though officials avoided firm dates. The US Navy had mine-capable ships and specialist teams in the region. Insurers and shipping firms continued weighing risk, including the continuing \"specter of threat\" around mines.

With inputs from PTI