President Donald Trump recently announced a significant achievement: the United States completed the removal or detonation of mines from international waters in the Strait of Hormuz. In response, U.S. Central Command’s commander, Adm. Brad Cooper, offered a detailed account of the operation that led to this declaration.
For months, U.S. forces discreetly cleared Iranian sea mines from established shipping lanes crucial for commercial vessels. This effort was essential due to ongoing threats in this vital waterway, still classified at a ‘SEVERE’ threat level due to recent attacks on tankers near Oman. Oil flows through the Strait remain considerably lower than prewar levels.
We have successfully cleared sea mines in the Strait’s international shipping lanes that were laid months ago by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,” said CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper.
The Strait of Hormuz, at its narrowest, spans 21 miles, with shipping lanes two miles wide in each direction, serving as the sole sea passage for oil producers to the Indian Ocean. Cooper praised the U.S. military’s work, stating, ‘Internationally recognized transit routes in the Strait are free of Iranian sea mines.’ He identified the cleared area as the Strait’s Traffic Separation Scheme, a long-established system of opposing lanes guiding commercial vessels.
U.S. forces used a combination of Navy divers, Navy SEALs, and air power from various military branches during the operation. These efforts coincided with the Navy transitioning its mine warfare strategy, retiring mine countermeasure ships while introducing unmanned systems.
Retired Vice Adm. Kevin Donegan highlighted newer technologies, such as unmanned systems, in locating and neutralizing mines. Donegan explained the multi-stage approach to mine clearance, with different waterway sections undergoing detection, identification, and neutralization simultaneously.
The Navy maintains thorough scanning to ensure no mines are missed. Donegan explained the detection model, requiring enough sweeps to achieve almost 100% detection probability.
The operation proceeded as per years of preparation through NAVCENT mine-countermeasure exercises since 2012 and regular Navy training. Cooper noted U.S. forces provided coordinated protection for almost 1,500 commercial vessels, transporting nearly 750 million barrels of crude oil globally.
Despite no disclosures on the number of mines found or destroyed, Axios reported U.S. forces removed over 200 mine-like objects, of which 11 were actual mines.
The Joint Maritime Information Center’s advisory maintains a ‘SEVERE’ threat level in the Strait, warning of uncharted or drifting mines. Clearance operations continue, and commercial traffic remains below prewar levels. The threat of drifting mines, though low, persists.
Recent attacks on tankers in Oman illustrate ongoing risks. The UKMTO reported projectiles striking tankers, causing fires though all crew members were safe.
Oil flows in the Strait dropped from over 20 million barrels per day prewar to 5 million. Freight traffic recovery remains uneven, with shipping numbers fluctuating.
Negotiations between Iran and Oman suggest a temporary joint navigation corridor and mine-clearance project. Cooper’s announcement showcases detailed insights into U.S. operations and progress in restoring commercial passage in the Strait, despite continued threats.