CENTCOM Claims Completion of Mine Clearance Mission in the Strait of Hormuz
"Vessel Operations Gradually Regaining Momentum"
The United States Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees operations stationed in the Middle East, has claimed to have cleared all Iranian mines from the Strait of Hormuz.
On August 27 (local time), in a video released through its official account on the social media platform X, Navy Vice Admiral Brad Cooper stated that over the past several months, U.S. forces had secretly and precisely removed mines installed by Iran in the international shipping lanes of the Strait of Hormuz. The operation involved U.S. Navy divers, Navy SEAL special forces, and aircraft.
In the video, which included detailed maps and charts, Vice Admiral Cooper said, "The operational conditions were extremely difficult and dangerous, but we accomplished our mission." He continued, "Currently, the international shipping lanes are open, and vessel operations are gradually regaining momentum."
However, Bloomberg reported that U.S. allies have privately voiced concerns that mines are likely still present in the Strait of Hormuz—a key route for Middle Eastern oil, natural gas, and fertilizers. Since the end of February, following the outbreak of war between the United States and Israel and Iran, the risk of mines and attacks on merchant ships has significantly reduced the passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.
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Officials said it appears the U.S. has achieved a certain degree of success in the mine-clearing operations. However, they judged that not all of the estimated 80 to 150 mines, believed to have been deployed by Iran, have been removed. The U.S. government distanced itself from these assessments, stating that these estimates are already outdated information. U.S. President Donald Trump also recently reiterated the existing stance that there are no longer any mines in the Strait, saying that "operations are proceeding very normally" in the area.
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