Mine clearance in the Strait of Hormuz could last up to 6 months, according to a Pentagon assessment, in the context that this strategic maritime route is still seriously disrupted.
The report shared in a closed-door meeting with the US House Armed Services Committee said that Iran may have dropped at least 20 naval mines in and around this strait. Some devices are believed to be mobile using GPS technology, making detection more difficult.
The Strait of Hormuz, which transports about 20% of global oil and gas supplies in peacetime, has been almost blockaded since the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran broke out. Even if the fighting ends and the blockade is lifted, the complete restoration of maritime operations may still take months.
The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard has warned about a "dangerous zone" of 1,400km2, where mines are likely to exist. Meanwhile, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf affirmed that the country will not reopen the strait if the US continues to maintain naval blockade.
The US side partially denied this assessment. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said that the information from the report based on the closed-door meeting has many inaccuracies, and emphasized that the long-term closure of the strait is unacceptable.
Shipping companies remain cautious. A representative of Hapag-Lloyd company said that businesses need to have clear information about safe routes due to concerns about naval mines. When the strait temporarily opens during the ceasefire, very few ships move through due to security risks.
A multinational coalition led by Britain and France is discussing plans to protect maritime operations and deploy mine clearance missions after the conflict ends. Meetings with the participation of more than 30 countries are aimed at developing a plan to reopen this important transport route.
The current situation shows that the complete restoration of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz will be a complex process, with many long-term risks.
