Financial Times reports secret four-month US mission to clear Iranian mines in Strait of Hormuz

According to a report by the Financial Times, US Navy SEALs conducted a four-month covert operation to locate and destroy sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz. The mission aimed to reopen vital shipping lanes that had been largely avoided by commercial vessels since the escalation of tensions with Iran in February. The operation utilized divers, unmanned vessels, underwater robots, and advanced sonar systems, with missions frequently conducted at night to mitigate security risks. Iran had previously acknowledged deploying mines in international and Omani waters, and the International Maritime Organization estimated in June that approximately 80 mines had been placed along major shipping routes. US President Donald Trump stated last week that all mines in the strait's international waters had been removed or destroyed, a claim subsequently supported by the US military. Despite these assertions, maritime industry professionals remain cautious about the overall safety of the waterway, noting that the persistent threat of potential new mine deployments continues to keep insurance costs high and deter some commercial shipping traffic.