Iran unable to find mines in Strait of Hormuz, US says

U.S. officials have disclosed that Iran is unable to quickly reopen the Strait of Hormuz to greater shipping traffic.

Tehran cannot locate all the naval mines it laid in the waterway last month and lacks the technical capability to remove them.

This self-created problem is preventing Iran from complying with President Trump’s demand for the complete, immediate, and safe reopening of the critical oil chokepoint.

Iran deployed the mines using small boats shortly after the U.S. and Israel began military operations against it.

The mining operation was conducted haphazardly. Many mines were placed without proper recording of their locations. Some have drifted from their original positions.

As a result, Iran has only been able to designate limited safe routes for vessels willing to pay a toll.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps has issued public warnings about the danger of colliding with sea mines.

Removing naval mines is significantly more difficult and time-consuming than laying them. Iran does not possess rapid mine-clearing capacity.

The U.S. military also has limited mine removal assets, relying primarily on specialized littoral combat ships.

On Tuesday, Trump stated that the two-week cease-fire required the “COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING” of the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi later cited “technical limitations” when discussing reopening the waterway. U.S. officials interpret this as a direct reference to the unresolved mine problem.

The issue is expected to be a major point of discussion this weekend when Vice President JD Vance leads U.S. talks with Iranian officials in Pakistan.

Despite U.S. strikes that sank some Iranian naval vessels, hundreds of small boats operated by the Revolutionary Guards remain available for further mining or harassment operations.

American officials admit they are uncertain of the exact number and current locations of the mines Iran deployed.