Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, said in a video posted to X Thursday that the U.S. military successfully cleared Iranian sea mines from the Strait of Hormuz’s international shipping lanes.
These mines were laid months ago by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Cooper said.
Earlier in the week, President Donald Trump on Truth Social also said he was told by the U.S. Navy that mines have been removed “and/or detonated from within the International Waters of the Strait of Hormuz. “
“Iran has been notified that any ship or boat placing new mines will be immediately and systematically destroyed,” Trump said.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, meanwhile, said Iran maintains control over the Strait, state-run media outlet IRNA reported.
Even with CENTCOM’s announcement, shipping industry security officials are still cautious because of military advisories that warn about active mine risks and ongoing security clearance operations, according to Lloyd’s List.
Bloomberg reported that U.S. allies also say the Strait likely still has mines in it. Becca Wasser, Bloomberg Economics’ defense lead, said it is “highly unlikely” all the mines in the strait have been cleared — and even if it was reduced, “Iran could still escalate” the conflict.
Before the war with Iran, about 20% of the world’s crude oil supplies flowed through the Strait of Hormuz.
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