US eyes mine-clearing plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz

As Iran’s potential mines threaten one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, the US is pursuing a mine‑clearing effort in the Strait of Hormuz using divers and explosive-ordnance disposal teams, along with regional naval assets such as two littoral combat ships and Avengers-class minesweepers on the move. The effort relies on minehunting and unmanned vehicles to locate seabed or moored mines, a slower, resource-intensive process than sweeping, and shipping insurers warn that routes may remain constrained until safety can be restored, highlighting the ongoing challenges of securing safe passage even amid broader tensions.