NYT: Iran struggles to clear mines in Strait of Hormuz

Iran has faced significant difficulties in reopening the Strait of Hormuz to increased shipping traffic, as it is unable to locate all of the mines it laid in the strategic waterway, and lacks the capability to remove them, according to U.S. officials speaking to the New York Times.

This development has become a key obstacle in Iran’s ability to quickly comply with demands from the Trump administration to allow more vessels to pass through the strait. The issue is also expected to complicate peace talks between Iranian negotiators and a U.S. delegation led by Vice President JD Vance, scheduled for this weekend in Pakistan.

In March, Iran used small boats to plant mines in the strait, shortly after hostilities escalated between the U.S., Israel, and Iran. The mines, coupled with the threat of Iranian drone and missile attacks, severely slowed the passage of oil tankers and other vessels, creating a bottleneck and driving up global energy prices. This tactic has provided Iran with significant leverage in the ongoing conflict.

Despite this, Iran has left a narrow path open through the waterway, permitting ships that pay a toll to pass through. The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has issued multiple warnings, alerting vessels to the risks of colliding with sea mines. Additionally, semi-official news outlets in Iran have published charts showing designated safe routes for ships.

However, these safe routes are limited, largely due to the haphazard nature of how Iran mined the strait, U.S. officials said. It remains unclear whether Iran has accurately recorded the locations of all the mines, and even where records exist, some mines were placed in positions where they could drift or move, making them harder to track.

Removing mines from the waterway presents a significant challenge. As with landmines, the removal of nautical mines is far more complex than their deployment. The U.S. military has limited mine removal capabilities, relying primarily on littoral combat ships equipped with mine-sweeping technology. Iran, too, has struggled with its ability to rapidly clear the mines it laid in the strait.

On April 8, President Donald Trump posted on social media that any potential ceasefire in the ongoing war between the U.S., Israel, and Iran would depend on the "COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING" of the Strait of Hormuz. This call for a full reopening of the waterway has placed additional pressure on Iran.

In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on April 9 that the strait would be reopened to traffic “with due consideration of technical limitations.” U.S. officials interpreted this remark as a reference to Iran’s ongoing difficulties in locating and removing the mines.

Araghchi, who is currently in Islamabad, is expected to meet with Vice President Vance on April 11 to continue peace discussions. Given President Trump’s demand for the swift and safe reopening of the strait, the issue of mine clearance and increasing safe passage through the waterway is likely to be a key point of discussion.

By Sabina Mammadli