U.S. Military Says It Has Cleared Iran’s Mines From Strait of Hormuz Shipping Lanes

U.S. Central Command Commander Admiral Brad Cooper says U.S. forces have cleared sea mines laid by Iran from the internationally recognized shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz, offering new details on the military operation behind President Donald Trump’s declaration that the waterway had been cleared.

Cooper made the announcement in a video posted to X, saying U.S. forces had spent months clearing mines from the Strait’s Traffic Separation Scheme, the established lanes historically used by commercial shipping.

“These are the long-standing lanes international shipping has historically used to transit the Strait of Hormuz,” Cooper said. “Over the past few months, our forces have meticulously and quietly cleared them of sea mines using a combination of Navy divers, Navy SEALs, and U.S. air power from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps.”

“The circumstances were challenging and dangerous, to say the least, but we got the job done,” he added. “Bottom line: Today, international shipping lanes are open and momentum is building.”

Cooper said U.S. forces have facilitated the transit of 1,500 vessels through the Strait carrying some 750 million barrels of crude oil. He also said Iran has exported “zero oil” since the United States reinstated its blockade.

The comments provide the clearest explanation yet of the mine-clearance operation following Trump’s statement Tuesday that the U.S. Navy had removed or detonated all mines from international waters in Hormuz.

“I have just been informed by the United States Navy that all mines have been removed and/or detonated from within the International Waters of the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump said in a Truth Social post earlier this week.

Trump also warned that any vessel attempting to lay additional mines would be “immediately and systematically destroyed,” declaring a U.S. policy of “Zero Tolerance” toward new mine placement.

Cooper’s statement is more narrowly focused on the internationally recognized Traffic Separation Scheme, rather than declaring the entire Strait free of mines.

The Joint Maritime Information Center said Thursday that there remains a risk from drifting or uncharted mines in and near the TSS, with mine danger areas still active. JMIC also said clearance and mine-surveying operations are continuing throughout the Strait and maintained its overall threat assessment at SEVERE.

The warning suggests that while U.S. forces may have cleared known mines from the established shipping lanes, maritime authorities are not yet treating the broader waterway as mine-free.

The announcement comes as the United States attempts to increase commercial traffic through Hormuz following nearly six months of war and severe disruption to one of the world’s most important shipping chokepoints.

Traffic remains well below normal levels. JMIC said the Strait averaged approximately 138 vessel transits per day in 2025. U.S. data recorded 37 U.S.-facilitated transits over August 25 and 26, while separate vessel-tracking data continues to show heavily suppressed non-facilitated commercial traffic.

The tanker AL SALAM II was struck by an unknown projectile while transiting eastbound through the Strait on August 25, according to UK Maritime Trade Operations and JMIC. The projectile struck the vessel just above the waterline, opening a small hole and causing a fire that was extinguished by the crew. No injuries were reported.

The incident came just as Trump declared “MISSION ACCOMPLISHED 2026” in Iran in a Truth Social post.

Meanwhile, Iran and Oman are moving ahead with a separate framework aimed at restoring safe navigation through Hormuz. The proposal includes a temporary joint navigation corridor, a joint mine-clearing project and further negotiations over a permanent corridor and the future administration of the Strait.

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