Washington: United States Navy SEALs and specialised military units completed a secret four month mine clearing operation in the Strait of Hormuz aimed at reopening the strategic waterway to commercial shipping, according to a report by the Financial Times. The covert operation began after Iran announced it had deployed mines across international and Omani waters following US and Israeli military strikes in February. The International Maritime Organisation estimated in June that approximately 80 naval mines had been laid along vital commercial routes, effectively halting the passage of oil tankers and cargo vessels.

The mission relied on small teams of Navy SEAL divers operating at night from rigid inflatable boats, supported by autonomous submersibles and unmanned surface vessels equipped with high resolution sonar. Once underwater explosive devices were identified, divers or robotic craft attached charges directly to the mines to detonate them on the seabed. Military sources confirmed no US casualties were sustained during the mission.

While US President Donald Trump recently announced that all naval mines in international waters had been cleared or destroyed, maritime analysts and shipping executives remain cautious. Industry experts note that while designated transit corridors near Oman appear secure, the risk of Iran deploying new mines using small vessel traffic persists, maintaining high marine insurance premiums and ongoing disruption across global energy markets.