U.S. allies are privately warning that the Strait of Hormuz is still likely mined, casting doubt on President Donald Trump’s claim that the U.S. Navy has completely removed and detonated explosives laid by Iran. The U.S. is likely to have made some progress in removing mines in international waters, according to the people, who asked not to be identified discussing internal assessments.
But they believe that demining efforts haven’t cleared all of the estimated 80 to 150 mines laid by Iran. U.S. officials pushed back against that assessment. One person familiar with the U.S. position, who also asked not to be identified, said those figures were outdated.
Centcom spokesman Captain Tim Hawkins said in a statement that “internationally recognized transit routes in the Strait of Hormuz are free of Iranian sea mines.”
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