US Central Command has announced the beginning of mine-clearing operations in the Strait of Hormuz, signaling that Washington intends to restore freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most important energy routes.
The move is far more than a technical naval operation. It marks a transition from attacking Iran’s ability to disrupt shipping to physically reopening the maritime corridor and reducing pressure on global oil markets.
Since the outbreak of the US-Iran conflict in 2026, Iran has reportedly placed naval mines in parts of the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has also used fast boats, anti-ship missiles and drones to threaten commercial vessels and oil tankers.
US forces previously attacked Iranian mine-laying vessels and announced the destruction of IRGC ships caught deploying mines. With the immediate threat to American forces now reduced, CENTCOM appears determined to return shipping traffic to normal.