The Financial Times reports that the US Navy conducted a covert four-month operation to remove Iranian naval mines from the Strait of Hormuz, deploying SEAL divers, unmanned drones, and sonar technology. President Trump confirmed the operation's completion earlier Monday, but the FT report provides new details on the methods and scope of the dangerous mission.
The Financial Times published new details on Monday revealing that the U.S. Navy employed SEAL divers, underwater drones, and sonar technology to locate and destroy Iranian naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz over a four-month covert operation. The report, citing unnamed defense officials, expands on the methods of a dangerous mission that President Trump confirmed had been completed earlier on Monday, as The Zioneer reported at 14:53 Jerusalem time.
The FT initially reported on the operation on Sunday (Sep 6, 08:12 Jerusalem), describing the use of divers and underwater robots. Later that same Sunday, President Trump confirmed the clearance, warning that shipping companies remain cautious due to the risk of Iran re-laying mines and ongoing missile and drone threats. The Zioneer's bulletin at 14:53 Jerusalem on Monday provided further coverage of Trump's confirmation.
The mine-clearing operation is part of a broader U.S. effort to secure the strategic waterway. As The Zioneer reported on Aug 20, the U.S. military established a secret southern corridor along the Omani coast, moving 10 million barrels of oil per day under constant air cover despite nightly Iranian drone attacks. In a separate covert operation disclosed on Jun 10, the U.S. extracted millions of barrels of Iranian oil through the strait, according to President Trump.
Despite the successful clearance, shipping companies remain cautious, wary of Iran re-laying mines and the persistent threat of missile and drone strikes. The U.S. military maintains a continuous air patrol over the southern corridor to protect commercial vessels. The FT's report underscores the high-stakes nature of the mission, where any detection could have triggered a broader conflict.
4 developments
- StrongAnalysis: U.S. systematically dismantling Iran's grip on the Strait of Hormuz
- StrongUS secret Hormuz shipping route moves 10M barrels daily, as Iran launches nightly drone attacks — report
- StrongUS Official: US to Lift Naval Blockade on Iran After Hormuz Free Passage Deal
- StrongBloomberg: Iran softens line on European mine clearance in Strait of Hormuz
Source and signal
- Open-source intake