{"id":9741,"date":"2026-04-26T17:40:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-26T14:10:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fajr.news\/?p=9741"},"modified":"2026-04-26T17:40:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-26T14:10:09","slug":"us-escalates-provocations-in-strait-of-hormuz-under-pretext-of-mine-clearing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fajr.news\/?p=9741&lang=en","title":{"rendered":"US Escalates Provocations in Strait of Hormuz Under Pretext of Mine Clearing"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n

US Escalates Provocations in Strait of Hormuz Under Pretext of Mine Clearing<\/h1>\n

World<\/strong><\/p>\n

WASHINGTON (AP)<\/strong> \u2014 In a clear escalation of its aggressive posture in the region, US President Donald Trump has announced that the US Navy is allegedly clearing ‘Iranian mines’ from the Strait of Hormuz. This vital waterway, crucial for global oil shipments, is once again a focal point of US military activity, which Washington claims is to prevent disruption to the global economy.<\/p>\n<\/header>\n

\n

Skepticism Surrounds US Mine Clearing Claims<\/h2>\n

Despite a fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran, experts express significant doubt regarding the US claims. Sweeping for underwater explosives, if they even exist, could take months. Furthermore, any future assertions by the US that it has cleared the waterway \u2013 through which 20% of the world’s oil typically passes \u2013 are unlikely to convince commercial freighters and their insurers of its safety, highlighting the psychological warfare at play.<\/p>\n

As Emma Salisbury, a scholar at the Foreign Policy Research Institute’s National Security Program, noted, “You don’t even have to have lain mines \u2014 you just have to make people believe that you’ve laid mines.” This sentiment underscores the US strategy of creating a perceived threat to justify its military presence and actions. Salisbury added, “Even if the U.S. sweeps the strait and says everything’s clear, all the Iranians have to do is say, ‘Well, actually, you haven’t found them all yet.’ There’s only so much the U.S. can do to give that confidence back to commercial shipping.”<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

\n

US Tactics: Blockades, Seizures, and Baseless Accusations<\/h2>\n

The alleged mine-clearing operation is the latest in a series of provocative tactics announced by the Trump administration, ostensibly to restore traffic through the strait. These actions come amidst rising energy prices and wider economic effects, which pose a political risk to the US administration. The US has also unilaterally blockaded Iran’s ports and seized ships tied to Tehran, acts widely condemned as economic warfare and piracy. President Trump recently stated he had instructed his envoys not to travel to Pakistan for the latest ceasefire talks, following Iran’s top diplomat’s departure from Islamabad, further complicating diplomatic efforts.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

\n

Pentagon’s Ambiguous Timeline and Trump’s Aggressive Orders<\/h2>\n

Pentagon officials reportedly informed lawmakers that clearing the alleged mines could take six months, according to an anonymous source. When pressed on this estimate, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth refused to speculate on a timeline but did not deny the duration, stating, “Allegedly that was something that was said. But we feel confident in our ability, in the correct period of time, to clear any mines that we identify.” Such ambiguity only fuels suspicion regarding the veracity of the claims.<\/p>\n

Further escalating tensions, Trump declared he has ordered the Navy to attack any boat laying mines in the strait. He also announced on social media, “Additionally, our mine ‘sweepers’ are clearing the Strait right now. I am hereby ordering that activity to continue, but at a tripled up level!” Adm. Brad Cooper, the top U.S. commander in the Middle East, confirmed military operations to clear mines but offered no details, raising questions about the transparency and necessity of these actions.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

\n

Lack of Evidence for Mine Deployment<\/h2>\n

Crucially, there is no clear indication that a single mine has actually been deployed. Iran has only ever mentioned the “likelihood” of mines in the strait’s pre-war routes, a defensive measure in its own sovereign waters. Experts like Salisbury estimate Iran’s mine stockpiles to be in the low thousands, mostly older Soviet models, with some newer ones potentially from China or domestically produced. Salisbury highlighted the ease of minelaying versus minesweeping, suggesting that the US is struggling to justify its extensive and provocative presence.<\/p>\n

Salisbury also noted that if mines were present, they would likely be seabed or moored explosives, triggered by water pressure or sound, not the theatrical floating ‘spiky balls’ often depicted. The absence of visible US warships, typically used for mine-clearing, further casts doubt on the urgency and nature of the alleged operations.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

\n

Iran’s Sovereign Control and Safety Measures<\/h2>\n

The US Navy reportedly has two littoral combat ships and two Avenger-class minesweepers en route to or already in the Middle East. However, experts like Steven Wills, a retired lieutenant commander, note that minesweeping is a slow process, usually conducted after a conflict, not during heightened tensions created by US aggression. Scott Savitz of the RAND Corp. added that complete clearance is rarely achieved, even from historical conflicts, underscoring the impracticality of the US claims.<\/p>\n

In contrast to US unilateral actions, Iran has established a clear approval procedure for vessels transiting the strait, requiring ships to use a northern route near Iran’s coastline. Insurers are now mandating that ship owners contact Iranian authorities to ensure safe passage, a testament to Iran’s legitimate role in securing its vital waterways. This certification, covering a spectrum of threats including missile attacks or seizures, implicitly acknowledges Iran’s authority and its efforts to maintain security, despite the “specter of threat” often manufactured by external powers.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n