U.S. Military Reports No Confirmed Mines Found in Strait of Hormuz

NBC News reported that the U.S. military has not identified any confirmed mines in the Strait of Hormuz despite three months of searches using aerial and undersea drones. Two U.S. officials and a person familiar with the matter told the outlet that only objects that might be mines were located.

The same person familiar with the matter stated that the threat has been far less robust than feared. Earlier assessments by U.S. intelligence and allies had indicated Iran placed mines on the south side of the strait.

A Pentagon official told U.S. legislators in a classified April session that clearing the strait of mines could take six months. President Trump posted on social media that the U.S. Navy had detonated numerous mines using underwater mine sweepers. NBC's reporting contradicts earlier CBS News accounts.

On May 19, CBS reported U.S. intelligence had identified at least 10 mines. March reports from the same outlet cited unnamed officials who gave conflicting estimates of at least a dozen or fewer than a dozen mines.

The uncertainty has affected ship owners and insurance underwriters. Coverage has been terminated or offered at higher rates. Last week, reports indicated the UK Royal Navy considered deploying sailors for mine-sweeping if a peace agreement were reached. AP reported the deployment would proceed only under those conditions.