US Navy SEALs clear Iranian mines in secret Strait of Hormuz operation

Strait of Hormuz Navy SEALs mine-clearing operation Iranian sea mines maritime security

U.S. Navy SEALs and specialized divers recently completed a highly classified, four-month operation to clear Iranian sea mines from the Strait of Hormuz. According to reports from the Financial Times, the mission was conducted primarily under the cover of darkness to minimize risk and maintain secrecy.

The operation utilized advanced technology, including the Common Uncrewed Surface Vessel (CUSV) and the MK 18 Mod 2 Kingfish submersible drone, to scan the seabed with high-resolution sonar. Once mines were located, divers often had to manually approach the explosives to attach charges for destruction. This specialized approach allowed for large-scale searches while reducing direct exposure for personnel.

U.S. Central Command confirmed that major transit routes in the strait have been cleared. President Donald Trump also announced that all mines in international waters had been removed or destroyed. However, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi disputed these claims, asserting that only Iran knows the exact locations of the mines. The International Maritime Organization had previously estimated that approximately 80 mines were placed in vital shipping lanes during the conflict.

Entities

Donald Trump · International Maritime Organization · Iran · Navy SEALs · Strait of Hormuz · US Central Command · US Navy SEALs · United States Navy

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[○ 1 SOURCE] US Central Command confirmed that US forces cleared Iranian sea mines from major transit routes in the strait. www.sofx.com
[● 7 SOURCES] The International Maritime Organization estimated in June that approximately 80 mines had been placed in vital shipping lanes. www.sofx.com · freerepublic.com · www.stheadline.com · www.flash.gr · worldisraelnews.com · +2 more
[● 15 SOURCES] The mine-clearing operation was conducted largely at night using robotic boats, submersibles, and Navy SEAL divers. www.sofx.com · worldisraelnews.com · cryptobriefing.com · freerepublic.com · www.stheadline.com · +10 more
[● 3 SOURCES] Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi disputed the claim that all mines were cleared, stating only Iran knows their locations. www.sofx.com · cryptobriefing.com · www.stheadline.com
[● 14 SOURCES] US Navy SEALs conducted a four-month clandestine operation to locate and destroy Iranian mines in the Strait of Hormuz. www.sofx.com · worldisraelnews.com · cryptobriefing.com · freerepublic.com · www.stheadline.com · +9 more
[● 7 SOURCES] President Donald Trump announced that all mines in the international waters of the strait had been removed or destroyed. freerepublic.com · www.stheadline.com · www.flash.gr · www.thepressroom.gr · townhall.com · +2 more
[● 3 SOURCES] No American personnel were reported killed during the four-month operation. worldisraelnews.com · en.protothema.gr · townhall.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Three US mine-countermeasure vessels had been deployed to the Indian and Pacific oceans since early June. freerepublic.com · www.stheadline.com · www.flash.gr