The US is attempting to clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz. But how long could it take?

NewsWorldMiddle EastThe US is attempting to clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz. But how long could it take?President Trump claimed over the weekend that all of Iran’s minelaying ships had been sunkCassell Bryan-Low Thursday 16 April 2026 15:20 BSTBookmarkCommentsGo to commentsBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popover{"translations":{"comments":"Go to comments","share":"Share","copyLink":"Copy link","bookmark":"Bookmark","removeBookmark":"Remove bookmark"},"showComments":true,"showBookmark":true,"articleId":"b2959088","articleMeta":{"url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iran-war-strait-of-hormuz-mines-warships-b2959088.html","title":"US wants to clear mines from the Strait. But how long could it take?"}}CloseUS enforces blockade on Iranian ports as naval vessels patrol Gulf of OmanOn The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondentsGet a weekly dispatch from our international correspondentsGet a weekly international news dispatchEmail*SIGN UPI would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice{"className":"sc-1ge0fwe-0","newsletterData":{"regSourceNewsletter":"IND_On_The_Ground_Newsletter","regTitle":"On The Ground","subscriptionGroup":"on_the_ground","subscriptionGroupId":"14806361-6435-4d19-b06e-05326605fb01","pathPrefix":["/news/world/europe","/news/world/middle-east","/news/world/australasia","/news/world/africa","/asia"],"associatedAuthors":["Bel Trew","Sam Kiley"],"title":"On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents","mobileTitle":"Get a weekly international news dispatch","lengthenedMobileTitle":"Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents","imageSrc":"https://static.independent.co.uk/static-assets/images/newsletters/onTheGround1_1.png","newsletterKey":"receiveOnTheGround","regSourceSection":"Middle East","regSourceMethod":"NSCs"}}The United States has commenced mine-clearing operatio...