Pentagon: Clearing Iranian Mines in Strait of Hormuz Could Take Six Months

Kathmandu. A US Department of Defense assessment indicates that it could take approximately six months to fully clear the naval mines laid by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz.

Analysts suggest this could keep global crude oil prices elevated. Since the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28, Iran has effectively blocked the waters of the Strait of Hormuz.

Approximately 20 percent of the world's oil and gas consumption passed through this route. Amidst supply shortages, fuel prices have risen sharply, impacting the global economy.

Even if the war ends and the blockade is lifted, officials state that clearing the mines from the waterway could take months. According to the Pentagon's assessment, such a clearance operation is unlikely to begin until the conflict concludes.

According to reports, Iran may have laid 20 or more mines in the region, some of which are GPS-enabled and remotely operable, making them significantly harder to detect.