US Central Command says Strait of Hormuz cleared of mines

U.S. Central Command chief General Brad Cooper announced that international transit corridors in the Strait of Hormuz have been fully cleared of naval mines laid by Iran's Revolutionary Guard. In a video message posted on X, Cooper said U.S. forces had reached a "significant milestone" in the waterway, with all mines rendered inert. The internationally recognized transit corridors are now open to dense maritime traffic, according to the general. Cooper said mine-clearing operations had been carried out in recent months under "deliberate and calm" conditions despite difficult and dangerous circumstances. He noted that roughly 50,000 U.S. troops in the region are conducting two simultaneous missions: enforcing a maritime blockade against Iran and keeping the strait's traffic moving. Cooper described the Strait of Hormuz Traffic Separation Scheme as functioning like a "maritime highway," directing ships in opposing directions to reduce collision risk. Navy divers, SEALs and air force personnel have taken part in the mine-clearance effort, which Cooper said has helped about 1,500 commercial vessels carrying roughly 750 million barrels of oil pass through the strait in recent months. Cooper added that the maritime blockade, restarted in mid-July, has allowed no Iranian oil tankers to transit except for humanitarian reasons. He said more than 20 warships and hundreds of aircraft have been involved and 75 vessels have been turned away.