It may take up to six months to remove Iranian mines from the Strait of Hormuz, Pentagon estimates

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The removal of mines from the Strait of Hormuz could instrumentality arsenic agelong arsenic six months, perchance driving up planetary hydrocarbon prices, according to a Pentagon appraisal presented successful a classified briefing to the U.S. Congress, the Washington Post reported connected Wednesday.

The American paper cited 3 unnamed officials, who said that “lawmakers were informed that Iran whitethorn person placed 20 oregon much mines successful the Strait of Hormuz and the surrounding area.”

According to a U.S. Department of Defense official’s presentation, “some were deployed remotely utilizing GPS technology,” complicating their detection. Others “were laid by Iranian forces utilizing tiny vessels.”

A Pentagon spokesperson described the Washington Post study arsenic “inaccurate,” according to the newspaper.

However, determination is so constricted reliable accusation regarding the mining of the Strait, done which, nether mean conditions, astir one-fifth of the world’s hydrocarbons destined for planetary markets pass.

The Revolutionary Guards, the ideological service of the Islamic Republic, warned successful mid-April of a “danger zone” of 1,400 quadrate kilometers wherever mines could beryllium located.

Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Tehran, “with the assistance of the United States, has already removed oregon is removing each oversea mines.” However, this assertion has not been confirmed by the Islamic Republic.

Shipowners, for their part, stay cautious.

Even if the Strait is officially reopened by Tehran and Washington, shipowners request wide guidance connected harmless routes and stay acrophobic astir the mines, warned past Friday Nils Haupt, spokesperson for the German shipping elephantine Hapag-Lloyd.

“Non-belligerent” countries person expressed readiness to undertake a “neutral mission” to guarantee the information of the Strait of Hormuz.

This important maritime transition is present astatine the halfway of the struggle that began connected February 28 with Israeli-American strikes against Iran, earlier a ceasefire betwixt Washington and Tehran came into effect connected April 8.

According to Tehran, ships indispensable get support to participate oregon exit the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz, portion the United States has been blocking entree to Iranian ports since April 13.