US says it is helping Iran in clearing mines in Hormuz, calls mission ‘well within ability’
April 17, 2026
US President Donald Trump said that Iran had agreed to never again shut the Strait of Hormuz, during a string of social media posts indicating a peace deal with Tehran was near.
In a surprising turn of events following weeks of intense conflict, the United States has confirmed it is actively assisting Iran in clearing naval mines from the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The mission, described by a U.S. official as ‘well within ability,’ aims to reopen the critical waterway to international shipping after a period of escalating hostilities that saw it effectively closed, triggering a global fuel crisis. This cooperative effort occurs under a fragile temporary ceasefire, even as a U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports remains in effect.
The background for this unusual collaboration is a brief but devastating war that began on February 28, 2026, with coordinated U.S. and Israeli airstrikes against Iran. In retaliation for the strikes, which reportedly killed senior Iranian leaders, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared the Strait of Hormuz closed to international passage. To enforce this, Iran launched attacks on merchant ships and, crucially, deployed an unknown number of sea mines, bringing a significant portion of the world's energy trade to a standstill.
A breakthrough came with a temporary ceasefire agreed to around April 8, 2026, creating a window for de-escalation. Following the ceasefire, Iran announced that the strait would be reopened. U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the development in a series of social media posts, announcing that Iran, with U.S. assistance, was removing the mines it had laid. The U.S. Navy has since commenced mine clearance operations, with destroyers and underwater drones being deployed to the region to establish a safe passage.
However, the situation remains fraught with tension and uncertainty. While the U.S. provides technical assistance for the mine-clearing, officials have expressed low confidence in Iran's own ability to locate all the devices, which were allegedly deployed haphazardly. This has left international shipping companies hesitant to resume normal operations immediately, awaiting full verification of the strait's safety. The entire process of clearing a strategic waterway is expected to be slow and dangerous, potentially taking weeks.
The future of the region hangs in the balance as this delicate operation proceeds. The current ceasefire is temporary, and major issues between Washington and Tehran remain unresolved. The U.S. has made it clear that while it aids in making the international channel safe, its broader sanctions and naval blockade on Iran itself will continue until a more comprehensive agreement is reached. For now, the world watches the Strait of Hormuz, where adversaries are engaged in a cautious, temporary partnership to undo the damage of their recent conflict, a necessary step to restore a vital artery of global commerce.
Source: firstpost