Is the U.S. Navy Ready to Clear Sea Mines in the Persian Gulf

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With rising tensions in the ongoing conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran, the threat of Iran mining the critical Strait of Hormuz has become a pressing concern. Reports suggest that Iran may have already placed sea mines in the narrow waterway, setting the stage for a potential complex and risky operation by the U.S. Navy to clear the mines and reopen the waterway. The Strait of Hormuz is vital for global shipping, and its closure could have significant consequences on the world’s oil supply.

The Threat of Sea Mines in the Strait of Hormuz

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s busiest and most important maritime chokepoints, with a significant portion of the world’s oil supply passing through it. Sea mines in this narrow waterway could pose a substantial threat to both commercial shipping vessels and military warships. Mines have historically been one of the most effective weapons in disrupting shipping, and they have caused considerable damage to U.S. Navy vessels in the past.

Since World War II, sea mines have been responsible for sinking or damaging 15 U.S. Navy ships more than any other weapon combined. In the Persian Gulf, mines have posed a recurring challenge. In 1988, for instance, three U.S. warships were damaged by mines, causing significant injuries to sailors.

U.S. Navy’s Response: Is It Ready?

Recently, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the U.S. is taking steps to ensure that the Strait of Hormuz can be cleared of mines, although he did not specify what measures are being implemented. The U.S. Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, has also posted footage showing strikes on Iran’s navy, including what it claims to be minelaying vessels.

However, despite the serious danger that mines present, mine warfare including both the deployment and clearance of mines has historically received limited attention from the U.S. Navy. According to Scott C. Truver, a maritime security expert, mine warfare is often referred to as the “stepchild” of the Navy. Mine warfare receives only a small fraction of the Navy’s budget, with funding for the program accounting for less than 1% of the Navy’s total budget.

A Shift in Mine Warfare Strategy: The Littoral Combat Ships

As the threat of Iranian sea mines intensifies, the U.S. Navy is transitioning from its older, wooden-hulled Avenger-class minesweepers, which have been in service since the 1980s, to the more modern Independence-class Littoral Combat Ships (LCS). These ships, designed for operations near the shore, will rely on unmanned systems and helicopters to locate and neutralize mines, shifting away from traditional manned mine clearance methods.

The LCS ships have been a subject of controversy, however. Despite their promise, these vessels have faced significant delays, cost overruns, and operational challenges. A 2022 report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) highlighted several issues with the LCS, including the ship’s inability to defend itself in case of an attack and frequent equipment failures. As of recent reports, two LCS ships, the USS Santa Barbara and the USS Tulsa, were stationed in Singapore, far from the Persian Gulf, and the third, the USS Canberra, was equipped with mine-countermeasures packages but also deployed in Asia.

Emma Salisbury, a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, expressed confusion as to why the U.S. Navy would not have mine-clearing resources near the Middle East at the start of the conflict. She noted that having these assets located outside the region significantly limits their effectiveness, especially in a volatile environment where quick action is needed.

European Allies and Mine-Clearing Capabilities

In response to growing tensions in the region, former President Donald Trump has urged NATO allies to contribute more to securing the Strait of Hormuz. However, European nations have been largely reluctant to offer assistance. Emma Salisbury pointed out that many European countries, such as Poland, France, and the U.K., are better equipped for mine clearance than the U.S. Poland alone boasts more than two dozen mine-clearing ships. The U.K. and Turkey also have substantial mine-clearing fleets.

In past conflicts, including the Gulf War and the Iraq War, the U.S. has relied on European NATO allies to provide mine-clearing capabilities. As Salisbury puts it, the U.S. Navy is “in a bit of a bind” when it comes to dealing with mines in the region, and NATO allies have traditionally filled this gap.

Unproven Technology and Operational Challenges

The mine-hunting and clearing system integrated with the LCS is still unproven under real-world conditions. While the system includes unmanned surface and underwater vehicles, MH-60S helicopters, and sonar systems to detect and neutralize sea mines, it has yet to be fully tested in an operational environment. A report from the Pentagon’s Director of Operational Test and Evaluation noted that there had been no operational testing of the LCS equipped with mine-countermeasures packages in fiscal year 2025. Without sufficient performance data, the effectiveness of this system remains uncertain.

The Danger of Mine-Clearing Operations

Retired Adm. James Foggo, dean of the Center for Maritime Strategy, described the process of clearing mines as both dirty and dangerous. Clearing a single mine can take hours, and during that time, ships are essentially at a standstill, exposed to potential attack. Salisbury further emphasized the high-risk nature of the job, noting that the Navy would need to perform controlled explosions for each individual mine, which would keep ships in dangerous areas for extended periods.

Even after mines are cleared, there will still be significant operational hurdles. Foggo pointed out that after mine-clearance operations are complete, combat air patrols would be required to ensure the area is safe for tankers and other ships to navigate. The Navy would need to send in destroyers to escort vessels through the Strait after mines have been cleared. This process could take up to a month to complete, according to Foggo.