WASHINGTON — Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said Friday that Iran laying more mines in the Strait of Hormuz would violate the fragile cease-fire with the US.
“If there’s attempts to recklessly and irresponsibly lay more mines, we’re going to deal with that. It’s a violation of the cease-fire,” Hegseth told reporters at a briefing.
The US has carried out a weeks-long naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz to counter Iran’s attempts to control shipping through the vital waterway.
“So transit is occurring much more limited than anybody would like to see, and with more risk that people would like to see, but that’s because Iran is doing irresponsible things with small, fast boats, crafts, like I said, with weapons on them,” Hegseth added.
Asked about a Washington Post report that the Pentagon has estimated to lawmakers it could take up to six months to fully sweep the Strait of Hormuz for Iranian-laid mines, Hegseth did not deny the assessment.
“We would not speculate on a timeline,” he said. “I saw that report. It was based on, again, another leak from a closed-door session, which was supposed to be classified. And apparently, allegedly, that was something that was said.”
“We feel confident in our ability, in the correct period of time, to clear any mines that we identify, and would encourage other countries to be a part of such an effort as well, but we’re tracking that very closely.”
After deploying some anti-mine vessels to the region, President Trump warned Thursday that the US Navy would “shoot and kill” any Iranian boat caught trying to drop more mines in the strait.
The USS Chief and USS Pioneer minesweepers, as well as the USS Tulsa — which also boasts mine countermeasure capabilities — have been ordered to head to the region to help clear the strait.
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Underwater drones are also being used by the US military, the Wall Street Journal reported earlier this week.
The waterway is a critical chokepoint for oil exports from the Persian Gulf, most of which are meant for countries in Europe and Asia.
Between one-fifth and one-quarter of the world’s seaborne oil passes through the strait each year, and energy prices have surged globally as a result of Tehran’s mine laying.
Just eight vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, none of which were Iranian-flagged, “shadow or sanctioned” ships, according to the ship tracker Kpler.
US allies in Europe have been weighing potential actions to clear the waterway of mines, with British military divers and other Royal Navy specialists preparing to use autonomous systems for the effort.