General Discussion

Munu

(229 posts) Sat Apr 11, 2026, 04:12 PM 18 hrs ago

US military starts removing mines from Strait of Hormuz

US military starts removing mines from Strait of Hormuz
The Hill

The U.S. military has launched operations to begin de-mining the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Central Command (Centcom) said on Saturday.

Centcom said in a social media post highlighted by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that two Navy guided-missile destroyers began “setting conditions” for this mission on Saturday morning.

The USS Frank E. Peterson and USS Michael Murphy have previously operated in the Arabian Gulf to help clear the strait of sea mines set by Tehran, according to Centcom.

“Today, we began the process of establishing a new passage and we will share this safe pathway with the maritime industry soon to encourage the free flow of commerce,” Centcom Commander Adm. Brad Cooper said in the post.

The strait is a critical trading corridor, particularly for global energy markets. About a fifth of the world’s oil consumption flows through the passage on a daily basis.

The military operations between the U.S., Israel and Iran have made the journey through the strait perilous, as Tehran launched counterstrikes on U.S. targets and energy infrastructure in the Gulf region. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also laid mines along the waterway.

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19 replies

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Highlight:

US military starts removing mines from Strait of Hormuz (Original Post) Munu 18 hrs ago OP

Warships: USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121) "Into the Tiger's Jaw " Goonch 18 hrs ago #1

The US broke so the US needs to fix it Bluestocking 18 hrs ago #2

Why not use mine sweepers? Kid Berwyn 17 hrs ago #3

This message was self-deleted by its author PeaceWave 17 hrs ago #4

What's ridiculous about their demands? leftstreet 17 hrs ago #6

This message was self-deleted by its author PeaceWave 17 hrs ago #7

The Strait is not international waters leftstreet 17 hrs ago #10

The Strait of Hormuz is a transit passage strait under Article 37 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. TomSlick 15 hrs ago #16

Yes. But that's Treaty Law leftstreet 14 hrs ago #17

I don't understand the distinction. International law often has a basis in treaties. TomSlick 14 hrs ago #18

So maybe the U.S. will charge for piloting a mine-free lane instead of Iran? usonian 17 hrs ago #5

This message was self-deleted by its author PeaceWave 17 hrs ago #9

Or maybe .... Bmoboy 17 hrs ago #8

Around a dozen mines? WarGamer 17 hrs ago #11

This message was self-deleted by its author PeaceWave 17 hrs ago #14

Inevitable OC375 17 hrs ago #12

Trump is in a hurry to get in on the toll collections racket at the Strait Redleg 17 hrs ago #13

About the mines, I really have a hard time believing that Iran would use mines when their fleets have been using the yaesu 17 hrs ago #15

My understanding is that the ships Red Mountain 13 hrs ago #19

Goonch

(5,190 posts)

1. Warships: USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121) "Into the Tiger's Jaw "

Reply to Munu (Original post)

Sat Apr 11, 2026, 04:22 PM

18 hrs ago

Bluestocking

(676 posts)

2. The US broke so the US needs to fix it

Reply to Munu (Original post)

Sat Apr 11, 2026, 04:32 PM

18 hrs ago

What dumbasses

Kid Berwyn

(24,569 posts)

3. Why not use mine sweepers?

Reply to Munu (Original post)

Sat Apr 11, 2026, 04:52 PM

17 hrs ago

Oh, right.

The US Navy decommissioned four Middle East minesweepers last year.

https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2026/03/12/the-us-navy-decommissioned-middle-east-minesweepers-last-year-heres-what-they-did/

Response to Munu (Original post)

PeaceWave This message was self-deleted by its author.

leftstreet

(40,968 posts)

6. What's ridiculous about their demands?

Reply to PeaceWave (Reply #4)

Sat Apr 11, 2026, 05:04 PM

17 hrs ago

Response to leftstreet (Reply #6)

PeaceWave This message was self-deleted by its author.

leftstreet

(40,968 posts)

10. The Strait is not international waters

Reply to PeaceWave (Reply #7)

Sat Apr 11, 2026, 05:10 PM

17 hrs ago

It's the territorial seas of Oman and Iran, and there's no exclusive Economic Zone through the center

So that was the starters...

TomSlick

(13,028 posts)

16. The Strait of Hormuz is a transit passage strait under Article 37 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Reply to leftstreet (Reply #10)

Sat Apr 11, 2026, 07:12 PM

15 hrs ago

Under Article 38, other countries have an almost unrestricted right to sail and fly through under transit passage rules.

The real purpose of the US Navy ships passing through the Straits this weekend was a freedom of navigation operation.

leftstreet

(40,968 posts)

17. Yes. But that's Treaty Law

Reply to TomSlick (Reply #16)

Sat Apr 11, 2026, 07:47 PM

14 hrs ago

Not International Law

In any case, Iran has been and continues to allow passage of "peaceful ships" to the best of their ability

TomSlick

(13,028 posts)

18. I don't understand the distinction. International law often has a basis in treaties.

Reply to leftstreet (Reply #17)

Sat Apr 11, 2026, 08:03 PM

14 hrs ago

Iran is violating international law. Trump's idea of a joint venture with Iran to charge tolls would be a violation of international law.

Both Trump and the Ayatollah know that the problem with international law is always enforcement.

usonian

(25,667 posts)

5. So maybe the U.S. will charge for piloting a mine-free lane instead of Iran?

Reply to Munu (Original post)

Sat Apr 11, 2026, 05:02 PM

17 hrs ago

Capitalism, comrade!

Iran Unable to Find Mines It Planted in Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Says
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221164546

Due to a shortage of young men in the Navy (the draft will cure that), an older salty dog has been sent to locate sea mines.

What a complete fustercluck.

Response to usonian (Reply #5)

PeaceWave This message was self-deleted by its author.

Bmoboy

(649 posts)

8. Or maybe ....

Reply to Munu (Original post)

Sat Apr 11, 2026, 05:06 PM

17 hrs ago

The warmonger US is willing to sacrifice some destroyers to show how "hot" they are.

WarGamer

(18,690 posts)

11. Around a dozen mines?

Reply to Munu (Original post)

Sat Apr 11, 2026, 05:11 PM

17 hrs ago

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/iran-has-laid-about-dozen-mines-strait-hormuz-sources-say-2026-03-11/

WASHINGTON, March 11 (Reuters) - Iran has deployed about a dozen mines in the Strait of Hormuz, two sources familiar with the matter ‌said, in a move likely to complicate the reopening of the narrow waterway, an important route for shipping oil and liquefied natural gas.

Exports of oil and LNG through the strategic chokepoint along Iran's coast have effectively been halted by the war launched 12 ⁠days ago by the United States and Israel, helping to drive a surge in world energy prices.

Response to WarGamer (Reply #11)

PeaceWave This message was self-deleted by its author.

OC375

(1,052 posts)

12. Inevitable

Reply to Munu (Original post)

Sat Apr 11, 2026, 05:12 PM

17 hrs ago

Redleg

(6,959 posts)

13. Trump is in a hurry to get in on the toll collections racket at the Strait

Reply to Munu (Original post)

Sat Apr 11, 2026, 05:13 PM

17 hrs ago

It is just another opportunity to rake in some cash.

yaesu

(9,351 posts)

15. About the mines, I really have a hard time believing that Iran would use mines when their fleets have been using the

Reply to Munu (Original post)

Sat Apr 11, 2026, 05:23 PM

17 hrs ago

strait along with ships with permission. Also, this comes from the tRump fascist regime which never should be believed.

Red Mountain

(2,357 posts)

19. My understanding is that the ships

Reply to yaesu (Reply #15)

Sat Apr 11, 2026, 09:14 PM

13 hrs ago

allowed to transit follow a fairly narrow path closer to Iran that allows the Iranians to ID them.

The Iranians may have mined the wider parts of the strait.......we simply don't know.

Ship owners also do not know. And the companies that they rely on to provide insurance. They don't know.

So the strait remains effectively closed.

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