Iran cannot fully reopen Hormuz due to missing mines – NYT

A New York Times report published Friday revealed that Iran is struggling to fully restore traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, as it cannot account for all the naval mines it laid during the recent war and does not have sufficient mine‑clearing capabilities. Citing US officials, the paper said the situation has restricted Tehran’s ability to allow more vessels to transit the waterway, even as Washington has demanded safe passage.

Drifting Mines and Technical Hurdles

Iran laid the mines last month using small boats after the outbreak of the US‑Israeli war on 28 February, severely reducing tanker traffic and driving up global energy prices. While Tehran has kept a narrow, toll‑based corridor open, US officials say safe routes remain limited because some mines may have drifted or were not properly recorded during deployment. Removing naval mines is far more difficult than laying them, and neither Iran nor the US has adequate rapid‑clearing assets in the region.

Talks in Islamabad

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said the strait will remain open “with due consideration of technical limitations,” a phrase US officials interpret as an admission of the mine‑clearing problem. The issue is expected to be a central topic in ongoing talks in Pakistan between Iranian officials and a US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance. Washington has pressed for the “complete, immediate, and safe” reopening of the strait, which is vital for global oil and LNG shipments.