Archive · 28 Aug 2026
US Says Iranian Mines Cleared, But Hormuz Traffic Remains Restricted
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway used by ships carrying oil and gas.
The United States says Iran placed mines in some international shipping lanes there.
US forces say they spent several months finding and removing those mines.
Commander Brad Cooper called the operation a major milestone.
CENTCOM said the shipping lanes are open.
However, many ships are still avoiding the area because of continuing threats.
Reports said traffic was only about 5 to 15 percent of normal levels.
The United States said it had helped many commercial ships pass through the strait.
President Donald Trump gave different descriptions of whether ships were moving through the waterway.
US Central Command said Iranian sea mines had been cleared from internationally recognized shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz.
Commander Brad Cooper described the months-long operation, involving divers, Navy SEALs and air power, as a major milestone.
CENTCOM said the lanes were open, but commercial traffic reportedly remained far below normal because vessels continued avoiding the waterway.
Cooper said US forces had assisted about 1,500 commercial vessels carrying nearly 750 million barrels of crude oil through the strait.
President Donald Trump gave conflicting descriptions of traffic, saying 24 ships had crossed while also saying no ships were getting through.
- Who
- The US military and US Central Command, led in the announcement by Admiral Brad Cooper, reported clearing mines attributed to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
- What
- US Central Command said Iranian sea mines had been removed from internationally recognized shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz.
- When
- The announcement was reported on Thursday, with the articles giving August 27 and August 28, 2026, as dates.
- Where
- The Strait of Hormuz, specifically its international shipping and transit routes.
- Why
- The stated aim was to remove mine threats and help restore commercial shipping through a waterway important to global energy trade.
US Military Account
Traffic And Safety Concerns
Whether shipping lanes are open
US Military Account
CENTCOM and Brad Cooper said internationally recognized shipping lanes were free of Iranian mines, open to navigation, and beginning to see renewed momentum.
Traffic And Safety Concerns
Commercial traffic remained far below normal, with ship-tracking estimates at 5 to 15 percent of usual levels, while many vessels continued avoiding the strait.
Whether the waterway is safe
US Military Account
The United States said its forces had removed the reported mine threat from the international routes after months of difficult and dangerous work.
Traffic And Safety Concerns
The articles said Iranian threats continued, and the International Maritime Organization reported 70 incidents and 19 seafarer deaths since the war began, so the waterway was not described as fully safe.
Extent of ongoing blockade and traffic
US Military Account
Cooper said US forces were maintaining commercial traffic and had assisted about 1,500 vessels; Trump said 24 ships had moved through the strait.
Traffic And Safety Concerns
Trump also said the United States had a blockade, Iran was getting nothing, and no ship was going through, creating a conflicting description of actual traffic conditions.
- Announcing agency
- United States Central Command, also known as CENTCOM.
- Operation commander
- Admiral Brad Cooper, the US Central Command commander.
- Attributed mine-laying force
- Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to the US military’s account.
- Clearing methods
- Navy divers, Navy SEALs, and US Army, Navy and Air Force air power.
- Reported shipping assistance
- CENTCOM said US forces assisted about 1,500 commercial vessels carrying nearly 750 million barrels of crude oil in recent months.
- Current traffic estimates
- Ship-tracking services estimated activity at roughly 5 to 15 percent of usual levels.
- Reported maritime casualties
- The International Maritime Organization reported 70 incidents and 19 seafarer deaths in the strait since the war began.
- Energy significance
- The Strait of Hormuz handles nearly one-fifth of global energy trade, according to the articles.
