U.S. officials have not confirmed that Iran deployed naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, despite President Donald Trump’s assertion that Tehran had agreed to remove mines that American forces had not already cleared, according to a report by NBC News citing two U.S. officials and a source familiar with the matter.
The report said intelligence assessments from the United States and allied nations early in the conflict raised concerns that Iran might be laying mines in the strategically vital waterway. However, subsequent underwater search operations conducted by U.S. forces reportedly failed to locate any objects that could be conclusively identified as naval mines.
Officials familiar with the intelligence and military assessments suggested that the threat may have been less significant than initially feared.
“If anything, the threat has been far less robust than we had feared,” one source familiar with the matter says.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, carrying a significant share of global oil and natural gas shipments. Concerns over potential mining operations have been central to international efforts to safeguard commercial shipping amid ongoing tensions in the region.
The report highlights the continuing uncertainty surrounding the extent of Iran’s military activities in the waterway, even as diplomatic efforts continue to reduce tensions and restore normal maritime traffic.
