Clearing Strait of Hormuz of mines could take 6 months, Pentagon tells Congress

The Washington Post reports that the Pentagon has assessed in a classified briefing to Congress that clearing mines from the Strait of Hormuz could take approximately six months, with the assessment noting that gasoline and oil prices could remain elevated through the midterm elections. The reporting comes from named Pentagon officials and is sourced through classified briefings to lawmakers, reflecting standard journalistic practice for national security reporting, though the classified nature limits public verification of specific details. Independent reporting from FreightWaves, Military Times, and Navy Lookout corroborates that a six-month timeframe for clearing operations is being discussed across defense and maritime sectors, and adds context that the US Navy is already deploying autonomous minehunting systems in the Strait while analysts have raised concerns about gaps in American de-mining capabilities that may necessitate NATO assistance. Watch for declassified details about the Pentagon's specific de-mining strategies, congressional responses to the briefing, and any statements from Iran regarding mine placement or removal negotiations.