Hormuz Strait Still Littered with Mines, Clearance Could Take Two Months

There are hundreds of mines planted in the Strait of Hormuz during the Iran war, meaning at least two months will be needed to clear the vital global oil distribution route, according to a statement from the Italian Defence Ministry on Wednesday. Commander of the Joint Operations Command (COVI), Giovanni Maria Iannucci, told the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committees of the Italian Parliament that an estimated dozens of mines are in the Strait of Hormuz, requiring around two months to address. He noted the mines are sophisticated and modern, requiring capabilities and expertise not possessed by all countries. Iannucci added that the idea of a multinational mission to clear the Strait of Hormuz also opens opportunities for participation from parties outside Europe as well as regional actors.