Italy Says Clearing Mines from Strait of Hormuz Could Take Two Months

Italy has stated that clearing the sophisticated mines laid in the Strait of Hormuz will require at least two months of work. The assessment was delivered by the Commander of the Italian Joint Operations Command (COVI), Giovanni Maria Iannucci, during a briefing to the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committees of the Italian Parliament.

Iannucci explained that the mines present a serious threat to maritime security and that their advanced technology necessitates specialist skills and equipment not possessed by all nations. He noted that Italian minesweepers are currently stationed in Djibouti, on the southern coast of the Red Sea, and proposed the formation of a multinational mission to tackle the threat. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies, and any disruption risks triggering significant volatility in international crude oil prices.