Khaberni - The US Department of War reported during a classified briefing to Congress that the operation to clear the Strait of Hormuz of mines laid by the Iranian military might take 6 months, according to what the "Washington Post" revealed on Wednesday.
A senior official at the Department of War said during his speech before the House Armed Services Committee on Tuesday that clearing the strategic strait of mines could take 6 months, noting that it is unlikely that the operation would be completed before the end of the war between the United States and Iran, according to three officials familiar with the conversation.
The newspaper noted that this timeframe mentioned by the Department of War disappointed both Democrats and Republicans alike, as it means that gasoline and oil prices will remain high for a long period even after reaching an agreement.
According to the source, such a scenario could have significant political effects in the United States, especially for the Republicans as the mid-term elections approach in November, noting that polls have shown a drop in President Donald Trump's popularity following the beginning of the war and the division of his political base.
Three officials, on the condition of anonymity, said that the legislators were informed that Iran likely planted 20 or more mines around the Strait of Hormuz.
Some of these mines were deployed remotely using GPS technology, making it difficult for the US Navy to detect them during deployment, while it is believed that others were planted by small boats, as stated by a senior defense official to the lawmakers.
Closing the Strait of Hormuz has been one of the main points of contention between Washington and Tehran, and Iran has not stopped at merely closing the strait but also attacked some ships.
The closure of the strait caused a global crisis and led to increased prices for various products, especially oil and gas, affecting various countries around the world.
Iran began planting mines in the Strait of Hormuz during March, while American and Israeli forces continued their attacks on the country. Afterward, the Pentagon announced targeting Iranian ships trying to plant mines.
The details of the plan to be adopted by the US military to remove the mines have not been clarified yet, as officials have suggested the possibility of using helicopters, drones, and specialized divers to recover these explosive munitions.
