The Pentagon estimates that clearing naval mines laid by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz could take up to six months.
US Department of Defence officials provided the assessment during a closed-door briefing to the House Armed Services Committee on April 20, the Associated Press reports, citing a source.
The source said lawmakers at the briefing also requested details on the potential cost of a war with Iran, as well as the strategy and objectives involved.
As of April 2026, US intelligence indicated Iran has deployed over 20 sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for the movement of Middle Eastern oil through the Persian Gulf.
Some were floated remotely using GPS technology, which has made it difficult for US forces to detect, a senior defence official said.
Others are believed to have been laid by Iranian forces using small boats.
By Bakhtiyar Abbasov
