The United Kingdom is deploying divers to clear naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz as London hosts a second day of European talks on Thursday about reopening the shipping lane amid the Iran war.
Royal Navy divers are preparing for the mine-clearing operations, according to the British government. The U.K. is also offering autonomous mine hunters as part of a proposed multinational coalition to secure the narrow strait.
The Strait of Hormuz still remains effectively closed as the United States and Iran work toward a more lasting truce beyond the extended ceasefire.
Iran continues to stem the flow of commercial vessels in the strait as the U.S. Navy maintains a blockade on Tehran’s ports and vessels. An unconfirmed number of mines laid by the Islamic regime remain in the strait. Iran has been unable to find them, prompting President Donald Trump to order the Navy to remove the mines.
The mine-clearing operations could last up to six months, according to the Washington Post. Lawmakers were told Iran may have placed at least 20 mines in the body of water.
The U.K. is now preparing to assist the U.S. with clearing the mines.
Europe has not been involved in the U.S.-led attacks against Iran, taking a more diplomatic approach to the conflict instead. The stance taken by many European countries, including Britain, has greatly angered Trump, who has frequently derided NATO for its lack of action.
The international military alliance is committed to reopening the strait as global oil prices skyrocket, but it prefers handling the fragile situation in a defensive manner.
The Netherlands deployed frigates and military personnel ahead of a possible operation in the future, Euronews reported last Friday, as Paris held talks on the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, Germany has remained hesitant about participating in an operation to secure the strait, which could only come after a long-term ceasefire is made.
Germany and Britain are more open to working with the U.S. on planning military operations to reopen the strait, per a New York Times analysis. By contrast, France excluded the U.S. from the “nonbelligerent” European meeting of more than 40 countries in Paris last week.
FRANCE AND UK LEAD ‘DEFENSIVE’ MISSION IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ TO PROTECT SHIPPING
London is hosting military planners from over 30 nations for two-day talks on a multinational mission to protect navigation in the strait. The U.S. and Iran did not attend the talks this week.
The state of the extended ceasefire, and thereby the Strait of Hormuz, remains uncertain. Trump agreed to add more time to the two-week ceasefire at the request of Pakistan one day before its expiration.
