Plans have been reportedly finalized for a coalition-based mine clearing mission in the Strait of Hormuz. The campaign, to be lead jointly by the United Kingdom and France, is set to see 15 nations participate in an effort to clear the strait, as per reporting by Bloomberg.
Military planners across the coalition are said to be at an advanced stage of preparation, however not all participants will be immediately ready. Some countries are still sourcing support ships and are expected to join in phases after the mission begins, although specific timelines were not provided.
Britain has already moved RFA Lyme Bay from Gibraltar toward the strait, loaded with autonomous mine-hunting systems. The UK’s broader package includes anti-drone systems, Typhoon jets, and the destroyer HMS Dragon.
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Deployment is contingent on a deal restoring full commercial navigation rights and a permissible environment for coalition military assets. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Thursday that talks with Washington have stalled, suggesting the coalition won’t be deploying for a while yet.
Around 1,500 cargo vessels remain stranded under a fragile ceasefire, with the strait shut for four months now since the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran in February.
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the mission has been discussed with the US and with 50 countries. “The most important thing is to get that international agreement in place so that international shipping can return to normal,” she said. “But in order to get there, we need to show we’ve got the maritime support.”
Washington has been less enthusiastic. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the plan a catch-22 before Congress. “They’ve put together this initiative, which they say they will send minesweepers and escort ships, but they will do so once hostilities are ended,” he said.
Rubio also noted the US does not have purpose-built mine countermeasures ships in the region. The Navy meanwhile is retiring its four remaining Avenger-class minesweepers.
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