On Thursday, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) declared that international shipping lanes within the Strait of Hormuz are clear and operational. According to Army Commander Brad Cooper, the U.S. military successfully removed sea mines that had been obstructing these transit routes.

In a video statement released on the social media platform X, Commander Cooper explicitly attributed the presence of the mines to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), stating that the devices had been laid months prior. The announcement serves as a formal update on the status of maritime security in one of the world's most critical oil transit chokepoints. While CENTCOM asserts that the routes are now free of hazards, the report does not detail the specific timeline of the removal operation or provide evidence regarding the alleged Iranian involvement beyond the commander's statement. The Iranian government has not yet issued a formal response to these specific claims regarding the mine-clearing operation or the origin of the mines.