The UK’s naval forces are set to conduct mine clearance in the Strait of Hormuz — contingent on a U.S.-Iran peace deal

(SeaPRwire) –   Hundreds of British sailors are currently stationed on the RFA Lyme Bay, which is docked near Gibraltar, awaiting potential deployment for a mine-clearing operation in the Strait of Hormuz, a mission whose certainty remains unclear.

U.S. President Donald Trump has criticized allied nations for their insufficient support of America’s military actions in Iran, asserting that Iran’s control over the strait has severely impacted global shipping and caused a surge in energy costs. Earlier in March, Trump instructed NATO members to “go get your own oil” and take responsibility for securing the waterway.

Located at the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula, within the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar, the U.K.’s Royal Navy is making preparations for such an undertaking, contingent upon the successful negotiation of a peace accord. Trump announced on Saturday that an agreement with Iran was “largely negotiated” following discussions with Israel and other regional partners, though it requires finalization.

Al Carns, Britain’s Armed Forces Minister, escorted a small contingent of journalists to the RFA Lyme Bay, which is gearing up for a potential international mission, spearheaded by the U.K. and France, aimed at securing the strait. While Carns addressed the press, the amphibious landing ship, positioned at the entrance to the Mediterranean, was being supplied with ordnance and sonar-equipped sea drones designed for mine detection.

The RFA Lyme Bay, carrying a crew of several hundred, is scheduled to depart Gibraltar shortly to rendezvous with the U.K. destroyer HMS Dragon and other allied vessels for air support, prior to its transit through the Suez Canal en route to the Persian Gulf.

Responding to an Associated Press inquiry regarding President Trump’s expectations of his British counterpart, Carns questioned, “What other nation possesses the capacity to unite 40 countries and devise a resolution for an intricate issue that we could not foresee due to our non-involvement?”

Following the commencement of hostilities by the U.S. and Israel on February 28, Tehran responded by effectively shutting down the strait, a vital conduit for the region’s oil, natural gas, and fertilizer, leading to widespread economic repercussions. The U.K. has specifically incurred Trump’s displeasure, with him characterizing Britain’s navy as “toys” and Prime Minister Keir Starmer as “not Winston Churchill.”

Carns stated that a minimum of 6,000 vessels have been prevented from traversing the strait since the outbreak of the conflict.

Iran’s mines could pose diverse threats

Cmdr. Gemma Britton, head of the Royal Navy’s Mine and Threat Exploitation Group, indicated that Iran might possess a “vast” array of mines dispersed across the strait. These mines could be rocket-propelled, tethered, or bottom-sitting, activated by sound, motion, or light.

The Associated Press was presented with autonomous systems capable of scanning the seabed and water using sonar, completing the task in roughly half the time required by a manned vessel to enter and chart potential hazards. These sonar-equipped sea drones generate images of submerged objects, ranging from fishing traps to pipelines. Britton explained that these images are then utilized to pinpoint mines, which can be further investigated with sophisticated acoustic systems and cameras.

Britton mentioned that certain systems aboard the RFA Lyme Bay can be transferred to a smaller craft, which can then be launched and operated autonomously from the main ship, serving as a mother vessel positioned outside any prospective minefield. This approach, she noted, minimizes the personnel required to enter the hazardous area.

Typically, once a mine is found, a diver carrying explosives attaches a charge to it before retreating to detonate it. However, Britton stated that the RFA Lyme Bay is currently testing a remotely operated vehicle that can descend, place a charge near a mine, and then trigger its detonation.

She explained that the immediate objective is to clear a transit lane within the strait to enable approximately 700 ships to exit. Subsequently, a lane for incoming vessels will be cleared, though she cautioned that fully clearing the entire strait might span months or even years.

Uncertainty remains regarding the deployment of the U.K. and its allies

The presence of mines in the strait, and whether the U.K. and its allies will be dispatched to remove them, remains undetermined.

An anonymous U.S. official, discussing confidential military information with the AP, disclosed that the U.S. has neither discovered nor neutralized any mines in the strait, and no vessels have sustained damage. Commercial shipping has persisted discreetly, albeit at a significantly reduced volume compared to pre-conflict levels.

When questioned by the AP about whether the British initiative was partially a display to gain favor with the U.S., Carns responded that while he believed some mines might have detonated or drifted away, such an assumption is insufficient for commercial insurance providers. He emphasized that these companies require “absolute certainty” before ships can resume passage through the strait.

“This capability is designed to deliver precisely that,” he affirmed.

The international endeavor to secure the strait would only commence once all hostilities have ceased.

Trump stated on social media Saturday that “Final aspects and details of the Deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced shortly,” without providing a timeline.

This marks another instance in recent weeks where an agreement has been characterized as imminent.

Carns remarked, “We are unaware of when the Americans, Iranians, and Israelis will arrive at an appropriate resolution.”

Meanwhile, the RFA Lyme Bay and its personnel will remain on standby, prepared to a “very, very high degree,” according to Carns.