October 29, 2026
In light of the ongoing tension over the security of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, the US Central Command (Centcom) denied Iranian media reports claiming that commercial ships were exposed to sea mines while crossing the Strait, stressing that recognized international navigation routes are completely free of mines and that ship movement is proceeding safely.
Centcom explained, in a statement published on the “X” platform, that the American forces successfully completed the disinfection of the main transit routes in the strategic corridor, noting that thousands of commercial ships used these corridors safely, and that navigation traffic continues without stopping through the disinfected routes.
The American position comes in response to repeated Iranian reports and announcements over the past weeks regarding the exposure of commercial ships to sea mines. According to circulating data, some Iranian accounts lacked details that could be independently verified regarding the identity of the ships or the circumstances of the alleged incidents, at a time when Washington had previously denied similar reports about tankers colliding with mines in the region.
On the other hand, the data indicated that the process of clearing the main navigation routes does not necessarily mean the disappearance of all maritime risks. The Joint Maritime Information Center warned, in a previous assessment, of the continued presence of some threats in the strait, including the possibility of drifting or unspecified mines.
It is noteworthy that the Strait of Hormuz is considered one of the most important strategic sea lanes in the world, especially with regard to energy exports, which makes any threat to its navigational security the subject of wide international follow-up in light of the current political and military conditions in the region.
