Despite an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, shipping and maritime security experts say the return of normal vessel traffic could take several weeks as authorities work to ensure the waterway is free of naval mines.

According to five Western maritime security sources to Reuters, mine-clearing operations involving traditional minesweepers and advanced underwater drones may need 40 to 50 days to complete before insurers, shipping firms, and energy companies regain enough confidence to resume regular transit through the strait.

"We still consider it very risky for ships to commence transits at this point," said Jakob Larsen, chief safety and security officer at shipping association BIMCO.

"The threat of mines in the area remains a concern immediately as well as further down the line and mine-free routes need to ⁠be established."

On 2 June, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing that Iran had "mined large segments of Hormuz — international waters", without providing further details.

Separately, in a 11 June advisory, Germany's navy cited information from US and British naval forces indicating that mines had been identified in four areas around the strait, while noting that Germany had not independently verified those reports.

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