Even if hostilities end and the blockade is lifted, it could take months to clear the waterway of mines, according to the Pentagon’s assessment, The Washington Post reported, citing officials familiar with the discussions.
The assessment stated that such an operation was unlikely to begin before the end of the war.
The six-month estimate was shared with members of the House Armed Services Committee during a classified briefing, the Post reports.
According to the report, lawmakers were told that Iran may have placed 20 or more mines in and around the strait, some floated remotely using GPS technology, making them difficult to detect.