The United Kingdom is preparing to head a multinational initiative aimed at removing naval mines from the Strait of Hormuz and restoring the flow of oil tankers, according to new reports, as global concern mounts over disruptions to one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes.

British officials are reportedly working to convene a gathering of roughly 30 countries that have already agreed to contribute “appropriate efforts” toward reopening the strait, Politico reported. The move reflects growing coordination among U.S. allies to stabilize the region’s maritime routes.

As part of that effort, the UK is considering dispatching a Royal Navy minesweeper or contracting a civilian vessel capable of deploying mine-clearing drones into the affected waters, according to The Times.

Intelligence assessments indicate that Iran has placed at least a dozen naval mines in the narrow passage, posing a serious threat to commercial vessels. U.S. officials told CBS News that the devices identified include Iranian-produced Maham 3 and Maham 7 limpet mines.

These explosives present a major hazard to any ship attempting to pass through the strait, effectively choking off a corridor responsible for transporting roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply.

Despite the danger, British authorities believe a navigable route remains open, as several tankers have recently succeeded in passing through the chokepoint without incident, according to reports.

The Maham 3 mines, weighing over 660 pounds, are equipped with magnetic and acoustic sensors and can latch onto vessels that come within close proximity—about 10 feet—based on information from the Collective Awareness to Unexploded Ordnance database.

The Maham 7, referred to as a “sticking mine,” is a smaller limpet device that lies on the seabed and uses similar sensor technology to target mid-sized ships and amphibious craft.

Weighing approximately 485 pounds and first unveiled publicly in a 2015 weapons exhibition, the Maham 7 is considered difficult to detect, with the ability to interfere with sonar systems and complicate minesweeping operations.

According to the U.S. military, at least 44 Iranian vessels involved in deploying mines have been destroyed since the conflict began.

Although there is no precise tally, estimates suggest Iran maintains a stockpile of between 2,000 and 6,000 naval mines.

Even amid the heightened threat, ships from India, Pakistan, and China have reportedly continued transiting the strait without encountering mines or drone attacks.

Huax, a maritime intelligence company based in Germany and Italy, has indicated that vessels successfully navigating the route may be transmitting a specific signal to indicate safe passage, The Times reported.

“Whether they are signals to Tehran or internal fleet identifiers, we cannot confirm, but the signals are coordinated across multiple vessels,” Arsenio Longo, a maritime intelligence expert at Huax, told the outlet.

“Indian and China-linked vessels appear to be transiting or staging for transit while virtually all other commercial traffic remains blocked,” he added.

Iran has stated that all countries—aside from the United States, Israel, and their allies—are permitted to pass through the strait, a position that has led to increased tensions with President Trump over the weekend.

President Trump has called on Iran to reopen the strategic waterway following sharp increases in global oil prices, as reports suggest indirect discussions may be underway between Tehran and Washington aimed at ending the conflict.

In addition to mine-clearing operations, the UK is expected to deploy Type 45 destroyers to escort and protect oil tankers navigating the strait, according to The Times.

The British-led initiative signals that key U.S. allies are beginning to align more closely with President Trump’s push to resume energy shipments through Hormuz, even as some had previously voiced opposition to the war.

A total of 30 countries have signed a joint declaration committing to efforts to secure the waterway.

Participating nations include France, the United Arab Emirates, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands.

Iran, for its part, has warned that it will keep the Strait of Hormuz closed until both the United States and Israel agree to end the war and compensate Tehran.

{Matzav.com}