US Commander Declares Hormuz Shipping Lanes Are Mine-Free

By John Harney

Aug 28, 2026 (Bloomberg) –The top US commander for the Middle East said that American forces have cleared Iranian mines from the Strait of Hormuz, after Washington’s allies expressed doubts about similar claims by President Donald Trump.

Admiral Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command, said in the three-and-a-half-minute video released Thursday night that “over the past few months, our forces meticulously and quietly” cleared the international shipping lanes of mines. The work was carried out by Navy divers and SEALs, as well as aircraft.

“The circumstances were challenging and dangerous, to say