Clearing mines from the Strait of Hormuz to restore safe transit could delay the return of normal maritime traffic by several weeks, even after an agreement is reached to reopen the strategic waterway.

Security risks in the region persist, according to a report by the Reuters news agency, which cited shipping and maritime security sources.

Estimates from five Western sources operating in maritime security suggest that the clearance operation, which will utilize traditional minesweepers and underwater drones, could take 40 to 50 days to complete. Sources stated that this process must be concluded before insurance, shipping, and oil companies will be willing to risk transiting the strait.

The projected delay could impact global markets at a time when oil inventories in the world’s largest economies have fallen to their lowest levels since 2003. Based on pre-war shipment volumes, estimates suggest that tens of millions of additional barrels of oil could remain trapped in the strait, adding to the Persian Gulf shipments that have been blocked since February 28.

Jakob Larsen, the head of maritime safety and security at the shipping association BIMCO, called for caution regarding the situation:

“At this stage, we believe it is still too risky to begin transits. The mine hazard in the region remains a problem both now and for the future; therefore, safe, de-mined routes must be established.”

The report noted that the exact number of mines laid by Iran remains unknown in the strait, which accounted for 20% of global daily oil and natural gas shipments before the war. A June 11 briefing note from the German Navy, citing data from US and British naval forces, stated that the mines were located in four areas around the strait, though Germany noted it could not independently verify these locations.

The mere possibility of mines is highlighted as enough to keep shipping companies away from the region. Because a supertanker carrying crude oil can be valued at approximately $300 million, war-risk insurers, oil companies, and tanker operators are expected to demand guarantees of safe passage.

Rene Kofod-Olsen, CEO of V.Group—one of the world’s largest technical ship and crew management companies, which has 13 vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf—evaluated the situation:

“Even a single naval mine is enough to cause loss of life. This is clearly a massive problem for the global shipping industry.”

Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the UN’s International Maritime Organization, welcomed the agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, calling it “an important step toward restoring security in this vital corridor for seafarers and ships.” However, Dominguez added that “implementation will take time to ensure all necessary security and safety guarantees are met.”

Earlier, US President Donald Trump announced that an agreement had been signed with Iran, that the Strait of Hormuz was partially opened to maritime traffic, and that it would be fully opened as of June 19.

Trump claimed that, at the current stage, “a search is being conducted for a few mines.”

Iran has disclosed the details of a 14-point draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) prepared as part of ongoing negotiations with the United States.

According to the draft text published by the Mehr news agency, citing sources, the document includes critical provisions such as an immediate end to the war, the withdrawal of US forces from the region, and the provision of financial assistance to Tehran.

Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials stated that the text has not yet taken its final shape and must be reviewed and processed by relevant domestic institutions.

The draft memorandum of understanding published by the Mehr agency consists of the following points:

• An immediate and complete cessation of war on all fronts, including Lebanon;
• US non-interference in the internal affairs of Iran and respect for its sovereignty;
• The complete lifting of the maritime blockade within 30 days;
• The withdrawal of American military personnel from areas close to Iran;
• The restoration of normal maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz within 30 days;
• The suspension of sanctions and the provision of full access to Iran’s frozen assets;
• The provision of $300 billion in financial assistance to Tehran by the US and its allies;
• The initiation of a 60-day negotiation period for a final agreement regarding nuclear issues, the complete lifting of US sanctions, and the revocation of UN Security Council and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) resolutions;
• Iran’s reaffirmation of its commitment to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT);
• A US commitment not to increase its troop levels in the region and to refrain from imposing new sanctions;
• The release of $24 billion of Iran’s frozen financial assets by the US during the 60-day negotiation process, with half of this amount transferred to Tehran before negotiations begin;
• The establishment of a monitoring mechanism to oversee the implementation of the agreement;
• The endorsement of the final agreement via a UN Security Council resolution;
• The requirement that half of the Iranian funds be released, oil sanctions suspended, and the maritime blockade lifted for second-phase negotiations to begin; with the final agreement strictly limited to the status of enriched uranium, the lifting of sanctions, and the economic recovery program, while explicitly excluding the missile program and support for resistance groups from the agenda.

Meanwhile, the news outlet Axios, citing its own sources, reported that Washington and Tehran have agreed on the text of the memorandum of understanding, though the document still awaits final approval.

The report noted that the document in question contains all the details regarding nuclear issues and satisfies US demands.

Bloomberg reported that instead of establishing direct contact, the parties have been exchanging messages through indirect diplomatic channels, utilizing Pakistani mediators and private couriers.

US President Donald Trump announced on June 11 that the parties had reached an agreement to end the war, stating that only the signatures remained to be finalized.

Trump indicated that the preparation of the documents had reached the final stage, adding that the signing ceremony could take place as early as this weekend.

According to information reported by Axios correspondent Barak Ravid, US Air Force aircraft and necessary equipment departed for Geneva, Switzerland, on the evening of June 11 to prepare for the signing ceremony.

Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei also announced that work on the main articles of the peace agreement text with the US is nearly complete.

Despite these positive statements pointing toward an agreement, military tensions between the two sides had continued until very recently.

A few days ago, the parties carried out reciprocal military strikes, after which Trump stated that Washington was prepared to launch new attacks against Iran, seize Kharg Island, and take control of the country’s oil and gas markets, drawing a parallel to Venezuela.

Trump later announced that he had canceled these attack plans, while the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs argued that the American attacks had rendered the ceasefire process dysfunctional.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry said US attacks on targets inside Iran during the night of June 11 had “effectively rendered meaningless” the ceasefire arrangement that entered into force between the parties in April.

According to a statement carried by the Tasnim news agency, “The illegal and criminal attacks carried out by the United States in recent hours constitute not only a grave violation of the United Nations Charter and the fundamental norms of international law, but have also effectively rendered the ceasefire regime meaningless.”

Iran also stressed that countries in the region have a legal and moral responsibility not to allow the US military to use their territory and resources to conduct attacks.

The statement further pledged to “neutralize the source of the aggressive actions.”

US strikes lasted four hours

According to a statement from US Central Command, American armed forces launched strikes against targets in Iran on the night of June 11 “in self-defense.”

“These strikes are a response to Iran’s unjustified and ongoing aggression,” the statement said.

Approximately four hours after the operation began, the US military announced that it had concluded the mission.

According to the statement, the targets included intelligence and surveillance facilities, communications systems and air defense positions. The operation involved units from the US Marine Corps, Air Force and Navy.

Axios reporter Barak Ravid wrote on X that the United States had struck military targets in southern Iran.

According to reports from the IRNA, Mehr, Tasnim and Fars news agencies, explosions were reported on Kish Island, east of Isfahan, in Mohr, and in the Hormozgan province districts of Sirik, Minab, Qeshm and Hengam.

Air defense systems were also reported to have been activated around the airport and military base in Bandar Abbas.

Iran announces closure of the Strait of Hormuz

Iran announced that it had closed the Strait of Hormuz to all maritime traffic, including tankers and commercial vessels.

According to Mehr, the naval arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps attacked two commercial ships attempting to transit the strait.

The Revolutionary Guards also said that 12 ballistic missiles struck a location hosting US F-35, F-15 and F-16 fighter aircraft. The statement added that targets at Jordan’s Azraq Air Base and a “command center” had also been hit.

US President Donald Trump had previously warned that attacks on Iran could resume after negotiations failed to make progress and following the destruction of a US Apache attack helicopter.

The helicopter was reportedly shot down off the coast of Oman on the evening of June 8, although both pilots were rescued.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned US threats and said his country would “maintain its resolute stance.”

A two-week ceasefire between the parties entered into force in April and was later extended indefinitely by Trump until further notice. Despite the ceasefire, however, the two sides had engaged in several rounds of retaliatory attacks.