WASHINGTON: The Pentagon has informed US Congress that it may take up to six months to remove the mines laid by Iran in the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The disclosure, made by a senior US defense official during a closed-door briefing with members of the House Armed Services Committee, has raised concerns about the prolonged economic and political effects of the ongoing tensions in the region.
As per The Washington Post, it seems that the mission to de-mine the area will be initiated only when the current fight between Iran and the US ends and it might mean that the economic consequences of the situation will extend to the second half of the year or later.
It has been found out from the briefings that some of the mines used advanced GPS technology, which makes their discovery and disposal very difficult for American troops. Some other mines have apparently been laid down through small boats by the Iranians.
This development has sounded many alarm bells, especially among American legislators who have expressed their discontent with this update. With the continued uncertainties about the developments, political implications may become serious with America preparing for its mid-term elections slated for November. Recent polls indicate that the public approval of President Donald Trump’s decision to increase tension with Iran has dropped sharply, resulting in divisions within the ranks of Trump’s political supporters.
The demining operation, which could take several months, would delay any resolution of the conflict in the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The United States military continues to operate in the Gulf region, keeping an eye on the developments while now there are indications that the process may be prolonged before normality can be restored.
White House: Trump to decide ceasefire timing with Iran, no set deadline
Earlier, White House Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt has denied any allegations concerning a possible deadline that President Trump had given for reaching a ceasefire deal with the US’s adversaries.
According to Leavitt, the reports were untrue, and President Trump had not set a particular period within which he expected a ceasefire deal with Iran. In her address, she added that the President’s decision on the timing would be left at the discretion of the Commander-in-Chief. According to her, the President had only given Iran some time within which they had to agree to reach some sort of agreement while maintaining a temporary ceasefire.
The US government was now waiting for a response from Iran on the same, since it expects them to give a unified response to continue with the ceasefire. With regards to the military operation, Karoline pointed out that the current situation in the Strait of Hormuz is satisfactory for President Trump since the economic pressure forced them to the negotiating table.
