France and UK Lead 15-Nation Coalition to Clear Hormuz Mines

The Government of the United Kingdom and the French Republic have finalized plans to lead a multinational coalition of 15 countries to clear naval mines from the Strait of Hormuz. The mission aims to restore commercial shipping for the waterway, which carries one-fifth of global oil and LNG supplies and has remained at a near-standstill following mines laid by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Donald Trump has tied the reopening of the strait to a memorandum of understanding with Iran to end hostilities. While the U.S. President has claimed his forces removed most of the mines, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on June 4 that no progress has been made in talks with the United States. In response to the crisis, the UK has already dispatched the RFA Lyme Bay toward the region.

Simultaneously, the European External Action Service proposed expanding the EU's Operation Aspides naval mission to take a primary role in the mine-clearing efforts. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas argued that the closure of the shipping lane is untenable, though a formal mandate change for Aspides would require unanimous approval from all 27 EU member states. This EU initiative is intended to support the broader coalition and address volatility in European energy markets following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.