Iran cannot locate all mines it laid in the Strait of Hormuz and lacks the capability to remove them, preventing compliance with President Trump's demand to increase shipping traffic through the vital waterway. The mining operation has slowed oil tankers and other vessels to a trickle, driving up energy prices and giving Iran leverage during the ongoing conflict.

Iran used small boats to mine the strait last month following the U.S.-Israel war against the country. The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps warned ships could collide with mines while offering limited safe routes for vessels that pay tolls. U.S. officials say Iran planted the mines haphazardly without recording all locations, and some mines were placed in a way that allowed them to drift.

The mine removal issue complicates peace talks between Iranian negotiators and U.S. Vice President JD Vance in Pakistan. Trump's cease-fire with Iran is contingent on the "COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING" of the strait, while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi cited "technical limitations" in his response. The U.S. military also lacks robust mine removal capabilities, leaving both sides facing a complex operational challenge.