From Navy Decoded:

Https://youtu.be/2NNZ2u2WDD0?si=YiA7XQ5tSsSyRZUc

The Threat of Naval Mines

Asymmetric Warfare: 

Iran maintains between 5,000 and 6,000 naval mines. These range from simple $1,500 contact mines—which can cause tens of millions in damage to a billion-dollar warship—to sophisticated "smart" mines like the EM52, a rocket-propelled mine that attacks from the seafloor at high speeds.

Economic Impact: 

The goal of these mines isn't just to sink ships; it's to sink insurance policies. By making the Strait too dangerous for commercial tankers, the mines effectively close a corridor that carries 20% of the world's crude oil through market fear.

The U.S. Navy's Unmanned Solution

Unlike other nations that still use human divers and wooden-hulled ships, the U.S. Navy has developed a four-step unmanned system to clear minefields without putting sailors at risk:

Detection (ALMDS): 

Helicopters use lasers (lidar) to map mines near the surface.

Hunting (CUSV/Sonar): 

Unmanned surface boats tow sonar to find "bottom mines" hidden in the silt on the seafloor.

Decoying (UISS): 

Robot boats tow acoustic and magnetic generators to trick "smart" mines into detonating, thinking they are targeting a massive tanker.

Destruction (Archer Fish): 

Small expendable drones use video cameras and shaped charges to manually destroy any remaining mines.

Why the Delay? The "Three Variable" Equation

The Navy is waiting for three specific conditions to be met before beginning the clearance:

Variable 1: Shutting the Faucet:

There is no point in "mopping the floor" while the faucet is still running. The U.S. has focused first on destroying Iran's mine-laying vessels, storage depots, and manufacturing facilities to ensure no new mines can be laid.

Variable 2: Providing a "Roof": 

Mine-clearing ships are slow and vulnerable. The Navy is waiting for the USS Tripoli (carrying F-35B stealth fighters) to arrive and provide a "protective bubble" against coastal missiles and small attack craft.

Variable 3: Economic Pressure:

Ironically, the mines are currently hurting Iran's economy more than anyone else's by blocking their own oil exports. The U.S. is allowing this "economic siege" to continue until the pressure reaches its maximum effect.

Conclusion: 

The U.S. Navy will clear the Strait on its own terms and timing once the "equation is optimal"—when the mines on the floor are the last ones Iran will ever have.

(Summary by renqiulan)