The U.S. military possesses a range of capabilities it could wield to blunt Iran's mine threat in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy views the maritime weapon as a key pillar of its military strategy, according to a 2017 Office of Naval Intelligence report, and reportedly began laying mines in the sea passage last week.

That reality underscores why the administration believes a decisive, multi-pronged approach is necessary to keep vital sea lanes open.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said in a Pentagon briefing Friday, however, that there was “no clear evidence” of mines in the strait.

Here's What They're Not Telling You About Your Retirement

The Navy has shifted away from aging tools and toward a more capable mix of surface ships and unmanned systems.

The decommissioning of Middle East minesweepers last year left a gap the fleet is filling with Littoral Combat Ships and a modern mine-countermeasure package.

Adm. Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command, said Monday that U.S. forces destroyed storage bunkers for naval mines during a U.S. strike on military targets on Iran’s oil export hub, Kharg Island, on Friday. U.S. forces also destroyed 16 Iranian minelayers last week, according to CENTCOM.

Iran is believed to possess roughly 6,000 mines, a stash spanning limpet, moored, bottom and drifting variants, according to a congressional report published Wednesday.

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

The stockpile underscores the threat that could materialize whenever Iranian ships or proxies move to threaten critical shipping lanes.

The Navy’s current plan leverages four Avenger-class mine countermeasure ships stationed in Sasebo, Japan, that could be deployed to the Middle East to support Operation Epic Fury if necessary.

The fleet began retiring these 1980s veterans as it shifts to Independence-class littoral combat ships equipped with dedicated mine countermeasures modules.

These newer LCS platforms, including the USS Canberra and the USS Santa Barbara and Tulsa, carry a mine-countermeasures mission package that enables them to operate outside a full mine-threat zone.

They use unmanned surface and underwater vehicles plus specialized sensors to identify and address danger beneath the water. The MCM package on the Independence-class ships is designed around the unmanned systems and the AN/AQS-20 mine-hunting sonar, which is towed and detects bottom and moored mines.

A magnetic sweep capability, via the unmanned influence sweep, helps to break the tether threats that anchor some mines to the seabed. There is also the unmanned surface vehicle that provides a magnetic sweep or an acoustic device to address the danger from a distance.

The unmanned vehicles sail along predetermined routes but relay camera footage and radar readings to a remote operator who can steer away from obstacles underwater.

The ships themselves sport a more capable weapons fit, including a 57mm MK-110 gun, SeaRAM and additional machine guns for self-defense.

Helicopters extend the reach of the mine countermeasures package, with the Independence-class equipped Sikorsky MH-60S Seahawk deploying the AN/AES-1 Airborne Laser Mine Detection System and the AN/ASQ-235 Airborne Mine-Neutralization System.

The helicopter fleet builds on the legacy of the MH-53E Sea Dragon, which was used in the Gulf War to destroy mines and clear lanes in the Persian Gulf.

The Navy inventory continues to evolve as it looks ahead to ongoing needs in the region. The MH-53E uses side-scan AQS-14A mine-hunting sonar to locate mines and can tow a variety of countermeasures to neutralize threats.

The service is evaluating its requirement for future airborne mine countermeasures missions after 2025 as part of a broader modernization plan.

This approach reflects a clear policy preference for a robust, ready fleet that can respond decisively to threats in the Persian Gulf and beyond.

Under a Trump administration and with a War Secretary who places a premium on rapid, decisive action, the United States would deploy this layered capability with confidence.

The combination of proven mine-countermeasure ships and cutting-edge unmanned systems ensures America can keep vital trade routes open even in the face of Iranian attempts to disrupt shipping.

The aim is not merely to respond to mines but to deter their use altogether by maintaining the readiness and flexibility to overwhelm any threat.

The bottom line is simple: America must remain the leader in maritime security, and the tools described here give our forces the ability to act quickly, precisely, and effectively.

By combining traditional minesweeping with unmanned technologies and capable aircraft, the Navy can protect global commerce while pressuring Tehran to rethink its strategy.

The result is a deterrent that makes it clear to adversaries that risk will always outweigh potential gains when attempting such provocations.

Warning: Account balances and purchasing power no longer tell the same story. Know in 2 minutes if your retirement is working for you.