Iran May Allow Europe to Participate in Demining the Strait of Hormuz

Iran is considering allowing European countries to join demining efforts in the Strait of Hormuz. Such a move could accelerate the full restoration of shipping through one of the world’s most critical energy routes.

This is reported by Bloomberg citing sources familiar with the discussions. Tehran has not yet made a final decision, and the terms of possible European naval forces participation remain under negotiation.

Access for European specialists could become part of a broader agreement on safe passage for commercial vessels through the strait. For a full-scale operation to begin, guarantees are needed that ships searching for and destroying mines will not come under attack.

The United Kingdom and France had earlier formed a multinational defensive mission to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Dozens of nations provided political support for the initiative, notably Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Scandinavian and Persian Gulf countries.

The mission is to escort civilian vessels, guarantee the safety of trade routes, and conduct demining. At the same time, its participants have stressed that the operation will begin only under favorable security conditions and will not be part of combat actions against Iran.

The exact number of mines in the strait and their locations are not disclosed. Due to this, shipping companies and insurers demand verified safe corridors before resuming tanker and cargo ship traffic at pre-war volumes.

The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, in the first half of 2025 about 20.9 million barrels per day of oil and petroleum products were transported through it — approximately 20% of global consumption.

Alternative pipelines in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates can divert only a portion of these volumes. Therefore, prolonged restriction of passage through the strait impacts oil, fuel, insurance and marine transportation costs.

Iran’s consent to European participation could remove one of the main political obstacles to demining. However, even after agreement, route verification and full clearance of the waters could require considerable time.

Based on materials from: Bloomberg, UK Government, U.S. Energy Information Administration