British warships await peace deal for vital mine-clearing mission in Strait of Hormuz

Hundreds of British sailors are currently stationed at RFA Lime Bay off Gibraltar, preparing for a mine-clearing mission in the Strait of Hormuz, but their deployment remains uncertain. The operation hinges on a peace agreement in the region, which US President Donald Trump insists is “mostly negotiated” but still needs to be finalized.

The potential mission comes amid rising tensions with Iran effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz following the outbreak of war between the United States and Israel on February 28. The closure has severely affected international shipping and caused soaring energy prices, hitting global trade particularly in oil, natural gas and fertilizers.

Donald Trump has been a vocal critic of allies, urging them to do more to support U.S. efforts and secure the vital waterway for themselves, even telling NATO allies in March to “get your own oil.” He has previously described the Royal Navy as a “toy” and Prime Minister Keir Starmer as “no Winston Churchill”.

British Armed Forces Minister Al Khans recently gave reporters a glimpse of the preparations for RFA Lyme Bay. An amphibious landing ship anchored at the gateway to the Mediterranean Sea was loaded with advanced mine-hunting maritime drones equipped with ammunition and sonar.

The RFA Lyme Bay, carrying several hundred crew members, will depart Gibraltar and link up with the British destroyer USS Dragon and allied ships for air support before heading through the Suez Canal to the Persian Gulf. Britain and France are expected to lead this international operation.

In response to questions from Associated Press Asked about Donald Trump’s hopes for Britain’s allies, Kearns said: “What other country could bring together 40 countries and come up with solutions to complex problems that we couldn’t have foreseen because we weren’t involved?”

He stressed that at least 6,000 ships have been prevented from passing through the strait since the conflict began.

The potential threat from Iranian mines is wide-ranging, the commander said. Gemma Britton, head of the Royal Navy’s mine and threat exploitation group. He explained that Iran may have a “huge” variety of mines, including rocket-propelled, cable-powered, or underwater-based devices that are activated by sound, movement, or light.

Reporters were shown an autonomous system that can sonar scan the ocean floor and waters, significantly reducing the time it takes ships with crews on board to map potential hazards. These maritime drones produce detailed images of underwater objects, from fishing traps to pipelines, and enable the identification of mines.

Commander. Britton noted that some of RFA Lyme Bay’s systems are autonomously piloted from a mothership outside potential minefields and can be deployed from smaller vessels, reducing human risk. Divers traditionally place explosives in mines, but RFA Lyme Bay is trialling a remotely operated vehicle that can drop and detonate the charge.

Immediate priorities, Commander. Britton explained that the transit route will be cleared for about 700 waiting vessels before the route is cleared for incoming vessels. But she warned that clearing the entire strait could take months or even years.

Despite the advance preparations, there are conditions attached to the deployment. It is still unclear whether there are mines in the Channel, or whether Britain and its allies will eventually be called in to clear them.

Asked whether Britain’s efforts were part of a showboating effort to curry favor with the United States, Kearns said some mines may have been destroyed or set adrift, but private insurers needed “absolute certainty” before ships could resume sailing. “That’s what this feature provides,” he added.

International efforts to secure the strait can proceed only after hostilities have ceased. President Donald Trump reiterated on social media that “the final aspects and details of the agreement are currently being discussed and will be announced shortly,” without giving a date. This is not the first time in recent weeks that a deal has been said to be imminent.

“We don’t know when the Americans, Iranians and Israelis will come up with a suitable solution,” Kearns acknowledged. In the meantime, RFA Lyme Bay and its crew will stand by and prepare for deployment.