Mine Clearance Could Outlast Diplomatic Clock in Strait of Hormuz

The US-Iran memorandum announced June 17 launches a 60-day negotiating window toward a final deal and $24 billion in unfrozen Iranian assets. But shipping industry bodies stated June 19 that maritime traffic won't normalize until approximately 80 mines are removed and the Traffic Separation Scheme restored—a process that could stretch weeks beyond diplomatic resolution. Energy markets and freight rates remain hostage to physical clearance operations, not political calendars.