Pentagon: Six-Month Hormuz Clearance Would Hit Global Oil Until Late 2026

Pentagon officials told Congress mine-clearing in the Strait of Hormuz could take six months, crippling the world's critical oil passage into late 2026. The strait handles roughly 20–21% of global oil. Quick disruptions can be covered with strategic reserves; six months cannot. South Korea, Japan, and India lack reserves deep enough, forcing structural shifts in energy markets and refining economics.