The United Kingdom’s Royal Navy is preparing mine-clearing assets for a possible multinational operation in the Strait of Hormuz, contingent on the conclusion of a peace agreement ending hostilities involving Iran.
The preparations center on the Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel RFA Lyme Bay, which is currently docked in Gibraltar.
Armed Forces Minister Al Carns recently visited the ship with reporters as it was being loaded with ammunition and mine-hunting sea drones equipped with sonar. The RFA Lyme Bay, an amphibious landing vessel with a crew of several hundred sailors, is set to depart Gibraltar to link up with the UK destroyer HMS Dragon and allied ships for air support before proceeding through the Suez Canal to the Persian Gulf, according to a report from Newsmax.
The operation would form part of an international effort, led by the UK and France, potentially involving up to 40 nations, to secure the strait once hostilities cease. “Which other country can pull together 40 nations and come up with a solution to deal with a complex problem that we couldn’t predict because we weren’t involved?” Carns said.
If the mission goes forward, the Lyme Bay would function as a mothership, which would deploy smaller autonomous vessels from outside minefield areas to reduce personnel risk. Once mines are located, options include traditional diver-placed charges or a remotely operated vehicle that deploys and detonates explosives.
The initial priority would be clearing a transit lane to allow approximately 700 trapped ships to exit, followed by an inbound lane. Full clearance of the strait could require months or years.
Carns indicated that while some mines may have been neutralized or drifted, commercial insurers require absolute certainty before resuming full operations. “That’s what this capability will provide,” he said.
EXCLUSIVE: HMS Lyme Bay seen loading ammunition, supplies, and mine-hunting sea drones in Gibraltar while en route to the Strait of Hormuz region. pic.twitter.com/ZQ60vIymms
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) May 24, 2026
The latest preparations come after President Donald Trump, Iranian government sources and third party mediators all indicated that progress had been made on a lasting peace agreement. On Saturday, President Trump stated that a deal with Iran has been “largely negotiated” and continued some of the administration’s vital demands, including an end to the nation’s nuclear weapons system and a return of the Strait of Hormuz to pre-war traffic levels.
As of May 25, negotiations continue with reports of significant progress on a framework memorandum of understanding, though final details are pending. Trump has indicated no rush to conclude the agreement, while maintaining the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports until terms are settled.
