The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is actively preparing mine-clearing resources for a potential multinational mission in the Strait of Hormuz, dependent on a peace deal ending conflicts involving Iran.
The focus of these preparations is the Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel RFA Lyme Bay, which is presently docked in Gibraltar.
Recently, Armed Forces Minister Al Carns toured the ship with journalists as it was being equipped with ammunition and mine-hunting sea drones that utilize sonar technology. The RFA Lyme Bay, an amphibious landing vessel with a sizeable crew, is slated to set sail from Gibraltar to join the UK destroyer HMS Dragon and allied vessels providing air cover before journeying through the Suez Canal to the Persian Gulf, as reported by Newsmax.
This operation aims to be part of an international coalition led by the UK and France, potentially bringing together as many as 40 nations to secure the strait once hostilities conclude. “Which other country can coordinate 40 nations to address a complex issue we couldn’t foresee without involvement?” Carns remarked.
If the operation proceeds, the Lyme Bay would act as a mothership, deploying smaller autonomous vessels from safe distances to mitigate personnel risks. Once mines are identified, methods may include conventional diver-placed charges or a remotely operated vehicle for deploying and detonating explosives.
The immediate goal would be to establish a transit lane allowing around 700 stranded ships to exit, followed by an inbound lane. Comprehensive clearance of the strait could take months, if not years.
Carns noted that although some mines may have been neutralized or drifted, commercial insurers demand absolute certainty before normal operations can resume. “This capability will provide that security,” he stated.
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
These recent maneuvers occur amid indications from President Donald Trump, Iranian representatives, and intermediary mediators that progress towards a lasting peace agreement has been made. On Saturday, Trump mentioned that the negotiations with Iran are “largely negotiated,” continuing critical demands such as dismantling the country’s nuclear weapon capabilities and restoring pre-war traffic levels in the Strait of Hormuz.
As of May 25, the discussions persist, revealing substantial advancements on a draft memorandum of understanding, though final details remain unresolved. Trump has communicated that there is no urgency to finalize the agreement, yet maintains a U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports until all terms are established.
