Farsin Nadimi, senior researcher in defense and security affairs at the Washington Institute, says about the extensive covert U.S. mine-clearing operation in the Strait of Hormuz: “What is observed, in view of data on maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, indicates that this mine-clearing operation has been successful. During this period, the United States, by using various types of drones and unmanned maritime vessels, manned vessels, and specialist divers, carried out a broad operation to identify and clear mines laid by the Islamic Republic and has been able to eliminate a significant part of this threat.”