**WP: “Briefing to Congress During House Armed Services Committee”**
*Political Impact Unavoidable Ahead of November Midterms*
A report has emerged stating that the U.S. Department of Defense informed Congress that mine-clearing operations in the Strait of Hormuz might take up to six months and would be difficult to execute until the war concludes. Economic repercussions from the U.S.-Iran war are expected to continue at least until the second half of this year.
According to the Washington Post (WP) on the 22nd (local time), sources indicated that a senior Pentagon official reported this information during a confidential briefing to the U.S. House Armed Services Committee. The report suggests that the Pentagon informed legislators that Iran might have placed more than 20 mines within the Strait of Hormuz and its vicinity.
It was particularly challenging for the U.S. military’s mine-clearing operations, as Iran reportedly used GPS technology to remotely deploy some mines, making the detection of their deployment process and locations difficult. It is also estimated that Iranian forces used small boats to distribute mines. Sources told WP that both Democrat and Republican members of Congress were unable to hide their disappointment after hearing the Pentagon’s timeline and outlook for mine clearance.
The political impact in the U.S. is inevitable. Even if the war ends immediately, the continuing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is likely to result in rising oil prices before the November midterm elections. The average U.S. gasoline price tracked by the American Automobile Association (AAA) stands at $4.02 per gallon, a 34% increase from $2.98 just before the war started. WP reported that “President Trump’s support base elected him based on a promise to avoid foreign military interventions,” adding that “the decision to start the war not only lacks majority support from Americans but also has divided President Trump’s political base.”
Sean Parnell, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Defense, acknowledged in a statement that information from the House Armed Services Committee briefing regarding mine-clearing operations in the Strait of Hormuz was disclosed, but claimed that such information was “inaccurate and falsely asserted.” The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees operations in the Middle East, declined to comment, and the White House reportedly referred related questions to the Department of Defense.