[Pentagon: Clearing Mines in the Strait of Hormuz May Take 6 Months] According to a report by Golden Finance on April 23, the Pentagon has informed Congress that completely clearing mines laid by the Iranian military in the Strait of Hormuz could take up to six months, and any such operation is unlikely to occur before the end of the war between the U.S. and Iran. This assessment suggests that the economic impact of the conflict may extend into later this year or even longer. It was revealed that a senior Department of Defense official shared this previously unreported timeline during a classified briefing with members of the House Armed Services Committee on Tuesday. Two individuals stated that this timeline has frustrated both Democrats and Republicans, potentially serving as the clearest indication yet that gasoline and oil prices may remain elevated for an extended period, even after any peace agreement is reached. Beyond the economic implications, such an outcome could have significant effects on U.S. domestic politics, particularly for Republicans, as the November midterm elections draw closer. Lawmakers were informed that Iran may have laid 20 or more mines in the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding areas. Some of these mines were deployed remotely using GPS technology, making it difficult for U.S. forces to detect them during deployment. It is believed that other mines were laid by Iranian forces using small boats. The White House and Pentagon both declined to respond to questions on Wednesday regarding the military's assessment of how long mine-clearing operations might take. U.S. Central Command also refused to comment.