Italian minesweepers depart for the Persian Gulf

On the night of May 15, 2026, two Italian Navy minesweepers, named Crotone and Rimini, departed from the port of Augusta, Sicily. The vessels are headed to Djibouti as a first stop before potentially reaching the Persian Gulf in approximately one month. Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto stated that the mission aims to assist in clearing mines from the Strait of Hormuz. The deployment is subject to two strict conditions: the final cessation of hostilities and an explicit mandate from the international community. Furthermore, Minister Crosetto emphasized that the mission requires the consent of all regional countries, noting that a lack of agreement from Iran would jeopardize the safety of the non-combatant vessels. The move is part of Rome's strategic planning for a potential demining operation in the area.