Germany will soon send a minesweeper to the Mediterranean for a possible mission in the Strait of Hormuz after the end of the US-Israeli war on Iran, a defence ministry spokeswoman told AFP.

Several countries have said they are ready to take part in a “neutral” mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz, which the US said last week it was in the process of de-mining together with Tehran, although this has not been confirmed by Iran.

The German navy’s “Fulda” will be deployed “in the coming days”, the spokeswoman said.

The aim is to make a “significant and visible contribution to an international coalition seeking to protect freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz,” she said.

Minesweepers are specialised vessels used to detect and set off naval mines.