Trump says all mines cleared from Strait of Hormuz
Iran has closed the vital waterway since the beginning of the conflict causing wild fluctuations in oil prices worldwide.
President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. Navy has successfully cleared all mines from the Strait of Hormuz, the crucial maritime passage that Iran has largely obstructed since the onset of the Middle East conflict.
In a statement posted on his Truth Social platform, Trump declared, "Iran has been notified that any ship or boat placing new mines will be immediately and systematically destroyed." Iran has not yet issued a response to this claim.
The closure of the strait has led to significant volatility in global oil prices. Trump has frequently asserted U.S. control over the region, despite instances where Iran has engaged vessels it accused of attempting to traverse the strait without authorization.
Prior to the war, which commenced on February 28 with U.S. and Israeli airstrikes targeting Iran, approximately 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas transited through the Strait of Hormuz.
Beyond closing the strait, Iran launched retaliatory actions against Israel, U.S. military installations in the region, and U.S. Arab allies in the Gulf.
A ceasefire intended to pave the way for peace negotiations has failed, resulting in ongoing intermittent exchanges of fire between the U.S. and Iran.
This week, the U.S. unveiled a series of new economic sanctions against Iran. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent cautioned that any nation engaging in financial partnerships with Iran would face isolation.