Trump says Strait of Hormuz is mine-free, warns Iran against new mines

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that all mines have been detonated or removed from the international waters of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global energy supplies. He issued a strong warning to Iran, stating that any ship or boat attempting to place new mines would be destroyed, emphasizing a "Zero Tolerance policy on mine placement."

Trump stated that the U.S. Space Force is monitoring "every square inch" of the strait. Despite a tenuous ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz have persisted as the two nations vie for control. Provisional data indicated that oil transit through the strait was 5 million barrels per day on Monday, a decrease from over 20 million barrels per day before the conflict.

Experts suggest that clearing underwater explosives could take months, and even with U.S. assurances, convincing commercial freighters and their insurers of the strait's safety may be challenging. They note that Iran could create doubt about the thoroughness of the mine-sweeping efforts. The U.S. has also blockaded Iranian ports and seized ships linked to Tehran as part of its strategy to reopen the vital sea route.