President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. Navy has cleared all mines from the Strait of Hormuz, warning that any new mine placement will result in immediate destruction. The development comes as economic sanctions tighten following the collapse of a 60-day diplomatic deadline between the United States and Iran.
President Donald Trump stated that the U.S. Navy has removed or detonated all mines from the vital waterway. The Strait of Hormuz has remained largely shut since the outbreak of the conflict in the Middle East, which began on 28 February with US and Israeli air strikes against Iran.
Enforcement and Zero Tolerance in the Strait
Trump delivered a direct warning via his social media platform concerning any continued attempts to disrupt shipping lanes.
President Donald Trump stated that Iran had been notified that any ship or boat placing new mines would be immediately and systematically destroyed.
Donald Trump, President
In a separate post on his Truth Social platform, the president emphasized the strict nature of the current rules governing the maritime corridor, where Iran has largely closed the vital waterway since the beginning of the war in the Middle East.
Before the war, some 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas used to transit the Strait of Hormuz. The closure has caused wild fluctuations in the price of oil on world markets. While Trump has often said the US has control of the area, Iran has fired against vessels it says have sought to cross without its permission. In addition to closing the strait, Iran retaliated against Israel and against US bases in the region as well as US Arab allies in the Gulf. Meanwhile, it was previously reported that Iran and Oman are going to jointly control the passage through the Strait of Hormuz, leaving only one middle passage through the waterway.
Economic Sanctions and International Friction
The clearance of the waterway coincides with the expiration of a 60-day diplomatic window. Iran and the US signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in June—a 14-point document which set a 60-day deadline to reach a deal on the Strait of Hormuz, before substantial negotiations on resolving the nuclear issue—allegations that Iran is building a nuclear weapon, which Tehran has consistently denied. That deadline has now expired and talks have collapsed, leading to the new US sanctions that Trump believes will lead to the collapse of the Iranian regime.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that any nation financially partnering with Iran would be isolated.
Iran has been under sanctions for most of the time since the founding of the Islamic Republic in 1979, and Economy Minister Ali Madanizadeh said Tehran was fully prepared, adding that the wider sanctions would lead to another defeat for the US. Its economy, however, has suffered as a result of the war and a blockade of Iranian ports that the US has been maintaining for weeks not to allow trade to continue.
Global Reactions and Diplomatic Outlook
On Tuesday, China—the biggest buyer of Iranian oil—said it was firmly opposed to what it called the US’s illegal unilateral sanctions
and would take all necessary measures
to safeguard its rights. The US announcement comes ahead of planned talks between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping next month. Washington is likely to be wary of potential retaliation from Beijing, which processes the majority of the world’s rare earths and other critical minerals, crucial in the manufacture of many high-tech products. Beijing has already tightened export controls on rare earths as part of previous trade negotiations with the US. Responding to questions from journalists, as seen in a broadcast on the YouTube channel of the White House, Trump positively evaluated the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Everything is going well
Donald Trump, President
Without providing any details, Trump also suggested during the exchange with journalists that the military operation against Iran would conclude in a short time, and while speaking about negotiations, he stated that everything is going well.
