President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the US Navy has removed or detonated all mines from international waters in the Strait of Hormuz, a major development that could allow more commercial shipping and oil tankers to move through one of the world’s most important energy routes.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he had been informed by the Navy that the mines had been cleared and issued a warning to Iran against attempting to lay new ones. He said any ship or boat placing mines would be “immediately and systematically destroyed,” adding that the United States was enforcing a “zero tolerance” policy. Trump also said the US Space Force was monitoring “every square inch” of the strait.
Two US officials with direct knowledge of the operation confirmed to Axios that the Navy had cleared the Traffic Separation Scheme, the central shipping lane running between Oman and Iran. According to the officials, Iran had deployed dozens of mines in the lane during the war, creating a serious threat to vessels using the waterway.
The mine-clearing effort unfolded over several months. US Navy underwater drones systematically scanned the area and identified more than 100 objects suspected of being mines, Axios reported. The US military then contracted private companies to remove or detonate the devices.
Until now, the US military has relied on a southern channel closer to Oman to move tankers in and out of the Gulf. US officials told Axios that more than 500 ships used that route over the past 30 days, with roughly 2% hit by Iranian drones or missiles. With the central lane cleared, vessels could move in both directions at the same time under US Air Force protection, potentially increasing the amount of oil reaching global markets.
The Strait of Hormuz has been heavily disrupted since the Middle East war began on Feb. 28 with US and Israeli air strikes against Iran. Before the conflict, around 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passed through the strait. Its closure and continued insecurity have contributed to sharp swings in global oil prices.
Trump’s announcement also came as Iran and Oman were discussing a possible framework for navigation through the strait. Their foreign ministers met in Tehran but did not reach an agreement. The two countries said they were discussing a temporary joint corridor, mine clearance, traffic management and longer-term arrangements for administering navigation.
Tensions nevertheless remain high. A ceasefire intended to support negotiations has collapsed, exchanges of fire between the US and Iran have continued intermittently, and Washington announced new economic sanctions against Tehran this week.
Add Comment