President Donald Trump said that all mines have been removed from the Strait of Hormuz.
“I have just been informed by the United States Navy that all mines have been removed and/or detonated from within the International Waters of the Strait of Hormuz,” the President wrote on Tuesday. “Iran has been notified that any ship or boat placing new mines will be immediately and systematically destroyed. There is a Zero Tolerance policy on mine placement in full force and effect.”
The Strait of Hormuz has become a major issue in efforts to end the Middle East war. Before the conflict, the crucial waterway was treated as international territory, allowing vessels to enter and exit the Persian Gulf freely.
After the US and Israel attacked Iran in February, Tehran seized control of the Strait. Tehran says that ending the war requires the US to recognize the Strait as Iranian and Omani territory. Iran plans to charge a “service fee” to ships transiting the waterway.
US officials claim that the Navy is assisting several tankers in transiting the Strait each day with a fighter jet escort near the Omani coastline. Last week, Washington said that 15 million barrels of oil exited the waterway on a single day. However, tracking agencies have not recorded a substantial number of vessels successfully transiting the Strait.
On Saturday, President Donald Trump posted an image on Truth Social showing the Strait of Hormuz as “new US territory.” It is the second time he posted the graphic this month.
Over the past month, Oman and Iran have engaged in direct negotiations to come to an agreement on new shipping protocols for the Strait. The deal would give Iran full control over ships entering the Persian Gulf, while exiting ships would be subject to joint oversight between Tehran and Muscat.
Additionally, the two nations would change service fees for ships using the Strait. The funds would be split between Iran and Oman.
Trump threatened to bomb Muscat over negotiations with Tehran. Trump told Fox News journalist Trey Yingst: “If Oman gets in the way, we’ll bomb the sh*t out of them.” Muscat has been negotiating with Tehran about the future of the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait is a narrow waterway that lies between Iran and Oman. The waterway is the only entrance or exit for the Persian Gulf. About a fifth of the world’s energy crosses the Strait.
Trump believes that the US blockade and economic war on Iran will cause significant pain and force Tehran to comply with his demands.
