Trump claims US Navy cleared all mines from Strait of Hormuz

President Donald Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that the US Navy has cleared all mines from the Strait of Hormuz, warning that any vessel that places new mines will be "immediately and systematically destroyed." The statement comes as Iran continues to restrict passage through the waterway, a route through which roughly 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas normally flows.

The closure has contributed to volatile oil prices worldwide. Iran has previously fired on ships it says attempted to cross without permission, while the United States maintains that it controls the area. A cease-fire aimed at facilitating negotiations has collapsed, and intermittent exchanges of fire have persisted between US and Iranian forces.

In June, the two countries signed a 14-point memorandum of understanding that set a 60-day deadline for an agreement on the strait, but the deadline passed without a deal, prompting new US sanctions that Trump says could topple the Iranian regime. Iran’s economy minister, Ali Madanizadeh, said Tehran is "fully prepared" for broader sanctions and warned they would result in "another defeat" for the United States.

China, the largest buyer of Iranian oil, condemned the US sanctions as "illegal unilateral sanctions" and pledged to take "all necessary measures" to protect its interests. Washington remains cautious of possible Chinese retaliation, given Beijing’s dominance in rare-earth and critical mineral production.

Iran has expressed a desire to gain full control of the strait, a position opposed by the United States and most other nations that view the passage as international waters. Negotiations involving Oman, a US ally, to establish a joint administration mechanism have so far failed, and Trump recently warned that the US would act against any ally that obstructs its talks with Iran.