Trump Claims Mines Have Been Cleared From International Waters of the Strait of Hormuz
U.S. President Donald Trump has said that all mines have been cleared or destroyed from the international waters of the Strait of Hormuz, and that any vessel that makes a fresh attempt to lay mines will be targeted “immediately.”
In a post on the Truth Social platform on Tuesday, Trump said Iran had been warned against any new move to place mines. He also claimed that the United States, through the Space Force, is monitoring “every inch” of the Strait of Hormuz.
The U.S. president further claimed that this monitoring also includes some Iranian nuclear sites. He said a policy of “zero tolerance” toward mine-laying in the Strait of Hormuz is now in effect.
The remarks came after UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had earlier said ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz had almost come to a halt and that oil prices had risen 33 percent since the start of the conflict with Iran.
At a news conference in New York, Guterres also said the United Nations was ready to consider a mechanism through negotiations and in accordance with the sovereign rights of the countries involved in the region. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the region’s strategic energy transit routes, and any tension there has a direct impact on the global oil market and ship traffic.
