Trump says US has completely cleared the Strait of Hormuz of mines
US President Donald Trump has stated that the American military has completely cleared the Strait of Hormuz of naval mines, and that the US Navy has allegedly established control over the strategic waterway.
According to Trump, the strait is now open, and the American fleet controls it "100%." The president also claims that Iran occasionally lays new mines, but US forces detect and neutralize them.
US Central Command officially announced the beginning of the mine clearance operation as early as April 11. At that time, the missile destroyers USS Frank E. Petersen and USS Michael Murphy were brought in, along with underwater unmanned vehicles.
CENTCOM reported the creation of a safe route for commercial shipping, but no separate official confirmation of the completion of clearing the entire strait had been released at the time of Trump's statement. Therefore, the president's words about full mine clearance and absolute US control remain, for now, a claim by the American side.
Tehran’s position also indicates that the issue of free navigation is unresolved. Iran has stated that agreements with Oman on route management will not be sufficient to fully open the strait until the United States meets its conditions.
Among Tehran’s demands are compensation for losses inflicted during the war and a change in Washington’s sanctions policy. In response, Trump himself demanded compensation from Iran for the people who, according to his claims, were killed or wounded as a result of the actions of the Iranian authorities.
This new exchange of demands reduces the likelihood of a quick deal between the parties. Despite Trump’s statement about the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, the return of commercial shipping to normal levels remains uncertain.
