Trump says all mines cleared from Strait of Hormuz
Iran has closed the vital waterway since the beginning of the conflict causing wild fluctuations in oil prices worldwide.
US President Donald Trump has announced that all mines have been cleared from the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway that Iran has largely closed since the start of the Middle East war. Trump stated this on his Truth Social platform, warning that any ship or boat placing new mines would be immediately and systematically destroyed.
The closure of the strait has led to significant volatility in global oil prices, with approximately 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas previously passing through it. Iran's actions, including firing at vessels it deemed unauthorized to cross without permission, have had severe consequences, including attacks on Israel and US bases in the region.
A ceasefire aimed at facilitating peace talks has been abandoned, and intermittent exchanges of fire persist between the US and Iran. In response, the US has imposed new economic sanctions on Iran, warning that nations financially supporting Iran would face isolation. These sanctions, proposed by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, aim to isolate Iran financially.
Iran and the US signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in June, setting a 60-day deadline to reach an agreement on the Strait of Hormuz before discussing the nuclear issue. However, this deadline has passed, and the talks have failed, leading to the newly imposed sanctions. Iran has fully prepared for these sanctions, which it believes will result in the downfall of the US regime.
The economy has suffered due to the war and the US-imposed blockade of Iranian ports, preventing trade from continuing. China, the largest buyer of Iranian oil, opposes the US's unilateral sanctions and vows to take necessary measures to protect its interests. Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabad, stated that ships would only pass through Iranian waters on both the entry and exit routes, and the south corridor would be closed.
Iran and Oman have been in discussions for a temporary shipping corridor in the strait, with hopes for a permanent solution in the coming days.
Written by urgent.news from BBC World's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- Trump says all mines cleared from Strait of Hormuz kahawatungu.com
- Trump says all mines cleared from Strait of Hormuz kbc.co.ke
