US President Donald Trump says the US Navy has removed or detonated all mines in the Strait of Hormuz, warning that any new mine-laying activity by Iran would be met with immediate destruction.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said Iran had been informed that ships or boats placing fresh mines would be targeted “immediately and systematically”. There was no response from Iran.

Mine Clearing and Shipping Risks

The Strait of Hormuz is a key shipping lane linking the Gulf to global markets. Iran has largely halted passage since the war in the Middle East began on 28 February, when the US and Israel carried out air strikes against Iran.

The disruption has contributed to sharp swings in oil prices worldwide. Trump has repeatedly said the US has control over the area, while Iran has fired at vessels it says attempted to cross without its permission.

War, Sanctions and Failed Negotiations

The closure of the strait followed a wider escalation. Iran also retaliated against Israel and US bases in the region, as well as against US Arab allies in the Gulf. A ceasefire designed to enable talks to end the conflict collapsed, with intermittent exchanges of fire reported between the US and Iran.

This week, the US announced additional economic sanctions against Iran. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said any country that provided financial support to Iran would be isolated.

Washington’s move comes after an Iran-US Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in June. The 14-point document set a 60-day deadline to agree a deal on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, before broader negotiations on the nuclear issue—an allegation that Iran is seeking to build a weapon, which Tehran has consistently denied.

That deadline has now passed. Iran and the US did not reach agreement, and talks broke down, a development Trump linked to the sanctions aimed at weakening Tehran.

Iran says it has been ready for the wider measures. Economy Minister Ali Madanizadeh said Tehran was “fully prepared” and that the sanctions would result in “another defeat” for the US. The Iranian economy, however, has faced strain from the conflict and from a blockade of Iranian ports that the US has been maintaining for weeks to restrict trade.

China, the largest buyer of Iranian oil, said it opposed what it called US “illegal unilateral sanctions” and warned it would take “all necessary measures” to protect its interests. The US announcement arrives ahead of planned talks between Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping next month. The US may be concerned about possible Chinese retaliation, given Beijing’s role in processing most of the world’s rare earths and other critical minerals used in high-tech manufacturing. China has previously tightened rare earth export controls as part of trade negotiations with the US.

Iran Seeks Control, Oman Discusses Corridor

Iran has said it wants full authority over the Strait of Hormuz, a position rejected by the US and most other countries that say the passage is international waters and that transit should remain unimpeded as before the war.

Until recently, based on the MoU, Iran took part in talks with Oman—an American ally—on a mechanism for administering the strait. Those discussions have not produced an agreement. Trump also threatened last week to bomb Oman “if it gets in the way” of his administration’s own talks with Iran over the issue.

On Tuesday, Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said he hoped Oman and Iran would soon announce a temporary shipping corridor after meeting Iran’s counterpart Abbas Araghchi in Tehran. Albusaidi said he expected “practical arrangements” to restore safe navigation, with future management and a permanent solution to follow.

Araghchi confirmed the meeting, saying talks covered “regional solutions” and included representatives from Pakistan and Oman. He said the discussions addressed future management of the strait, plans for a new corridor and a joint mine-clearing operation.

Speaking after the meeting on state television, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabad said the route into the Gulf would be via Iranian waters, with the exit through Omani territorial waters, adding that ships would pass through Iranian waters on both routes. He said the south corridor—recommended by the US to shipping firms and near Oman’s coast—would be “closed”. Gharibabad said the meeting does not mean the strait would reopen immediately, that no military vessels would be allowed, and that only commercial ships could transit.

He described the arrangement as temporary, saying Iran and Oman would negotiate a new permanent route within 60 days to replace the previous maritime traffic plan. If Iran’s requests were not met, he said, the strait would be closed.

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26 August 2026

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Trump says a lot of things that turn out to be big porkies....so lets see...iranians will overthrow the regime, irans nuke capability and military was totally and completely obliterated a few months ago, the straits of hormus was opened weeks ago, Iran was begging him everyday for peace, Irans military capability is long ago gone but somehow still manages to shoot missles , and the regime is still going strong...and now captain bone spurs is very sure no more mines? Come on Donnie tell your cult more stories, maybe they will believe you and your jr capt bone spurs kegsbreath delusions.

Trump says all “mines” have been removed from the Strait.

But, the most dangerous one still remains - the possessive kind - as in the whole thing should be mine!

So six months into the fiasco and the first step allowing tankers to pass through a small part of the straight just might have been taken. Big boy ships - don’t cancel your insurance.

Trump also says tarrifs make us rich. 🤪