Trump Says Strait of Hormuz Cleared of Mines, Warns Iran Against New Placements

Former U.S. President Donald Trump stated Tuesday that the Strait of Hormuz has been cleared of all mines and issued a stern warning to Iran against any further such activity in the critical waterway. The announcement, made amid ongoing tensions, addresses the security of a passage vital to global energy markets.

A 'Zero Tolerance' Policy

In a post on the social media platform Truth Social, Trump declared that all mines had been "detonated or removed" from the international waters of the strait. He said Iran has been told that any ship or boat placing new mines will be destroyed, establishing what he termed a "Zero Tolerance policy."

Trump also noted that the United States, through its Space Force, was monitoring "every square inch" of the strait to enforce this position.

Impact on Oil Shipments

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The security situation has had a profound impact on energy logistics. Oil transit through the strait was recorded at just 5 million barrels per day (bpd) on Monday, according to provisional data from shiptracker Vortexa.

This volume is a stark reduction from the more than 20 million bpd that passed through the chokepoint before the conflict began. At its peak, the strait handled approximately one-fifth of the world's total oil consumption, making any disruption significant for global prices and supply chains.

Geopolitical Context

Trump's statement comes during a period of sustained friction in the region. While direct air strikes between U.S. and Iranian forces have paused for several weeks, attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz have continued as both sides vie for control of the narrow maritime passage.