The United States has initiated the process of “clearing out” the Strait of Hormuz, stated by US President Donald Trump on Saturday, coinciding with US-Iran talks aiming to resolve the Middle East conflict.
According to reports from US media outlet Axios, multiple US navy vessels traversed the Strait independently on Saturday, without coordination with Iran. A senior Iranian military official, as cited by state television, refuted this claim.
Trump announced the commencement of clearing operations in the Strait of Hormuz on his Truth Social platform, characterizing it as a service to nations like China, Japan, and France who lack the resolve to undertake such actions themselves.
Despite acknowledging the ongoing threat posed by Iranian mines in the vital strait, Trump asserted that Iran is suffering significant losses in the conflict. He remarked that the only leverage Iran holds is the fear of ships colliding with their sea mines.
Since the United States and Israel began airstrikes on Iran on February 28, the crucial shipping route near Iran’s coast has been obstructed, though reopening the strait was reportedly a stipulation of the recent fragile ceasefire agreement.
On Saturday, senior Iranian and American officials commenced discussions in Pakistan with the aim of resolving the conflict that has engulfed the Middle East in turmoil and had far-reaching impacts on the global economy, as reported by Iranian media.
In a previous statement, Trump mentioned the impending arrival of empty tankers from various countries worldwide to procure oil in the United States, albeit without providing specific details.
