Washington: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said all mines had been removed or detonated from international waters in the Strait of Hormuz and warned that any vessel involved in laying new mines would be “immediately and systematically destroyed”.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he had been informed by the US Navy that the international waters of the strategic waterway had been cleared of mines.
“I have just been informed by the United States Navy that all mines have been removed and/or detonated from within the International Waters of the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump said.
“Iran has been notified that any ship or boat placing new mines will be immediately and systematically destroyed,” he added.
Trump said the US was using the Space Force to monitor the waterway.
“Through the Space Force, we are watching every square inch of the Strait,” he said, adding that the US was also monitoring “Pickaxe Mountain” and the “already destroyed three other Nuclear sites”.
“There is a Zero Tolerance policy on mine placement in full force and effect,” Trump said.
The Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime passage between Iran and Oman, is crucial to global energy supplies and has remained at the centre of escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran.
Trump’s latest warning comes amid continuing disputes over control and security of the waterway, with incidents involving vessels reported in the region.
