Trump says Strait of Hormuz cleared of mines, warns against new mine deployments

WASHINGTON, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that all mines in the international waters of the Strait of Hormuz have been removed or detonated, warning that any vessel placing new mines would be destroyed.

"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 wrote on his Truth Social platform.

"Iran has been notified that any ship or boat placing new mines will be immediately and systematically destroyed," Trump wrote. "There is a Zero Tolerance policy on mine placement in full force and effect."

The U.S. Space Force is "watching every square inch of the Strait," as well as Iran's Pickaxe Mountain and three other nuclear sites already destroyed by the United States, the president added.

Trump did not provide details on the mine-clearing operation or say how many mines had been removed or detonated.

Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority, the body Iran established to control maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, announced on Sunday that vessels violating Iranian protocols for transiting the waterway will face restrictions on their future passages. ■