Trump says Strait of Hormuz has been demined, warns Iran not to plant more

United States President Donald Trump said on Tuesday (Aug 25) that all mines had been detonated or removed from international waters of the Strait of Hormuz and that Iran has been told that any ship or boat placing new mines will be destroyed. 

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the US, through its Space Force, was watching "every square inch" of the strait, a key waterway in the global energy supply chain.

"There is a zero tolerance policy on mine placement in full force and effect," Trump said.

The US and Iran have not conducted air strikes on each other's militaries for weeks, but attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz have continued as the two sides vie for control of the narrow maritime passage.

Oil transits through the strait were at 5 million barrels per day on Monday, provisional data from shiptracker Vortexa showed, down from more than 20 million per day before the war or about one of every five barrels consumed worldwide.