US President Donald Trump claimed on Tuesday, August 25th, 2026, that the US Navy had removed or detonated all sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial Gulf waterway that Iran effectively closed following US and Israeli attacks nearly six months ago. Trump warned on his Truth Social platform that any ship or boat placing new mines would be "immediately and systematically destroyed."

However, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi contradicted this claim on Wednesday, August 26th, stating that the strait remains closed despite a temporary transit-route agreement with Oman. He dismissed Trump’s assertion that all mines had been cleared, saying, "No one except Iran knows the location of these mines," and cautioned that US mine-detection vessels entering the area would become "very good targets."

Supporting Iran's concerns, the Joint Maritime Information Center reported hours after Trump's announcement that there remains a "continued risk of drifting or uncharted mines" in and near the strait's traffic separation scheme. On May 30th, Oman’s Maritime Security Centre also warned shipping operators to exercise caution after spotting an "object suspected to be a floating mine" near its side of the strait.

The ongoing conflict has significantly increased risks for shipping in the area. According to a July report by S&P Global, war-risk insurance costs for ships traversing the Strait of Hormuz have surged from between 1 and 3 percent of a ship’s hull value to between 7.5 and 10 percent.

These developments underscore that mine clearance alone may not be sufficient to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz amid continuing tensions.

Sources