Trump Declares Strait of Hormuz Demined, Issues Warning to Iran

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Aug 27, 2026 ALN: US President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that the US Navy has successfully removed or detonated all mines in the Strait of Hormuz, while warning Iran against placing any new mines in this critical waterway.

"Iran has been notified that any ship or boat placing new mines will be immediately and systematically destroyed," Trump declared in a post on his Truth Social platform.

Since the onset of US-Israeli attacks on Iran beginning February 28, the Strait of Hormuz has been largely closed by Iran.

This closure has led to significant fluctuations in global oil prices. Trump has frequently asserted that the US maintains control over the area, although Iran has targeted vessels attempting to cross the strait without its permission.

According to provisional data from shiptracker Vortexa, oil transits through the strait were recorded at 5 million barrels per day on Monday, a steep decline from over 20 million per day prior to the conflict, representing about one in every five barrels consumed globally.

Trump emphasized that the US Space Force is monitoring “every square inch” of the Strait, a vital artery in the global energy supply chain. He reiterated that a zero-tolerance policy regarding mine placement is in full effect.

While the US and Iran have refrained from conducting air strikes against each other’s militaries for several weeks, attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz persist as both sides vie for control of this narrow maritime passage.

Earlier, Trump expressed outrage over the rising number of executions in Iran of individuals allegedly involved in mass protests earlier this year, prior to the outbreak of the Middle East war.

“The failing Islamic Republic of Iran is not compensating large segments of their military while simultaneously executing protesters, even those not actively protesting, at unprecedented levels,” Trump stated on Truth Social.

“It is a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions, and must be stopped, NOW,” he added.

It remains unclear what new information prompted Trump’s early morning post, but there has been a consistent rise in executions since the war began on February 28.

The US-Israeli strikes that initiated the conflict followed weeks of violent suppression of mass protests in Iran.

Protests initially erupted in late December over high living costs but quickly escalated into widespread anti-government demonstrations, peaking on January 8 and 9.

Iranian authorities reported over 3,000 deaths, attributing the violence to “terrorist acts” orchestrated by the United States and Israel.

In contrast, rights groups abroad have documented a significantly higher death toll, claiming that security forces opened fire on demonstrators.

This month, more than 30 countries signed a joint letter condemning “in the strongest terms the ongoing executions of protesters and the use of the death penalty” by Iran.

While the United States, where capital punishment remains legal, did not sign the letter, at least three additional people have been executed in Iran on charges related to the protests since then.

Iran has vowed to retaliate against expanded US sanctions, which the US claims will sever Iran’s economic lifeline. Tehran remains confident that major trading partners will resist Washington's pressure campaign.

On Monday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced new measures but refrained from implementing the most severe sanctions, indicating that countries continuing to trade with Iran risk exclusion from the dollar-based financial system.

Bessent did not disclose which countries would be targeted or when the penalties would take effect, opting instead to give them time to comply with the new directive.

The Treasury Department did announce new sanctions against 60 individuals, entities, and vessels, although the list did not include any Chinese financial institutions suspected of facilitating Iran's oil trade.

In June, Iran and the United States signed an interim agreement aimed at ending the war that commenced with US and Israeli attacks on Iran, but this Islamabad memorandum quickly faltered.

Recently, mediator Pakistan reported “significant progress” in talks with Tehran, focusing on measures to prevent further escalation of the conflict and to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, according to a statement from the Pakistani military on Tuesday.

“The Iranian president candidly shared his government's perspective, and we had a very constructive exchange on the issues involved,” stated Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who accompanied army chief Asim Munir to Tehran.