Trump Confirms US Navy Operation to Reopen Hormuz Following Destruction of Iranian Mine Fleet

President Trump confirms U.S. military is clearing the Strait of Hormuz and claims all Iranian minelaying ships were sunk during the six-week war.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 11, 2026, 9:31 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Reuters

Initiating the Maritime Clearance Operation

United States military forces have begun a high-stakes operation to clear the Strait of Hormuz of naval mines following a six-week blockade that paralyzed global energy markets. President Donald Trump announced the move via social media on Saturday, April 11, 2026, framing the intervention as a necessary step to secure the transit of oil and gas for the international community. This development follows a temporary two-week ceasefire mediated by Pakistan, which was intended to allow for the safe evacuation of thousands of stranded seafarers and the resumption of commercial traffic. The Pentagon has deployed specialized mine-countermeasure vessels and underwater autonomous vehicles to identify and neutralize the "incalculable" number of contact mines reportedly laid by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) since late February.

Destruction of the Iranian Mine Fleet

In a series of definitive statements, President Trump asserted that the Iranian navy’s capacity to further disrupt the waterway has been functionally eliminated. According to the President, all of Iran's specialized minelaying ships were sunk during the preceding weeks of the air and sea war. White House officials later corroborated these claims, stating that over 40 Iranian minelaying vessels and "mine dropper boats" were destroyed in targeted strikes. These operations were part of a broader U.S. and Israeli campaign that reportedly dismantled 150 Iranian naval vessels and 16 major warships. The President’s rhetoric suggests that while the physical threat of existing mines remains, the Iranian military no longer possesses the assets required to replenish the minefields.

A Favor to Global Economic Partners

The President characterized the clearing of the Strait as a "favor" to nations that rely on Middle Eastern energy exports, specifically naming China, Japan, South Korea, France, and Germany. He criticized these allies for lacking the "courage or will" to undertake the dangerous work of mine clearance themselves. The Strait of Hormuz, a maritime corridor between Iran and Oman, typically facilitates the passage of approximately one-fifth of the world’s daily oil and gas consumption. Since the conflict began on February 28, daily transit plummeted from an average of 130 ships to nearly zero, causing a 30% spike in global oil prices and leavin...