Trump Says Iran And US Are 'Working Together' To Remove Sea Mines As Hormuz Reopens

Last Updated:April 17, 2026, 22:45 IST

Trump says Iran, with US help, is clearing sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran declares the strait open during a 10 day ceasefire.

US President Donald Trump said Iran is removing sea mines from the Strait of Hormuz with American assistance, in a move that could help restore commercial shipping through one of the world’s most critical energy routes.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, “Iran, with the help of the U.S.A., has removed, or is removing, all sea mines," signalling progress toward reopening the vital waterway after weeks of disruption.

US assisting mine-clearing operations

The US Navy has deployed assets to support mine-clearing efforts in the region, including a littoral combat ship equipped for mine countermeasures. Additional mine-clearing vessels dispatched from Japan are also en route, according to reports.

The operation follows concerns that Iran had mined the strait during the conflict, significantly restricting tanker movement and global energy flows.

Challenges in clearing mines

A recent report by The New York Times said Iran had struggled to fully reopen the strait because it could not locate all the mines it had deployed.

Some mines were reportedly placed in ways that allowed them to drift, complicating recovery efforts. It also remains unclear whether all mine placements were properly recorded, adding to the challenge.

Iran is believed to have used small boats to lay the mines during the escalation last month.

Hormuz declared ‘completely open’

Earlier, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced that the Strait of Hormuz is now “completely open" for commercial vessels for the duration of a 10-day ceasefire linked to the Israel-Lebanon conflict.

He said ships would be allowed to pass through the waterway, though they must follow designated routes set by Iran’s maritime authorities.

Trump welcomed the announcement, saying the strait was “ready for full passage" and “open for business".

Blockade to remain in place

Despite the reopening, Trump said the US naval blockade targeting Iran would remain in “full force" until a broader agreement is reached with Tehran.

He added that negotiations were progressing quickly and suggested a deal could be finalised soon, noting that “most of the points are already negotiated".

Key global chokepoint

The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly a fifth of global oil shipments, making any disruption a major concern for global energy markets.

While the reopening signals de-escalation, uncertainties remain over how quickly shipping will normalise and whether all mines have been safely cleared.

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