As the U.S. and Iran opened talks in Pakistan, President Donald Trump said he had begun efforts to clear the Strait of Hormuz for countries around the world.
On the 11th (local time), Trump wrote on Truth Social while criticizing media coverage of the Iran war: "We are now starting operations to clear the Strait of Hormuz for countries around the world, including China, Japan, South Korea, France and Germany."
He accused those countries of lacking the courage or will to do the work themselves and added, "Interestingly, many countries are sending empty oil tankers to the U.S. to be filled with oil."
Trump said, "The media likes to say Iran is winning, but everyone knows Iran is losing," and he claimed the only remaining threat is ships striking mines, asserting that all 28 of Iran's mine-laying vessels have sunk to the seabed.
The Strait of Hormuz is a key energy chokepoint, carrying roughly 20% of the world's seaborne oil shipments. Iran sealed the strait after the Middle East war, but hopes for reopening rose after the U.S. and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on the 7th.
However, Iran reclosed the strait, citing Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon. Some analysts say Iran cannot quickly remove the mines it laid, making a wider reopening unlikely.
