Trump says all mines cleared from Strait of Hormuz

US President Donald Trump has said that the US Navy has removed or detonated all mines in the Strait of Hormuz - the vital waterway which Iran has largely closed since the beginning of the war in the Middle East. "Iran has been notified that any ship or boat placing new mines will be immediately and systematically destroyed," Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform. Closure of the strait has caused wild fluctuations in the price of oil on world markets. Trump has often said the US has control of the area - but Iran has fired against vessels it says have sought to cross without its permission. Some 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas used to transit the Strait of Hormuz before the war, which began on 28 February with US and Israeli air strikes against Iran. In addition to closing the strait, Iran retaliated against Israel and against US bases in the region as well as US Arab allies in the Gulf. A ceasefire aimed at facilitating talks to end the war has collapsed and there has been intermittent exchange of fire between the US and Iran. However, this week the US announced a raft of economic sanctions against Iran. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that