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U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that the United States has begun clearing mines from the Strait of Hormuz.
He noted that all 28 of Iran's mine-dropping boats have been sunk in his statement on Truth Social as U.S.-Iran peace talks are underway in Islamabad.
"I am watching fertilizer prices CLOSELY during our FIGHT FOR FREEDOM in Iran. The United States will not accept PRICE GOUGING from the fertilizer monopoly! American Farmers, we have your back!" Trump also wrote on his Truth Social account.
Trump posted the announcement on Truth Social as the delegations gathered in Islamabad.
"Their Navy is gone, their Air Force is gone, their Anti-Aircraft apparatus is nonexistent, Radar is dead, their Missile and Drone Factories have been largely obliterated along with the Missiles and Drones themselves, and, most importantly, their longtime 'Leaders' are no longer with us, praise be to Allah!" he said.
"The only thing they have going is the threat that a ship may 'bunk' into one of their sea mines, which, by the way, all 28 of their mine-dropping boats are also lying at the bottom of the sea," Trump wrote.
"We're now starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz as a favor to Countries all over the World, including China, Japan, South Korea, France, Germany, and many others. Incredibly, they don't have the Courage or Will to do this work themselves," he added.
Trump did not specify what methods or assets are being used to clear the waterway.
Speaking to a NewsNation reporter, Trump said the Islamabad talks had begun and expressed cautious uncertainty about their outcome.
"I have no idea how talks are going to go," Trump said.
He added that if talks fail, "we'll reset. We're ready to go." Trump said Iran is a "failing nation" and that "people are seeing there are other alternatives to going through the Strait."
He said the Strait of Hormuz would open in "not too distant a future."
Trump also posted that large numbers of empty oil tankers were heading to the United States to load up with American oil, framing the disruption of the Strait of Hormuz as a commercial opportunity for the U.S.
"Massive numbers of completely empty oil tankers, some of the largest anywhere in the World, are heading, right now, to the United States to load up with the best and 'sweetest' oil (and gas!) anywhere in the World. We have more oil than the next two largest oil economies combined—and higher quality. We are waiting for you. Quick turnaround!" Trump posted.
Asked about the post by NewsNation, Trump said the U.S. had "plenty" of oil.
An updated Anadolu Agency (AA) tally compiled from official defense ministry data and information centers of affected countries shows Iran launched at least 6,657 missile and drone strikes against U.S. bases and critical targets across seven Arab countries in the 42 days since Feb. 28.
The IRGC stated that Iran's armed forces had not carried out any launches toward any country since the ceasefire was announced.
Country-by-country breakdown based on official data: the UAE intercepted 563 ballistic missiles, 26 cruise missiles, and 2,256 drones—the highest toll of any Gulf state.
At least 3,000 Iranians were killed in the war, according to Iranian health authorities. At least 13 U.S. servicemen were also killed, and dozens were wounded.
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