⚓️ U.S. LAUNCHES MINE-CLEARING AND MARITIME CORRIDOR OPERATIONS IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ AS IRAN ASSERTS CONTROL, REJECTS SHARED ACCESS, AND THREATENS SHIPPING PASSAGE AMID ENERGY AND NAVAL PRESSURE
⚓️ STRAIT OF HORMUZ AT THE CENTER OF THE DISPUTE: Trump: “We will not allow them [Iran] to impose fees on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, The Strait of Hormuz will be reopened, and our first condition is no nuclear enrichment in Iran. Iran has lost militarily and has only limited missile capabilities left. We will not allow any threat to international shipping, and we will end this one way or another if necessary.”
Trump: “The Strait of Hormuz will be reopened in the not-too-distant future.” Trump: “The Strait of Hormuz will be reopened soon.”
Financial Times, citing informed sources, reported that discussions on reopening the Strait of Hormuz remain a key point of contention. According to the report, Iran insists on maintaining full control over the strait and imposing transit fees on ships, while Iranian negotiators have rejected proposals for joint administration of the waterway.
Tasnim, citing an Iranian military official, said any potential passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz will only occur with Iran’s approval, and that there is currently no traffic in the strait, with a U.S. destroyer denied passage.
🔸 U.S. NAVAL MOVES AND MINE-CLEARING PREPARATIONS: The Wall Street Journal reported that two U.S. destroyers crossed the Strait of Hormuz into the Arabian Sea, marking the first such passage since the start of the Iran war.
U.S. Central Command said it has begun preparing the necessary conditions for mine-clearing operations in the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM said USS Frank E. Peterson and USS Michael Murphy crossed the strait and conducted operations in the Gulf as part of efforts to ensure the waterway is free of mines allegedly laid by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.
US Central Command said on Saturday its forces have started setting conditions to clear sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz, with two Navy destroyers operating in the waterway as part of efforts to restore safe maritime transit. CENTCOM said USS Frank E. Peterson and USS Michael Murphy transited the strait and operated in the Persian Gulf in a broader mission aimed at removing mines previously laid by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.
“Today, we began the process of establishing a new passage and we will share this safe pathway with the maritime industry soon to encourage the free flow of commerce,” said CENTCOM commander Gen. Brad Cooper.
CENTCOM also said a new maritime corridor is being established and will be shared with the shipping industry, with additional U.S. forces and underwater drones expected to join mine-clearing operations in the coming days.
🔸 SHIPPING TRAFFIC AND ENERGY SIGNALING: Two oil tankers linked to Chinese state companies also transited the strait after waiting near its entrance since last week and loading crude from Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
Trump: “Huge numbers of empty oil tankers are heading to the United States to be loaded with the highest quality oil and gas.”
U.S president Trump: "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! President DJT"
Trump to NewsNation: “People are now realizing there are other alternatives for passage besides the Strait of Hormuz.”
Trump to NewsNation: “My recent post about large numbers of tankers heading to the U.S. to load oil has nothing to do with the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.”
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