The Strait of Hormuz, by current estimates, remains partially mined, and public statements by US President Donald Trump about the full clearance of the waterway do not match reality. According to preliminary data from the publication's sources, the US Navy has indeed succeeded in defusing explosives in international waters; however, American military forces and their partners have failed to eliminate all the mines laid by Iran: in the waters, by preliminary estimates, between 80 and 150 mines still remain. Against this backdrop, the key maritime route through which a significant share of global oil trade passes remains a high-risk zone for commercial shipping.
Trump's Statements and CENTCOM's Silence
Despite the ongoing threat, Donald Trump has repeatedly and publicly asserted the absolute safety of the strait in recent days. On the "Glenn Beck" show, he stated: "The mines are gone. You've probably seen it — we took care of it yesterday — all the mines, we got rid of the mines." Meanwhile, US Central Command (CENTCOM) declined to comment on current assessments of the security situation in the region, leaving the public space open to contradictory versions of the actual state of the waters.
Expert Estimates: 80–150 Mines Remain
Military analysts warn that clearing the strait requires significantly more time and resources than is publicly stated. "It is unlikely that all the mines in the strait have been defused. Even if the mine threat had been reduced, Iran could still escalate," noted Becca Wasser, head of the defense department at Bloomberg Economics. To restore full commercial shipping, US allies insist on a joint international operation involving European partners that possess specialized equipment for detecting hard-to-find Maham-type mines.
Contradictory Data
There is a direct discrepancy in open sources and the statements of the parties regarding the results of the operation. On the one hand, the official rhetoric of Washington and some domestic media outlets are broadcasting the version that the US Navy has defused all mines in the Strait of Hormuz, which is consistent with President Trump's statements. On the other hand, according to Bloomberg and military experts, between 80 and 150 mines still remain in the water, and CENTCOM does not confirm the full clearance of the waters. The difference between "full clearance" and "partial defusing" is fundamental: it determines when and in what format full tanker transit can resume.
Iran–Oman Negotiations
The situation around the key maritime route remains tense due to the prolonged security conflict in the region. On the eve, Iran and Oman held negotiations on the creation of a temporary joint shipping corridor and the possible launch of a mine-clearing mission in the waters. According to reports, the parties have effectively agreed on a division of responsibility for the strait and on a mechanism for a temporary corridor; however, the details and timelines for launching the operation have not been disclosed publicly, which sustains the uncertainty.
Impact on Oil Markets
Uncertainty over shipping security continues to weigh on global markets. Against the backdrop of these events, world oil prices have been falling rapidly for several days in a row, as traders await a final decision on the resumption of full transit through the strait. Thus, even with partial success in the mine-clearing operation, the financial market is reacting to the residual risk rather than to public statements about "full clearance."
