Iran says Hormuz remains closed despite US claim of mine clearance
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said on Wednesday that the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, dismissing US President Donald Trump's claim that all sea mines had been cleared. Gharibabadi warned that US mine-detection vessels entering the area would become 'very good targets'. Iran and Oman have agreed on a temporary transit route and a joint mine-clearing project, but war-risk insurance costs remain high.
Key Facts
- Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said on Wednesday that the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.
- US President Donald Trump claimed on Tuesday that the US Navy has removed or detonated all sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
- Iran and Oman have agreed to implement a joint project to clear mines from the strait.
- War-risk insurance costs for ships traversing the waterway have soared from 1-3 percent to 7.5-10 percent of hull value since the war began, according to S&P Global.
Conflicting Claims
US President Donald Trump declared on his Truth Social platform on Tuesday that the US Navy has removed or detonated all sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump added that Iran has been notified that any ship or boat placing new mines will be immediately and systematically destroyed. On Wednesday, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi dismissed Trump's claim, stating that no one except Iran knows the location of these mines. Gharibabadi said Trump's comments were only aimed at calming the markets and warned that US mine-detection vessels entering the area would become very good targets.
Transit and Mine-Clearing Agreement
Iran and Oman have agreed on a temporary transit-route agreement for ships crossing through the strait. The two countries also agreed to implement a joint project to clear mines from the strait, according to a statement this week. Before the war began, approximately 130 ships passed through the strait each day, transporting about one-fifth of the world's oil and natural gas supplies from Gulf producers. Analysts say the US assessment that mines have been cleared from key shipping lanes is likely credible, but that does not mean Hormuz is necessarily completely mine-free.
Insurance and Shipping Risks
According to a report published by S&P Global in July, war-risk insurance costs for ships traversing the waterway have soared from between 1 and 3 percent of a ship's hull value to between 7.5 and 10 percent of hull value since the war began. War-risk insurance premiums are likely to remain high, experts say, leaving many shipping companies reluctant to resume transiting the Strait of Hormuz. With no ceasefire agreement in place and the US announcing what it has described as an economic D-Day of sanctions against Iran, the prospect of renewed open warfare remains.
4 sources
Iran says Hormuz remains closed despite US claim of mine clearance
