US officials have said that the Iranian regime cannot detect mines planted in the Strait of Hormuz.
This is reportedly why the depleted system has prevented the reopening of vital shipping lanes to more traffic.
Fragile ceasefire held at 11th hour on Tuesday was contingent on the Strait of Hormuz being reopened by Tehran.
In a report of the new York TimesU.S. officials said access through the strait is limited because the mines are haphazardly laid out.
It is also unclear whether Iran recorded where it placed each of them – plus the mines could have drifted or shifted as they were stuck in the strait.
Officials said Iran does not have the ability to immediately remove the mines it has planted.
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Peace talks between US and Iran underway as Trump begins ‘cleaning up the Strait of Hormuz’
lock and Load
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Two US Navy guided-missile destroyers transited the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday to help clean up the mess, US Central Command said on Friday.
Admiral Brad Cooper said: “Today, we began the process of establishing a new passage and we will soon share this safe passage with the maritime industry to encourage the free flow of commerce.”
It comes as peace talks between the US and Iran begin in Pakistan – as Donald Trump announces he is “vacating” the Strait of Hormuz.
The “make or break” talks come amid reports that US Navy ships are transiting major waterways for the first time since the spiraling war began.
White House officials confirmed that JD Vance and the US delegation are currently meeting face-to-face with Iranian negotiators.
The US and Iranian teams are believed to be discussing the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s nuclear ambitions and Israeli military action in Lebanon.
But a furious Trump had already criticized the regime for imposing a $2 million (£1.5 million) toll on every oil tanker passing through the Strait of Hormuz earlier this week as the US president angrily said: “That was not our deal.”
But only two oil tankers managed to slip through the strait before the rogue nation announced a halt to traffic in the vital waterway on Wednesday.
An Iranian navy source confirmed the closure of the strait, telling state media “only two” Oil The tankers were able to take advantage of the ceasefire and pass through the Strait of Hormuz before Israel violated the agreement.
The Iranian regime then released a scary map showing tankers how to navigate the deadly sea mines scattered throughout the strait.
and continues strikes Tehran’s continued stranglehold in Lebanon, as well as on the Strait of Hormuz, is currently testing the fragile ceasefire.
During the talks, Trump said on Truth Social that Iran was “losing, and losing big!”.
He said that while Operation Epic Fury had destroyed the regime’s navy, aircraft and missile and drone factories, “their long-time ‘leaders’ are no longer with us”.
The President also announced that the US was “beginning the process of clearing the Strait of Hormuz”.
He did not elaborate on how he would open the vital trade artery — but reports emerged shortly after, according to Axios, that U.S. Navy ships had transited the strait for the first time since the start of the war.
Later on Saturday, he also wrote: “The Strait of Hormuz will soon be open, and empty ships are rushing to the United States to ‘load’.”
The Iranian regime later said it had ordered the American destroyer to return.
A top official said: “The US destroyer, which attempted to transit the Strait of Hormuz without permission, has started moving in the opposite direction after a strong warning from the Iranian armed forces.”
A senior Iranian official claimed that the rogue nation had earlier threatened to attack the alleged military vessel within 30 minutes if it attempted to pass by.
Earlier on Saturday, JD Vance arrived in Pakistan for top-level talks with top envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
An Iranian delegation arrived in Islamabad on Saturday for talks as the fragile ceasefire hangs in the balance.
Iran’s speaker has outlined two main points for a peace deal – ceasefire and release in Lebanon. frozen Properties.
Trump has said Iran has no cards at the negotiating table – insisting the US will open the Strait of Hormuz “very soon”.
But Tehran has vowed to keep the vital trade route closed if the US continues to make “empty promises”.
The regime said: “Our intentions are good, but we do not trust the US.
“Our experience in negotiations with the Americans has always been met with failure and broken promises.”
The important talks are the first top-level face-to-face meeting between Washington and Tehran since 1979.
