Trump Announces U.S. Navy Control Over Strait of Hormuz

Seoul: U.S. President Donald Trump declared on Monday that the United States Navy has successfully mine-swept the "entire" Strait of Hormuz, asserting that the vital maritime passage is now open and entirely under U.S. control. According to Yonhap News Agency, Trump's comments came during a press briefing at the White House amidst tensions with Tehran, which has reportedly stated that the strait would remain closed until the U.S. meets its demands, including war reparations and lifting of a naval blockade. Trump emphasized, "It's open now. Look, the only one that has control of the Strait of Hormuz right now is the U.S. Navy." He further elaborated on the U.S. blockade, describing it as "infallible" and a "steel wall," pointing out that it specifically targets ships heading to and from Iran. Trump assured that the U.S. Navy has conducted thorough mine-sweeping operations across the strait, ensuring safety for international vessels except those linked to Iran. Trump acknowledged the complexity of the situat ion, stating, "A little bit complex because they will, on occasion, drop a mine, and we find the mines." He asserted, "We've mine-swept the entire strait, as you probably maybe heard. Maybe you didn't hear, but we control the strait 100 percent." Addressing Iran's economic situation, Trump suggested that Iran can cause disruptions in the strait but noted, "They have no money. Iran is broke, totally broke, and they are not paying their soldiers. They have inflation of 300 percent as of last night." Touching on Iran's demands for war reparations, Trump reiterated his stance, previously shared on social media, that if Tehran persists with such demands, the U.S. will counter by asking Iran to compensate for damages it has caused to the U.S. and other nations over the past fifty years, including reparations for the families of anti-government protesters killed in Iran.