The U.S. has begun 'clearing' the Strait of Hormuz - Trump 0 16

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that American forces have started 'clearing' the Strait of Hormuz - one of the key routes for global oil trade, reports DW. In a post on the Truth Social platform, published on Saturday, April 11, the head of the White House emphasized that the operation is aimed at ensuring the safety of international shipping: 'We are now beginning the process of clearing the Strait of Hormuz as a service to countries around the world, including China, Japan, South Korea, France, Germany, and many others.'

Trump separately criticized other countries for inaction. 'It’s astonishing, but they lack both the courage and the will to do this work themselves,' wrote the U.S. president. He also pointed to changes in oil flows: 'Empty oil tankers from many countries are heading to the United States of America to load up with oil.'

In the same address, the head of the White House made a number of harsh statements about the state of Iran's military capabilities. 'Their navy is destroyed, their air force is destroyed, their air defense system practically doesn’t exist, radars are out of order,' noted the U.S. president. He added: '...their missile and drone factories are largely destroyed along with the missiles and drones themselves.'

U.S. Navy Ships in the Strait of Hormuz?

According to Reuters, just minutes before Trump’s post on Truth Social, reports began to emerge about the presence of U.S. Navy ships in the strait. Axios journalist, citing an unnamed U.S. official, reported to the agency that 'several' American ships crossed the strait on Saturday, but shortly after that, Iranian state television broadcast a denial from a representative of the Iranian armed forces.

Force Deployment and Negotiations in Pakistan

Trump has repeatedly stated that U.S. forces have destroyed Iran's navy and air force, as well as incapacitated its ballistic missile and nuclear development programs. However, concerns about Iranian attacks on shipping in recent weeks have effectively led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, causing disruptions in global energy markets.

Representatives from Washington and Tehran began negotiations on April 11 in the capital of Pakistan to resolve the conflict amid a fragile ceasefire.