Politics
JUST IN: US Military Announces Major Development In Strait Of Hormuz: ‘Got The Job Done’
The U.S. military announced a major breakthrough Thursday in the Strait of Hormuz, saying American forces have cleared Iranian sea mines from internationally recognized shipping lanes in the critical waterway.
Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, announced the development in a video posted to X, marking a significant step toward restoring safer commercial traffic through one of the world’s most important oil routes.
“the U.S. military has achieved a major milestone in the Strait of Hormuz.”
Cooper said American forces had successfully removed mines planted months earlier by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
“We have successfully cleared sea mines in the strait’s international shipping lanes that were laid months ago by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Internationally recognized transit routes in the strait are free of Iranian sea mines, thanks to the incredible work of the U.S. military,” Cooper added in the video.
The announcement could have major consequences for global shipping and energy markets after months of restricted traffic through the strait.
The Strait of Hormuz serves as a vital passage for oil and gas shipments moving out of the Persian Gulf, making any disruption there a threat to energy prices around the world.
Traffic through the waterway has been severely limited during the six-month war with Iran, contributing to higher fuel costs and uncertainty for commercial vessels.
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If the transit routes remain clear, shipping companies could have greater freedom to move through the strait without the threat posed by Iranian mines.
The military breakthrough also comes as the Trump administration ratchets up its economic campaign against Tehran.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday warned governments and financial institutions around the world to cut ties with Iran or risk losing access to the U.S. dollar system.
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The White House has branded the effort “Operation Economic Outcast,” an aggressive pressure campaign designed to further isolate the Iranian regime financially.
The administration has promoted the effort as an economic “D-Day,” comparing the scale of the financial offensive to the Allied invasion of Normandy during World War II.
The strategy represents another front in President Donald Trump’s effort to weaken Tehran, combining military pressure with sanctions aimed at cutting off the regime from international trade and banking.
Iran’s actions in the Strait of Hormuz have carried consequences far beyond the region.
With shipping disrupted, oil and gasoline prices have remained elevated for American consumers.
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According to AAA, the average price of a gallon of regular gasoline in the United States was about $4.10 late Thursday, compared with roughly $3.21 a year earlier.
Clearing the mines does not guarantee an immediate return to normal shipping volumes, but it removes one of the most dangerous physical threats facing commercial vessels trying to navigate the strait.
The announcement also gives Washington a concrete military victory at a time when the Trump administration is trying to force Tehran into deeper economic isolation.
For now, U.S. officials say the internationally recognized shipping lanes are clear of Iranian mines, opening the door for commercial traffic to begin moving more freely through the strategic waterway.
