US Begins Mine-Clearing Operations in Strait of Hormuz

The US military began clearing the Strait of Hormuz of mines on April 11, 2026, with two naval vessels transiting the strait for mine-clearing operations as Iran ceasefire talks proceed in Islamabad. President Trump confirmed the operation publicly. The mine-clearing mission signals a US effort to restore freedom of navigation in the critical chokepoint — through which roughly 20% of global oil passes — as part of broader pressure and diplomacy toward a durable ceasefire with Iran.