THE Iranian regime can’t locate the mines it planted in the Strait of Hormuz, US officials have said.
It’s reportedly why the withering regime has stalled the reopening the vital shipping lane to more traffic.
The Trump administration has sent two missile destroyers to clean up the straitCredit: Getty
Tankers wait to pass safely through the coast near the Strait of HormuzCredit: Alamy
The fragile 11th hour ceasefire pitched on Tuesday was contingent on the Strait of Hormuz being reopened by Tehran.
In a report by The New York Times , American officials said routes through the strait were limited because the mines were laid haphazardly.
It’s also not clear if recorded where they put each one – plus the mines could also have drifted or moved since they were plonked in the strait.
And Iran does not have the capability to quickly remove the mines it planted, the officials said.
US Central Command said on X that two guided-missile destroyers have transited the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday to help clean up the mess.
Admiral Brad Cooper said: “Today, we began the process of establishing a new passage and we will share this safe pathway with the maritime industry soon to encourage the free flow of commerce.”
It comes as in Pakistan – as declares he is “clearing out” the Strait of Hormuz.
The “make or break” negotiations come amid reports US navy ships are crossing through the key waterway for the first time since the spiralling war broke out.
officials confirmed and the US delegation are currently meeting with the Iranian negotiators face-to-face.
The US and Iranian teams are believed to be discussing reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s nuclear ambitions and ‘s military action in Lebanon.
But a furious for slapping a $2million (£1.5million) toll on each oil tanker passing through the Strait of Hormuz as the US president raged: “This wasn’t our deal.”
But just two tankers managed to slip through the Strait before the rogue nation announced it had halted traffic in the vital waterway on Wednesday.
A source in the Iranian Navy confirmed the Strait’s closure, telling state media “only two tankers were able to benefit from the ceasefire and pass through the Strait of Hormuz before ‘Israel’ violated the agreement”.
The Iranian regime then dotted throughout the strait.
And ongoing strikes in Lebanon, plus Tehran’s continued chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, are currently testing the fragile ceasefire.
During the talks, Trump took to Truth Social to say Iran is “LOSING, and LOSING BIG!”.
He said Operation Epic Fury had obliterated the regime’s navy, aircraft and missile and drone factories, adding “their longtime ‘Leaders’ are no longer with us”.
The president also announced the US is “starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz”.
He didn’t elaborate on how he would unblock the crucial trade artery – but reports emerged shortly after that US Navy ships had crossed the strait for the first time since the start of the war, according to Axios.
Later on Saturday, he also penned: “The Strait of Hormuz will soon be open, and the empty ships are rushing to the to ‘load up’.”
The Iranian regime later said that they ordered the American destroyer to turn around.
A top official said: “The US destroyer, which attempted to cross the Strait of Hormuz without permission, has started moving in the opposite direction after a firm warning by the Iranian Armed Forces.”
The rogue nation previously threatened to attack the reported military ship within 30 minutes if it attempted the crossing, a senior Iranian official claimed.
JD Vance has arrived in Pakistan for crunch talksCredit: Getty
The ceasefire is contingent on ships being allowed to pass through the shipping laneCredit: AFP
Earlier on Saturday, JD Vance landed in Pakistan for the top-level talks alongside top envoy Steve Witkoff and .
An Iranian delegation arrived in Islamabad earlier on Saturday for the talks as the fragile ceasefire hangs in the balance.
Iran’s Speaker has outlined two main sticking points for a peace deal – a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of frozen assets.
Trump has said Iran has no cards at the negotiation table – insisting the US will get the Strait of Hormuz open “fairly soon”.
But Tehran has vowed to keep the critical trade route closed if the US keeps offering “empty promises”.
The regime said: “We have good intentions, but we do not trust the US.
“Our experience in negotiating with the Americans has always been met with failure and broken promises.”
The crunch talks mark the first top-level face-to-face meeting between and Tehran since 1979.
Iran’s map for oil tankers to guide them past sea mines in the Strait of HormuzCredit: ISNA
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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