U.S. Says Central Shipping Lane in the Strait of Hormuz Has Reopened After Mine Clearance

BlockBeats reported on Aug. 26, citing Axios, that the U.S. Navy has cleared the main shipping lane in the Strait of Hormuz, the traffic separation scheme between Iran and Oman, allowing more oil tankers to pass. U.S. officials said Navy underwater drones had spent the past few months scanning the area and found more than 100 suspected mine objects. The military then worked with private companies to remove or detonate the mines. Officials said more than 500 ships passed in and out through the southern lane of the strait in the past 30 days, and about 2% were hit by Iranian drones or missiles. Trump said any vessel or ship that laid mines again would be "immediately and systematically destroyed." U.S. officials also said ships can now transit the Strait of Hormuz in both directions under U.S. protection, a move they said could help send more oil into the global market.