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Trump Says US Forces Are 'clearing' Strait of Hormuz
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 11, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 11, 2026
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President Trump on April 11 claimed U.S. forces are actively “clearing” the Strait of Hormuz and that Iran’s “mine dropper boats” have been sunk. The ongoing closure of the strait has sharply disrupted global oil and energy markets, driving prices higher amid a fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and
Trump says US forces are 'clearing' Strait of Hormuz
US Military Actions and Global Impact
Trump's Announcement on Strait of Hormuz
WASHINGTON, April 11 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday posted on social media that the United States military has started to clear the Strait of Hormuz nL1N40T08R, and that all of Iran's minelaying ships have been sunk.
"We're now starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post, adding that "all 28" of Iran's "mine dropper boats are also lying at the bottom of the sea".
Reports and Reactions
US Naval Presence in the Strait
Minutes before Trump's post, reports started to emerge about the presence of U.S. naval ships in the strait.
Conflicting Statements from US and Iran
An Axios journalist, citing an unnamed U.S. official, posted that "several" U.S. ships had crossed the strait on Saturday, though Iranian state TV soon after reported a denial from an official with Iran's military.
Broader Context and Consequences
Trump's Claims on Iranian Military
Trump has repeatedly said that American forces have destroyed Iran's navy and air force while crippling its ballistic missile and nuclear programs.
Impact on Global Oil and Energy Markets
But fear of Iranian attacks on shipping over the past several weeks has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical conduit for global oil supplies. Throttling the strait has disrupted global energy markets.
US Gasoline Prices
U.S. gasoline prices have spiked https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/boston-denver-us-drivers-cut-back-iran-war-pushes-fuel-costs-higher-2026-04-11/ even though most of the oil that flows through the waterway does not go to the United States.
Diplomatic Efforts
Talks Between US and Iran
Representatives from the U.S. and Iran began talks nL1N40U01A hosted by Pakistan in Islamabad on Saturday amid a fragile ceasefire in the conflict.
(Reporting by Jason Lange; Editing by Jan Harvey and Sergio Non)
Key Takeaways
- •The Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for ~20% of global oil and LNG, has effectively been closed due to Iran’s actions, triggering one of the largest supply shocks in modern energy markets (en.wikipedia.org).
- •The disruption has driven Brent crude above $120/barrel at its peak, prompted emergency releases of 400 million barrels from strategic reserves, and forced OPEC+ output increases and bypass routes via pipelines (en.wikipedia.org).
- •In the U.S., gasoline and diesel prices surged, inflation surged by nearly 11% in March—with energy costs as the main driver—and markets are watching closely whether reopening of Hormuz will stabilize prices (eia.gov).
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Trump says US forces are 'clearing' Strait of Hormuz
1What action has the US military taken in the Strait of Hormuz?
President Trump announced that US forces have started clearing the Strait of Hormuz of Iranian minelaying ships.
2How has the closure of the Strait of Hormuz impacted global markets?
Disruptions in the Strait have affected global energy markets and caused US gasoline prices to spike.
3How many Iranian minelaying ships did Trump claim were sunk?
Trump stated that all 28 of Iran's mine dropper boats are lying at the bottom of the sea.
4Where are US and Iranian representatives holding talks?
Representatives are meeting in Islamabad, Pakistan, amid a fragile ceasefire in the conflict.
5Why is the Strait of Hormuz significant?
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical conduit for global oil supplies and its disruption affects energy markets worldwide.
