Trump plans to start anti-mine operations as part of a wider attempt to open the strait, but the clearance is laborious and dangerous
Middle East crisis – live updates
Donald Trump has said he plans to begin anti-mine operations in the strait of Hormuz as part of a wider attempt to reopen the waterway, which has in effect been closed to marine traffic by Iran since the US and Israel launched their war in late February.
In the absence of much of its fleet of large naval vessels, which have been destroyed by US and Israeli strikes, Iran has deployed small surface vessels to lay mines in parts of the strait of Hormuz. It is not known how many mines have been laid. Iran has left a path open to ships that are prepared to pay a toll.
According to US officials quoted by the New York Times, Iran has indicated that it cannot locate all of the mines that it has laid and lacks the capability to remove them.
