President Donald Trump announced Saturday that the United States has begun clearing Iranian sea mines from the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil shipping lane that Iran mined during the ongoing conflict.

Trump made the statement in a Truth Social post, describing the effort as a favor to major economies including China, Japan, South Korea, France, and Germany, which he said lack the courage to undertake it themselves. "We're now starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz as a favor to countries all over the world," Trump wrote.

The announcement came as several U.S. Navy ships crossed the strait uncoordinated with Iran, marking the first such transit since the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran erupted in late February. Iran denied the reports of the transit and rejected U.S. claims that it laid mines in the waterway.

The Strait of Hormuz crisis began on February 28 when the U.S. and Israel launched airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, military facilities, and leadership under Operation Epic Fury, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran retaliated by closing the strait, laying mines with small boats, and attacking merchant vessels with missiles, drones, and fast boats. Shipping traffic plummeted by 70%, with only Iran-linked or toll-paying ships passing in recent weeks.

U.S. forces destroyed 16 to 28 Iranian mine-laying vessels in early March. Oil prices surged past $126 per barrel at peak, disrupting 20% of global seaborne oil trade and causing production cuts across Gulf states. A fragile ceasefire took hold on April 8, but the strait remained restricted, with hundreds of tankers backed up.

U.S. officials said Iran laid the mines haphazardly last month and cannot locate or remove them all, as some drift and records may be incomplete. Neither side possesses robust demining capabilities, though the U.S. Navy relies on littoral combat ships and unmanned systems.

The demining push coincides with direct U.S.-Iran talks in Islamabad, where Tehran seeks sanctions relief, asset unfreezing, and recognition of its strait interests in exchange for nuclear concessions. Washington insists on limits to Iran's nuclear and missile programs.

Trump highlighted Iran's weakened military, stating its navy, air defenses, radars, and missile factories have been devastated. The operation aims to restore freedom of navigation amid ongoing economic fallout from the monthslong disruption.