Iran Clears Sea Mines from Strait of Hormuz Amid Ongoing Tensions

The Strait of Hormuz has seen a slight easing in tensions after Iran stepped up its efforts to reopen the waterway. US military officials said that all sea mines laid by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have been cleared from the international shipping lanes.

The move comes as mediating countries, including Qatar and Pakistan, continue their efforts to broker a permanent end to the six-month-old war between the US and Iran. Despite this progress, however, oil prices have fallen due to ongoing uncertainty in the region.

Brent crude, the international benchmark for oil, dropped 1.08% on Friday to $87.58 per barrel, down from the previous day's price of $88.14. The US military's announcement was made by Commander Adm. Brad Cooper in a video posted on X, who stated that internationally recognized transit routes in the Strait of Hormuz are free of Iranian sea mines.

The Strait of Hormuz has been at the center of the conflict between the US and Iran since February 28, with vessels cautious about transiting the waterway due to attacks by Iran's IRGC. The US has imposed sanctions on Iran in an effort to end the war, but negotiations have stalled.