U.S. allies believe demining efforts from Washington forces have not been fully successful despite President Donald Trump's claims, according to a new report.
Bloomberg detailed that allies believe Iran laid between 80 and 150 mines in the waterway, and not all have been removed or detonated.
Trump said on Tuesday that he had "just been informed by the United States Navy that all mines have been removed and/or detonated from within the International Waters of the Strait of Hormuz."
"Iran has been notified that any ship or boat placing new mines will be immediately and systematically destroyed. Through Space Force, we are watching every square inch of the Strait, as we are, also, with Pickaxe Mountain and the already destroyed three other Nuclear sites. There is a Zero Tolerance policy on mine placement in full force and effect," he added.
Tensions, however, remain high after a new tanker was struck in the waterway. The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations agency detailed that the strike took place near the Omani coast. All crew members are safe and an ensuing fire was extinguished.
Traffic remains subdued in the waterway even though the U.S. claims it is open for transit. Intelligence firm Kpler noted there were five confirmed crossings on Tuesday, compared to more than 130 before the war.
In this context, the Qatari prime minister traveled to Iran to "de-escalate tensions" between the U.S. and Iran. The country said that Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani would seek to "discuss ways to de-escalate tensions and create the conditions conducive to dialogue."
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps had said this week that Tehran and Muscat have reached an agreement on the matter, including fees charged for transit. However, the force said, the deal can't move forward unless the U.S. accepts the conditions. The U.S. has not addressed the deal.
The Trump administration also unveiled a plan to impose secondary sanctions on those "enabling" Iran to maintain its economic activity this week.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the plan is called "Operation Economic Outcast" and appeared to say China could be reached by the measures.
"We want to make clear here today that no one is above the reach of U.S. sanctions," he said when asked if the measures could impact Chinese banks or the Trump administration would refrain from doing so to preserve relations with Beijing.
