United States President Donald Trump announced on Monday, August 10, 2026, that the U.S. Navy has fully cleared mines from the Strait of Hormuz and maintains a strict maritime blockade against Iran. Meanwhile, Washington plans to demand financial compensation from Tehran for conflict damages and casualties during upcoming diplomatic negotiations.
Strait of Hormuz Clearance and U.S. Naval Control
Speaking from the Oval Office in the White House on Monday, August 10, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters that American forces hold exclusive command over the strategic waterway. The passage serves as a vital corridor for global oil and gas shipments, and any disruption significantly impacts energy prices and global markets.
The only entity currently controlling the Strait of Hormuz is the United States Navy… We have removed mines from the entire strait. Donald Trump, U.S. President
While the administration confirmed that the passage is currently open and allowing a large number of vessels to pass, officials maintained that transit remains strictly limited to ships that are not heading toward Iran under what Trump described as an ironclad blockade. Trump also asserted that Tehran is completely bankrupt and failing to pay its soldiers’ wages. The White House stated that the U.S. still possesses the capability to escalate its posture against Iran if a deal to reopen the waterway fails. Previously, the U.S. military launched strikes between July 8 and July 23 in response to Iranian targeting of commercial vessels in the strait, while Trump noted he previously cancelled attacks on Iran given a settling agreement under formation regarding the strait and Iran’s nuclear program. Meanwhile, Abbas Araghchi stated that there are currently no negotiations with the U.S. and that opening the strait is contingent on a series of conditions including ending sanctions and military threats. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that the regional importance of the strait means any disruption impacts global energy supplies, financial markets, food supply chains, and industrial sectors.
Diplomatic Demands for Conflict Compensation
The announcements follow developments regarding potential peace talks, as Iran stated it was nearing an agreement with Oman to establish new shipping routes through the strait while demanding the U.S. meet conditions including reparations, lifting sanctions, and ending military threats. In response, Washington intends to counter with its own financial claims.
Iran is demanding reparations for the damage caused to it during the 5-month military conflict… I, in turn, demand reparations from Iran. Donald Trump, U.S. President
America will demand money for the damage caused by Iran. Donald Trump, U.S. President
Trump wrote on Truth Social that he demands compensation for all people killed and seriously injured by roadside bombs and in various conflicts, stating that Iran must bear responsibility for damages and deaths inflicted on the peoples of Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Gaza. Trump also pointed to the October 2000 bombing of the guided-missile destroyer USS Cole in a Yemeni port—an attack attributed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to the terrorist organization al-Qaeda, which killed 17 sailors and injured over two dozen others—and demanded compensation from Iran for the attack. Additionally, Trump stated that Tehran must pay compensation to the families of thousands of people killed during anti-government protests in January, which represented the worst domestic unrest in Iran since 1979, during which human rights groups reported ongoing crackdowns by the government.
Jones Act Exemptions and Leadership Shifts in Tehran
To combat energy supply disruptions and rising costs linked to the war on Iran, President Trump once again extended the Jones Act waiver for 90 days, allowing foreign vessels to transport oil and other goods between U.S. ports prior to the waiver’s expiration.
Simultaneously, Mojtaba Khamenei issued written messages published on his social media accounts enacting a sweeping military overhaul, appointing six senior military commanders and officials to new posts. This included appointing Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi as Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps after granting him the rank of major general, and appointing Ali Abdollahi as Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces. Major General Mostafa Eizadi took over as Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC, Brigadier General Kioumars Heydari was appointed Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Admiral Ali Azmaei was assigned command of the IRGC Navy, and Hossein Taeb was tasked with heading the Basij forces of the IRGC.
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