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Market Chatter: US Allies Question Trump Claim That Hormuz Is Free of Iranian Mines

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US allies privately believe the Strait of Hormuz still contains some of the 80 to 150 mines Iran is thought to have laid, despite President Donald Trump's claim that the US Navy cleared them all, Bloomberg reported Wednesday, citing sources.

US officials disputed the assessment, with one source saying the mine estimates were outdated, while Capt. Tim Hawkins, a US Central Command spokesman, said recognized transit routes in the Strait of Hormuz are free of Iranian sea mines, according to the report.

Allied officials say mine-clearing efforts face added challenges as sea currents may have shifted even identified mines from their original positions. US Centcom did not immediately reply to' request for comment.

(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

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