[Trump Claims the Strait is Open, U.S. Officials Say Iran's Leverage is Being Weakened] BlockBeats News, August 28: Since the outbreak of war at the end of February, the Strait of Hormuz has been Iran's most powerful bargaining chip. However, U.S. officials stated that over the past two months, the U.S. military has gradually weakened Iran's control over this critical waterway. U.S. officials claim that the U.S. military has reversed the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and believe this could become a turning point in the war, not only alleviating global economic pressures but also paving the way for a better agreement with Iran. On Thursday, U.S. President Trump said in a phone interview with Axios: "That place (the Strait of Hormuz) is open now, and Iran's response has been very mild. They don't want us to act against them again. That's the key to everything. Nothing else matters." It is reported that after the breakdown of the U.S.-Iran memorandum, the U.S. military began taking unilateral actions to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. These actions include multiple measures: a task force formed in cooperation with the UAE began guiding ships through the southern channel of the Strait of Hormuz, providing air cover for vessels, and intercepting Iranian drone and cruise missile attacks. A two-week U.S. bombing campaign significantly weakened the Iranian Revolutionary Guard's ability to attack ships passing through the strait. A mine-clearing operation utilized Navy divers, SEAL teams, underwater and surface drones, and private contractors to detect and remove mines. The blockade of Iranian ports has been reinstated. (Jin10)