On August 28, news emerged that since the outbreak of war in late February, the Strait of Hormuz has been Iran's most powerful leverage. However, US officials stated that over the past two months, the US military has gradually weakened Iran's control over this critical waterway. They believe that the situation in the Strait of Hormuz has been reversed, which could become a turning point in the war, potentially easing the global economy and paving the way for a better agreement with Iran. In a phone interview with Axios on Thursday, US President Trump stated, 'It’s open over there (the Strait of Hormuz), and Iran’s response has been very mild. They don’t want us to take action against them again. That’s the key. Everything else is unimportant.' Following the breakdown of the US-Iran memorandum, the US military began unilateral actions to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. These actions include the establishment of a task force in cooperation with the UAE to guide ships through the southern channel of the Strait, providing aerial cover for vessels, and intercepting drone and cruise missile attacks launched by Iran. A two-week bombing campaign significantly weakened the capabilities of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard to attack vessels passing through the Strait. A mine-clearing operation involved Navy divers, SEALs, underwater and surface drones, and private contractors to detect and remove mines. The blockade of Iranian ports has been restored.