U.S. forces struck Iranian mine-laying vessels as Trump warned Tehran against attempts to mine the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Summary:
The U.S. military said it eliminated 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels near the Strait of Hormuz.
President Donald Trump warned Iran to remove any mines immediately or face military consequences.
Trump said the U.S. would use advanced surveillance and strike technology to stop any vessels attempting to mine the waterway.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical oil shipping routes, carrying roughly a fifth of global crude supply.
The confrontation raises concerns about energy security and the risk of disruption to global oil markets.
The United States said it destroyed multiple Iranian mine-laying vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, as President Donald Trump warned Tehran that any attempt to mine the strategic waterway would bring severe military consequences.
U.S. Central Command said American forces “eliminated” 16 Iranian vessels believed to be capable of laying naval mines in waters near the strait on Tuesday. The Pentagon also said strikes targeted mine-laying vessels and mine storage facilities, signalling a pre-emptive effort to prevent disruption to shipping lanes.
Trump had earlier said the United States had “completely destroyed” 10 inactive mine-laying vessels, though the military later reported a higher total of vessels neutralised.
The U.S. action followed reports that Iran may have begun deploying naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow maritime corridor linking the Persian Gulf with global shipping routes.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump warned Iran to immediately remove any mines that may have been deployed.
“If Iran has put out any mines in the Hormuz Strait, and we have no reports of them doing so, we want them removed, IMMEDIATELY,” Trump wrote.
He said failure to do so could result in military consequences “at a level never seen before,” although he did not provide specific details.
Trump also said the United States was deploying surveillance and strike technology previously used against drug-trafficking vessels to prevent any ship from attempting to mine the strait.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most strategically important maritime choke points in the world. Roughly 20% of global oil consumption passes through the narrow shipping lane, which is used by major producers including Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait to export crude to global markets.
Because of its importance to global energy flows, even limited disruptions in the strait can quickly send oil prices higher and increase volatility across financial markets.
Tensions between the United States and Iran have escalated sharply in recent months amid broader conflict in the Middle East, with shipping security emerging as a central concern for governments and energy markets.
