US forces obliterated several Iranian navy vessels — including 16 minelayers — near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday as President Trump warned the Islamic Republic against planting explosives along the critical global trade route.
The strikes came amid reports that Iran had already begun laying mines along the vital shipping lane — which carries about 20% of the world’s oil supply — despite Trump’s demands that it remain open and unaffected as tensions with the US and Israel escalate.
“If Iran has put any mines in the Hormuz Strait, and we have no reports of them doing so, we want them removed, IMMEDIATELY!” Trump raged on Truth Social.
“If for any reason mines were placed, and they were not removed forthwith, the Military consequences to Iran will be at a leave never seen before. If, on the other hand, they remove what may have been placed, it will be a giant step in the right direction.”
US Central Command (CENTCOM) shared footage on X of multiple vessels being annihilated.
Even after having more than 50 Iranian naval vessels destroyed, Tehran still has over 80% of its small boats and mine-layers to seed the strait with traps — a move that started Tuesday, CNN reported.
While the exact size of the nation’s mine stock is unknown, previous estimates suggested the Islamic Republic has access to roughly 2,000 to 6,000 hidden sea explosives on hand.
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Trump warned against such action as his administration mulls taking over the Strait of Hormuz, which has effectively been closed by Iranian strikes since the war began 11 days ago.
The Trump administration has been adamant about keeping the Strait of Hormuz open following repeated attacks on oil tankers in the waterway.
The president also signaled that the same missile strikes that have taken out suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean would be used on mine ships in the strait, warning Iran to “beware.”
Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters Tuesday that the US was taking aim at Iranian mine-laying vessels to prevent the traps from being deployed in the strait.
The US military is currently looking at multiple options on how to keep the strait open and allow the flow of oil through, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.With the war and closure of the strait, the price of oil has turned volatile, with prices swinging wildly after the cost per barrel of Brent crude oil spiked to $119.50 — 65% higher than the pre-war price before settling below $90 on Monday.
