US destroys 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels near the Strait of Hormuz
"If Iran has placed mines in the Strait of Hormuz, they must be removed immediately, otherwise the military consequences will be of a level never seen before," Trump threatened
The U.S. military said Tuesday it had destroyed a number of Iranian vessels capable of laying naval mines near the Strait of Hormuz, as tensions with Iran escalate over security in the critical waterway.
According to United States Central Command (CENTCOM), American forces carried out strikes that destroyed 16 Iranian boats used for mine-laying operations. The U.S. military released images of the attacks, saying the targeted vessels posed a potential threat to maritime navigation in the region.
The operation comes amid growing concern in Washington that Iran may be preparing to deploy naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz — a narrow passage linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply is transported daily.
Reports by CNN and CBS News previously cited U.S. intelligence officials as saying that several dozen mines may have already been placed in the strait in recent days.
U.S. President Donald Trump responded to the reports in a post on social media, warning Tehran of severe consequences if the mines are not removed.
“If Iran has placed mines in the Strait of Hormuz, we want them removed immediately,” Trump wrote, adding that otherwise “the military consequences for Iran would be at a level never seen before.” He said that removing the mines would represent “a huge step in the right direction.”
The White House later said the U.S. is taking steps to ensure the waterway remains open. Presidential spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said the U.S. military had been directed to guarantee freedom of navigation through the strait and stressed that Washington is prepared for potential disruptions to global energy markets.
In a statement accompanying the release of strike footage, CENTCOM accused Iran of threatening maritime security in the region for years, describing the Strait of Hormuz as vital to global trade and economic stability.
Earlier in the conflict, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had warned that the strait could be closed and threatened to attack vessels attempting to pass through it, raising fears of a broader escalation in one of the world’s most strategically important shipping lanes.