President Donald Trump has escalated U.S. warnings to Iran, threatening military action if Tehran has deployed mines in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil passage. The announcement comes amid ongoing U.S.-Israeli strikes that have disrupted tanker traffic along the vital corridor.
In a statement on social media, Trump said: “If Iran has put out any mines in the Hormuz Strait… we want them removed, IMMEDIATELY!” He called mine removal “a giant step in the right direction” and warned that Iran would face military consequences if it failed to comply.
“We will use the same technology previously deployed against drug traffickers to permanently eliminate any boat or ship attempting to mine the Hormuz Strait,” Trump added.
U.S. Military Strikes Target Iranian Vessels
According to U.S. Central Command, 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels near the strait have been neutralized. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that strikes targeted both mine-laying ships and storage facilities as part of ongoing operations against Iran’s navy.
Previously, Trump stated that 10 inactive vessels had already been “completely destroyed.” The Defense Intelligence Agency estimated in 2019 that Iran could deploy over 5,000 naval mines quickly using small, high-speed boats, underscoring the potential threat to commercial shipping.
Importance of the Strait of Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic maritime chokepoint where roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments pass. Since February 28, the conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran has effectively halted commercial shipping, raising concerns over global energy supply and market stability.
Top U.S. officials are exploring options to escort vessels safely through the strait. General Dan Caine stated the military is “looking at a range of options” for potential convoy operations. However, the Navy has not yet provided daily escort services to shipping companies.
Earlier this week, Secretary of Energy Chris Wright posted on X (formerly Twitter) that a tanker had been successfully escorted, but the post was deleted. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later clarified that no tankers had been escorted, attributing the post to a miscaptioned video. These mixed signals have added to global uncertainty over maritime security and the flow of oil shipments.
