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U.S. destroys Iranian mine-laying vessels near Strait of Hormuz as Trump issues warning
![U.S. destroys Iranian mine-laying vessels near Strait of Hormuz as Trump issues warning.]()
U.S. destroys Iranian mine-laying vessels near Strait of Hormuz as Trump issues warning.
WASHINGTON — The United States military destroyed several Iranian naval vessels, including 16 mine-laying boats, near the Strait of Hormuz, according to a statement from the United States Central Command on Tuesday.
The operation comes amid rising tensions between United States and Iran, as intelligence reports suggested Tehran may have begun deploying naval mines in the strategic waterway — one of the most critical corridors for global oil shipments.
According to CENTCOM, U.S. forces “eliminated” 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels operating near the maritime chokepoint. Earlier, Donald Trump had stated that American forces had already “completely destroyed” 10 inactive mine-laying vessels in the area.
The Strait of Hormuz is widely considered the most important energy chokepoint in the world, with roughly 20% of global crude oil shipments passing through the narrow channel connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump warned Tehran that any mines placed in the waterway must be removed immediately.
“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.
Meanwhile, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on X that U.S. forces were acting under the president’s direction to neutralize potential threats to international shipping.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, CENTCOM has been eliminating inactive mine-laying vessels in the Strait of Hormuz with relentless precision,” Hegseth said, adding that the United States will not allow the strategic waterway to become hostage to hostile actors.
The escalation follows media reports citing U.S. intelligence sources that Iran may have started deploying naval mines in the strait, a move that could severely disrupt global energy markets and maritime traffic.
Analysts warn that any attempt to block or militarize the Strait of Hormuz could trigger major geopolitical and economic consequences, given its central role in transporting oil from the Middle East to global markets.
