The U.S. Military sunk 16 mine-laying ships near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, following a warning from President Donald Trump that Iran would face “military consequences at a level never seen before” if it disrupted shipping through the vital waterway. The action, confirmed by both the Pentagon and U.S. Central Command, came after reports surfaced alleging Iran was deploying mines in the Strait, through which roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply passes.
Trump initially threatened Iran on Monday night, stating the U.S. Would respond “twenty times harder” if the country attempted to block oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz. He reiterated this stance on Tuesday, demanding the immediate removal of any deployed mines. “If for any reason mines were placed and they are not removed forthwith, the Military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. Shortly after, he announced the destruction of the 10 initial vessels, adding “with more to follow!” U.S. Central Command later clarified the total number of destroyed ships was 16.
Intelligence reports cited by CNN and CBS News indicated Iran had already laid “a few dozen” mines in the Strait in recent days, with the potential to deploy hundreds more. Trump, however, claimed his administration had “no reports” of such deployments, although still issuing the ultimatum. The U.S. Is reportedly utilizing “the same Technology and Missile capabilities deployed against Drug Traffickers” to target the mine-laying vessels, a practice that has previously resulted in over 150 civilian deaths, according to reports.
The escalation follows a period of heightened tensions, with Trump asserting the U.S. War with Iran was “very complete” in a Monday interview with CBS News. He claimed Iran’s military capabilities had been severely degraded, stating, “They have no navy, no communications, they’ve got no air force.” While oil prices initially dropped following Trump’s comments, they quickly rebounded, remaining above pre-war levels. Commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been significantly disrupted, though Trump claimed in the CBS interview that ships were beginning to enter the waterway.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated Tuesday that the U.S. “will not allow terrorists to hold the Strait of Hormuz hostage.” Trump also indicated he was considering a more drastic measure: “thinking about taking it over.” Iran’s Supreme National Security Council secretary responded to Trump’s threats on Tuesday, issuing a warning of their own, though the specific content of that warning has not been publicly released.
As of Wednesday, the situation remains unresolved. The U.S. Has not reported any further engagements in the Strait of Hormuz, and Iranian officials have not confirmed whether any mines have been removed. The potential for further escalation remains high, with Trump’s administration maintaining a firm stance against any disruption to oil flow through the region.
