The United States military has destroyed several Iranian ships believed to be capable of laying naval mines near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, according to US Central Command, as concerns grow over Tehran’s effort to disrupt shipping in the vital waterway.In a post on Twitter, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said US forces targeted and destroyed several Iranian naval vessels on Tuesday.
“US forces destroyed multiple Iranian naval vessels on March 10, including 16 mines near the Strait of Hormuz,” the command said, sharing a video showing some of the strikes.The claim followed comments by US President Donald Trump, who earlier said US forces had attacked Iranian ships capable of laying mines in the area. But interestingly, according to Trump, 10 ships were destroyed, which is contrary to the military’s claim of 16 ships. In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “I am pleased to report that within the last few hours, we have attacked 10 disabled mine-laying boats and/or ships, and completely destroyed them, with more on the way!”
The US president also warned Tehran against deploying naval mines in the key shipping corridor. “If Iran has placed any mines in the Strait of Hormuz, and we have no reports of them doing so, we want them removed immediately!” He has written.Trump said failure to remove such mines could lead to a strong military response. “If for any reason the mines are placed and are not immediately removed, the military consequences for Iran would be on a level never seen before,” he said. He said removing any equipment would help reduce stress. “If, on the other hand, they remove what has been kept, that would be a huge step in the right direction.”
The warning comes after a CBS News report citing US officials said Iran may be preparing to deploy naval mines in the strait. People familiar with US intelligence told CNN that a small number of mines may already have been placed in the waterway. The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, is one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints, with about 20 percent of global trade oil passing through it every day.Control of the waterway is shared by Iran’s navy and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), who have warned that ships passing through the channel could be targeted.Since the war escalated, officials have described the strait as an increasingly risky transit area for commercial shipping.