According to information obtained from Jim LaPorta, a national security expert, Iran is using small vessels, each of which can be equipped with two or three mines. Although the exact number of naval mines in Iran has not been disclosed, estimates range from two to six thousand. CNN also reported on the mining of the Strait of Hormuz, citing intelligence data.
US President Donald Trump responded to these reports, stating that if Iranian military forces are indeed mining the strait, the mines must be removed immediately. Otherwise, he warned of "unprecedented consequences" for Iran.
“If Iran has indeed laid mines in the Strait of Hormuz, we demand their immediate removal! If they are not removed, the consequences for Iran will be unprecedented. However, if they remove the mines, it will be a big step forward!” Trump wrote.
Later, he reported that American forces had destroyed 10 boats that were involved in laying mines in this strategically important strait.
“In recent hours, we have completely destroyed 10 inactive boats that were laying mines, and this is not the limit!” he explained in his post on the social network Truth Social.
Trump added that the same technologies used in Operation "Southern Strike," aimed at drug traffickers in the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, are being employed to combat the mine-laying vessels.
US military officials also confirmed the destruction of several Iranian ships in the area of the Strait of Hormuz, which is a key route for oil exports.
The US Central Command reported via the X network the elimination of 16 mine-laying vessels, specialized military ships used for mining.
The Strait of Hormuz accounts for 20-25% of global oil supplies. Following the onset of conflict with Israel and the US, Iran announced its intention to block this route.
According to RBC, only 14 vessels have passed through the strait in the last week, whereas before the outbreak of hostilities, between 50 and 60 tankers passed daily. This significant decrease in traffic has caused a sharp rise in oil and gas prices.
France plans to send its military ships to the Strait of Hormuz to restore shipping, while Trump assured that the US Navy would escort tankers "if necessary."
