Guwahati: The United States military said on Tuesday that it had destroyed 16 Iranian vessels suspected of laying naval mines near the Strait of Hormuz, amid rising tensions in the region and fears that the crucial maritime route could be mined during the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
The United States Central Command (CENTCOM), in a post on X, said that U.S. forces struck multiple Iranian naval vessels on March 10, including 16 minelayers operating near the strategic waterway. The statement was accompanied by video footage showing several boats being hit by projectiles and exploding.
Earlier in the day, U.S. President Donald Trump said American forces had destroyed 10 Iranian mine-laying vessels and warned Tehran of severe military consequences if it attempts to mine the Strait of Hormuz.
The remarks came after Iran indicated that no Gulf oil would be allowed to pass through the waterway, heightening concerns over potential disruptions to global energy supplies. Oil prices have remained volatile as shipping through the strait has been virtually halted amid the conflict.
In a post on the Truth Social platform, Trump said U.S. forces had “completely destroyed” 10 inactive mine-laying boats and indicated that further strikes could follow.
He warned that if mines were placed in the waterway and not removed immediately, the military consequences for Iran would be unprecedented. At the same time, he said removing any mines already deployed would be “a giant step in the right direction”.
Trump also said the United States could deploy the same missile systems previously used against suspected drug-trafficking vessels in Latin American waters to eliminate any boat attempting to lay mines in the Gulf.
Nearly one-fifth of global oil supplies pass through the Strait of Hormuz, making it one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints for energy trade.
Meanwhile, the White House clarified that the U.S. Navy has not escorted any oil tanker through the waterway after a now-deleted social media post by the energy secretary suggested such an operation had taken place.
The Trump administration has identified the elimination of Iran’s naval capabilities as a key objective of “Operation Epic Fury”, the joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign launched against Iran on February 28.