The U.S. military reported on Tuesday that it had destroyed 16 Iranian minelayer ships near the Strait of Hormuz, acting after reports that Iran was mining this crucial waterway for oil and gas transportation, which is effectively closed due to the war, LETA reported, citing AFP.
“On March 10, U.S. forces eliminated multiple Iranian naval vessels, including 16 minelayers near the Strait of Hormuz,” U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported on the platform ‘X’, adding video footage showing missiles or other projectiles hitting the ships and causing explosions.
U.S. forces eliminated multiple Iranian naval vessels, March 10, including 16 minelayers near the Strait of Hormuz. pic.twitter.com/371unKYiJs
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 10, 2026
U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran on Tuesday of unprecedented military consequences if it mines the Strait of Hormuz after Tehran promised to prevent the transportation of oil from Gulf countries through the strait.
“I am pleased to report that in the last few hours we struck and completely destroyed ten inactive minelayers, and more will follow!” Trump wrote on his social media platform ‘Truth Social’.
Later, CENTCOM reported that the number of destroyed minelayers had increased to 16.
Trump warns Iran of consequences if it mines the Strait of Hormuz
U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran on Tuesday of unprecedented military consequences if it mines the Strait of Hormuz after Tehran promised to prevent the transportation of oil from Gulf countries through the strait, LETA reported, citing AFP.
Trump stated on social media that he had not received reports that Iran had already mined the strait. If Iran has done so, it must “immediately” remove floating mines from the strait, Trump said.
“If for any reason mines have been placed and are not removed immediately, the military consequences for Iran will be at a level never seen before,” Trump wrote on the ‘Truth Social’ platform.
“On the other hand, if they remove [the mines] that may have been placed, that would be a huge step in the right direction!” Trump wrote.
The U.S. will also use missiles previously employed against vessels transporting drugs in Latin American waters to “continuously eliminate” any minelayer in the Strait of Hormuz, Trump added.
“They will be dealt with quickly and harshly. Beware!” Trump warned.
American television channel CNN, citing anonymous sources familiar with U.S. intelligence reports, previously reported that Iran had indeed begun laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
The White House stated on Tuesday that the U.S. had not escorted any oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. A post on U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright's social media account was published and then deleted, stating that such escorting had occurred.
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