Donald Trump has warned Iranon Truth Social that it faces unprecedented military consequences if it fails to remove any naval mines it may have placed in the Strait of Hormuz, the vital waterway through which 20% of global oil passes. The threat came on March 10 after US intelligence reports suggested Iran was preparing to deploy mines using small boats, though US officials told CBS News there were no confirmed sightings of mines in the strait.
The news came after US Central Command announced it had destroyed 16 Iranian mine laying vessels near the strait, including 10 inactive ones that Trump said had been 'completely destroyed.'
Trump's post was characteristically emphatic, with 'IMMEDIATELY!' in all caps, a promise of force 'at a level never seen before' and a suggestion of de‑escalation if Iran backed off. He wrote that if any mines were placed and not removed swiftly, 'the military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before,' warning that the United States would act decisively to counter any threat to the key shipping lane.
Trump on Truth Social: If Iran has put out any mines in the Hormuz Strait, and we have no reports of them doing so, we want them removed, IMMEDIATELY! If for any reason mines were placed, and they are not removed forthwith, the Military consequences to Iran will be at a level…
That language lands harder when the strategic importance of the strait is remembered. Around 20 million barrels of oil a day pass through the Strait of Hormuz, accounting for about one‑fifth of global oil consumption and roughly a quarter of seaborne oil trade, making it a vital energy chokepoint.
One naval mine can cripple a supertanker, and estimates suggest Iran may possess thousands of sea mines, many domestically produced or imported from China and Russia, raising the risk to vessels passing through the narrow waterway.
The US response has been swift. Central Command released footage of strikes on mine laying boats, andTrump boasted about using anti-drug trafficking tech and missilesto hunt any vessel trying to lay explosives. CNN reported that Iran had placed a few dozen mines recently but still had 80% of its small boats intact, meaning it could lay hundreds more if it chose.
Oil markets have reacted predictably. Prices hit over $100 a barrel for the first time since Covid, then eased back to around $85 to $89 as traders weighed the risk of full blockade against US military moves. Stock markets dipped too, with economists watching for interest rate spikes if the strait stays choked.
Iran's navy has been busy, according to CBS, sending out small craft that can carry two or three mines apiece. The IRGC has threatened to stop all oil leaving the Gulf if US and Israeli attacks continue, and the strait has already seen shipping disruptions since the conflict began.
https://t.co/767qc8xrBtFears naval mines could be used in the Strait of Hormuz moved to forefront Tuesday as Trump said U.S. military destroyed 10 inactive Iranian mine-laying vessels and warned Tehran of severe consequences if explosives were placed in the strategic waterway.
Source: International Business Times UK
