Iran may deploy naval mines in Strait of Hormuz, US intelligence believes – report

The U.S. military has destroyed 10 Iranian mine-laying vessels in the Strait of Hormuz after intelligence suggested a plan to mine the waterway, as Washington begins escorting tankers to maintain global energy flows.

The United States military launched targeted strikes on Tuesday to “completely destroy” 10 Iranian mine-laying vessels in the Strait of Hormuz following intelligence indicators that Tehran may be deploying its estimated 2,000 to 6,000 naval mines to block the critical shipping lane. U.S. General Dan Caine confirmed the kinetic action as the Pentagon weighs options for escorting commercial ships through the chokepoint, which has been largely paralyzed since the conflict began on February 28.

In a briefly published social media post, President Donald Trump warned that if mines were not removed, “the Military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before,” while adding that a voluntary reversal would be “a giant step in the right direction!” Despite the volatility and the ongoing U.S.-Israeli strikes, some tankers continue to navigate the waterway, with U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright noting the Navy successfully escorted one vessel to “ensure oil remains flowing to global markets,” even as ship trackers identified the sanctioned, Guyana-flagged Cuma transporting two million barrels of Iranian crude toward China on March 9.

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