US President Donald Trump has called on Iran to remove any mines that may have been placed in the Strait of Hormuz, the passage that separates the Persian Gulf from the world seas. Speaking on his Truth Social platform on Tuesday, Trump said he had received no reports of such mine‑laying activity. However, he warned that if, for some reason, mines have been deployed and are not promptly removed, the military consequences for Iran would reach an unprecedented scale. Conversely, he praised the idea that should Iran dismantle these mines, it would represent a large step in the right direction.
Trump also stated that the United States would employ the same technology and rocket capabilities used against drug traffickers to eliminate any vessel that attempts to mine the strait. “They will be dealt with swiftly and brutally” he wrote. Within ten minutes of his initial post, Trump added that he was pleased to report that “ten inactive mine‑laying boats and/or ships have been struck and completely destroyed” and that more would follow.
Earlier, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright incorrectly claimed that the U.S. Navy had successfully escorted an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz. The White House later had to deny the statement. The erroneous claim caused oil prices to dip briefly before stabilizing.
