The United States destroyed ten Iranian vessels that were laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most important maritime routes for oil transportation in the world, amid the escalation of the conflict between Washington, Israel, and Iran. U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that the attacks were carried out in the last few hours against ships that were deploying mines in this strategic waterway connecting the Persian Gulf with the Indian Ocean, through which a significant part of the global crude oil trade circulates. "I am pleased to report that in the last few hours we have attacked and completely destroyed 10 boats and/or vessels that were placing inactive mines, and there will be more!", the president stated in a post on his Truth Social network. Direct Warning to Iran Trump had previously warned that Iran would face consequences "on a level never seen before" if it tried to mine the Strait of Hormuz to block the transit of oil tankers. "If Iran has placed mines in the Strait of Hormuz, we want them to remove them immediately", the president wrote, noting that removing the explosives would be "a giant step in the right direction". Additionally, the U.S. president threatened an even greater response if Tehran attempts to stop the flow of oil in that strategic area. "If Iran does anything to stop the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz, it will be hit by the United States twenty times harder", he warned. Mines to Block Oil Tankers According to various reports, Iran began deploying small vessels capable of carrying two to three mines each to place them in the strait with the aim of blocking the passage of oil tankers. The strategy, according to reports cited by international media accessed by the Argentine News Agency, sought to hinder transit at a critical point for global energy trade, amid the international crisis over the price of crude. Crossed Threats Tensions escalated further after Trump threatened Tehran with "death, fire and fury" if it tried to close the passage in the Strait of Hormuz, while warnings against the U.S. president emerged from Iran. In parallel, France announced the deployment of a defensive military mission in the area to guarantee the safety of oil tankers passing through the strait. The situation is keeping energy markets and the international community on alert, as any disruption to transit through the Strait of Hormuz could severely affect the global oil supply.
