U.S. Destroys Iranian Mine-Laying Boats Near Strait Of Hormuz After Trump Warning
The U.S. military said Tuesday that it destroyed more than a dozen Iranian mine-laying vessels near the Strait of Hormuz after President Donald Trump warned Iran against attempting to mine the critical shipping corridor.
U.S. Central Command released video showing American strikes targeting multiple Iranian naval boats in the region. Officials said a total of 16 vessels believed to be capable of deploying naval mines were eliminated during the operation.
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
The action came shortly after Trump issued a direct warning to Tehran that any attempt to mine the Strait of Hormuz would trigger a severe military response.
“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,” Trump said. “If for any reason mines were placed and they are not removed forthwith, the military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before.”
Trump added that the United States would treat any vessel attempting to place mines in the waterway as a hostile threat.
“If they remove what may have been placed, it will be a giant step in the right direction,” the president said.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that U.S. forces had targeted vessels believed to be part of Iran’s naval mine deployment capability.
“We are targeting inactive mine-laying vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and wiping them out with ruthless precision,” Hegseth said. “The United States will not allow terrorists to hold the Strait of Hormuz hostage.”
The strikes followed a series of maritime incidents reported near the strategic waterway earlier Wednesday.
According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center, several commercial vessels were struck by unidentified projectiles in the area.
One bulk carrier was hit by what officials described as an unknown projectile about 50 nautical miles northwest of Dubai. Authorities said the crew remained safe and there was no environmental damage reported.
A separate container vessel was struck roughly 25 nautical miles northwest of Ra’s al Khaymah in the United Arab Emirates.
In another incident, a cargo ship was hit by a projectile about 11 nautical miles north of Oman within the Strait of Hormuz, sparking a fire onboard that forced the crew to evacuate.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most important energy shipping routes in the world, with roughly 20 percent of global oil supplies passing through the narrow waterway.
As tensions in the region have escalated, shipping traffic through the strait has slowed dramatically, contributing to rising fuel prices in the United States.
The national average price for gasoline has climbed from about $2.93 per gallon a month ago to approximately $3.57 this week.
Trump has suggested the United States could deploy Navy vessels to escort oil tankers and commercial ships through the strait if necessary to guarantee safe passage.
The president has also argued that the recent spike in energy prices would likely be temporary as U.S. and allied military operations continue targeting Iran’s military and nuclear capabilities.