Photo: Alamy
President Donald Trump warned the Iranian regime Tuesday against placing naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, saying the United States would respond with overwhelming military force if such actions occurred.
The president issued the warning in a post on Truth Social after reports surfaced that Iran may be preparing to deploy mines in the strategic waterway, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes.
“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!” President Trump wrote. “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.”
He added that removing any mines would be viewed as a positive step.
“If on the other hand, they remove what may have been placed, it will be a giant step in the right direction,” he wrote.
The president also said the U.S. military is using technology and missile systems similar to those used against drug traffickers to stop vessels attempting to deploy mines in the region.
“Additionally, we are using the same Technology and Missile capabilities deployed against Drug Traffickers to permanently eliminate any boat or ship attempting to mine the Hormuz Strait,” President Trump said. “They will be dealt with quickly and violently. BEWARE!”
Shortly afterward, the president said U.S. forces had already destroyed several vessels believed capable of deploying mines.
“I am pleased to report that within the last few hours, we have hit, and completely destroyed, 10 inactive mine laying boats and/or ships, with more to follow!” he wrote.
During a White House briefing on Tuesday, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration had warned Iran against disrupting shipping in the strategic waterway.
“As the president made unequivocally clear to the remaining elements of this terrorist regime in his statement yesterday, if they do anything to stop the flow of oil or goods within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the world’s most powerful military 20 times harder than they have been hit thus far,” Leavitt said.
