If Iran has laid naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, the "military consequences will be at an unprecedented level". This is what US President Donald Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Tuesday. In the post, he says that he has not received any reports that there are mines. But if there are mines, they must be removed immediately, he states.
- If they remove what may have been placed, it will be a huge step in the right direction!, the president concludes his post.
Several US media outlets have reported that mines may either be laid in the strait - or are already being laid there. Shortly after his first post, Trump writes that the US has attacked and destroyed ten inactive minelaying vessels. He does not elaborate on his post.
In a post on the social media X, the US military's central command, U.S. Central Command, wrote later Tuesday that American forces have destroyed several Iranian vessels. This includes 16 mine-laying vessels near the Strait of Hormuz. The command also shared video footage of various boats apparently being hit by projectiles and exploding.
Mines will disrupt shipping routes
The media CBS News has written that Iran may be preparing to lay mines in the narrow strait in an attempt to further disrupt the crucial shipping route. CBS refers to American officials, but the development has not been officially confirmed.
Meanwhile, CNN writes, based on two sources who are said to have knowledge of American intelligence, that mines are being placed in the strait.
For now, however, there should not be very many, some "a few dozen" in recent days, writes the American media. That report has not been officially confirmed either. The Strait of Hormuz between Oman and Iran has been virtually closed during the ongoing war in Iran.
The narrow strait is of great importance for the world's oil trade. About a fifth of the world's total oil consumption passes through the strait.
The US and Israel's war against Iran has sent oil prices on a roller coaster ride, briefly exceeding $100 a barrel before falling again.
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright wrote on social media earlier Tuesday that the US Navy had escorted an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz.
The report caused oil prices to fall further for a while before the report was withdrawn. The White House has since denied that an oil tanker was escorted through the strait.
/ritzau/
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