Trump threatens Iran with consequences ‘at a level never seen before’ amid reports of mines being placed in Strait of Hormuz

Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief

A person points at a page on the Marinetraffic website that shows commercial boats traffic on the edge of the Strait of Hormuz near the Iranian coast, in Paris on March 4, 2026. (JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP)
A person points at a page on the Marinetraffic website that shows commercial boats traffic on the edge of the Strait of Hormuz near the Iranian coast, in Paris on March 4, 2026. (JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP)

US President Donald Trump issues a somewhat confusing new threat to Iran, demanding that it immediately remove any mines that it may have placed in the Strait of Hormuz.

“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 writes on Truth Social.

It’s unclear if the word “no” was a typo, given that the post was made following several American media reports today claiming that US intelligence has started seeing indications that Iran is taking steps to deploy mines in the Strait of Hormuz.

“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 says.

“If, on the other hand, they remove what may have been placed, it will be a giant step in the right direction!” he adds.

Trump later deletes the post and republishes it several minutes later with a new line at the end.

“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,” he writes.

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