US says it destroyed minelayers near Hormuz after Trump warns Iran not to mine strait
Trump threatens Tehran with consequences at ‘level never seen before’ if it targets key waterway; White House denies US escorting tankers after energy secretary posts, quickly deletes claim
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The US military said it destroyed 16 Iranian minelaying vessels near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, after US President Donald Trump threatened unprecedented action against Tehran should it target the key waterway, through which roughly a fifth of global oil shipments travel.
“US forces eliminated multiple Iranian naval vessels, March 10, including 16 minelayers near the Strait of Hormuz,” the US Central Command wrote on X, attaching a video showing some of the strikes. Trump had earlier put the number of minelayers destroyed Tuesday at ten, “with more to follow.”
The statements came as American media reports claimed US intelligence picked up on signs that Iran was gearing up to mine the strait.
Following the reports, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform Tuesday that “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.”
“If, on the other hand, they remove what may have been placed, it will be a giant step in the right direction,” Trump said.
He added that the US would target minelaying boats in the strait with the same type of missiles the US has used to blow up alleged drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean. “They will be dealt with quickly and violently,” he said.
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
Trump’s comments came after Tehran vowed that no Gulf oil would pass through the key waterway. Oil prices remain highly volatile over the virtual halt of shipping in the strait after the US and Israel on February 28 launched a bombing campaign in Iran in a bid to topple its clerical regime and destroy it nuclear and ballistic missile programs. The White House has listed eliminating Iran’s navy as a key US military objective.
Earlier Tuesday, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright posted, and quickly deleted, a video in which he said the US would “step in to the insurance markets and ensure tankers to go through” the strait.
“A large oil tanker went through about 36 hours ago. I think you’ll see more of those coming,” said Wright in the deleted video.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt subsequently denied the statement, telling reporters that “the US Navy has not escorted a tanker or vessel at this time, though of course that’s an option the president has said he will absolutely utilize if and when necessary.”
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright posted a claim that the US Navy successfully escorted an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz. The post caused oil prices to drop by around 15%. Wright’s account deleted the post shortly afterward, and White House Press Secretary Karoline… pic.twitter.com/b5bBSpL3Cv
— Ofentse Donald Davhie (@DonaldDavhie) March 10, 2026
Energy Department Spokesperson Ben Dietderich said the clip was deleted from Wright’s official X account after it was determined that it was incorrectly captioned by department staff.
Wright and other US officials are “closely monitoring the situation” in the strait, and the US military is considering additional options to keep it open, “including the potential for our Navy to escort tankers,” Dietderich said. The prospect of military escorts could help reduce price pressures created by the war.
The Times of Israel Community.