U.S. Sinks Iranian Minelayers as Reports Say Tehran Is Mining the Strait of Hormuz
March 10th, 2026Via: CNBC:
American forces on Tuesday sunk several Iranian ships, including 16 minelayers, near the Strait of Hormuz, according to the U.S. Central Command, amid reports that Tehran was seeking to mine the waterway critical to global energy supplies.
The U.S. announcement followed a post by President Donald Trump that said if Iran had put any mines in the Strait, “we want them removed, IMMEDIATELY!”
“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 in a Truth Social post.
The U.S president later claimed that 10 inactive minelaying ships were sunk, with “more to come.”
A CNN report Tuesday said that Iran had started laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, albeit not extensively. Sources that CNN spoke to said only a “few dozen” had been laid in recent days.
