U.S. forces sink 16 Iranian minelayers as reports say Tehran is mining the Strait of Hormuz

American forces sank several Iranian ships, including 16 minelayers, near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, according to U.S. Central Command, amid reports that Tehran is trying to mine the waterway critical for global energy supplies.

The US announcement came after a post by President Donald Trump this said If Iran had placed a mine in the Bosphorus, “We want it removed immediately!”

“If for some reason the mines are placed and not immediately removed, the military consequences for Iran will be unprecedented. On the other hand, if they remove the ones that may have been planted, that would be a giant step in the right direction!” Trump said in a post on Truth Social. he said.

The US president later claimed: 10 inactive minelayers sunkalong with “more to come.”

A CNN report on Tuesday He said that Iran started laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, although not very comprehensively. Sources interviewed by CNN said only “a few dozen” have been installed in recent days.

The report also said Iran still retains more than 80 percent of its small boats and minelayers and could possibly lay hundreds of mines in the waterway.

According to energy consultancy firm Kpler, approximately 13 million barrels of crude oil passed through the strait between Oman and Iran per day in 2025; this represents approximately 31% of all seaborne crude oil flows.

Oil prices have risen sharply since the conflict began, approaching $120 a barrel on Monday, before falling. WE WTI Crude oil was last traded at $84.9 a barrel. Brent It was $88.9 per barrel.

CBS News, which was reported Iran “may be preparing” to deploy naval mines, officials said, adding that the country is using smaller vehicles, each capable of carrying two to three mines, to place mines in the strait. Although Iran’s mine stockpile is not publicly disclosed, estimates over the years have ranged from roughly 2,000 to 6,000 naval mines, the report said.

The Robert Strauss Center for International Security and Law in Texas said: mines would be “useful” To be used by Iran as a deterrent to cause direct damage to shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz or to divert ships to a predetermined lane more favorable to Iran.

A CIA reportDeclassified in 2009, “the Iranians appear to have accepted the limitations of their mine warfare capabilities and have adopted a strategy in which several mines or mining threats will be used to deter shipping.”

The report added that Iran could use mines to increase insurance rates and deter ships bound for Arabian Gulf ports from entering the Persian Gulf: “such mining would be as effective as a blockade.”

Last week, supertanker costs in the Middle East reached a record high as major naval war risk providers stripped protection from ships operating in the Persian Gulf.

Trump said in a speech last week: Real Social post He said he had directed the U.S. Development Finance Corporation to provide “political risk insurance and guarantees for the Financial Security of ALL Merchant Marine traveling in the Gulf, especially Energy.”

“If necessary, the US Navy will begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz as soon as possible,” he added.

But the US Navy is rejecting “almost daily” requests from the shipping industry to escort ships. A report by ReutersHe said the risk of attack is very high for now.

While the Navy did not provide a breakdown of the risks, the U.S. was decommissioned Four Avenger-class minesweepers based in Bahrain in late 2025.

The Independence class littoral combat ships, the replacement ships for the Avenger class, “had difficulty meeting the requirements of operational mine countermeasure missions”. according to global maritime publication Naval News..

— CNBC’s Asriel Chua contributed to this report.