Strait of Hormuz mined? Trump Threatens Iran: Remove Them and Beware

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he had no information that Iran had mined the Strait of Hormuz, but if any explosives had been planted, they were to be removed immediately. Otherwise, Iran will face consequences that have never been seen before, the president warned.

“If Iran has planted any mines in the Strait of Hormuz – and we have no information that it has – we want them removed IMMEDIATELY!” – Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.

If for some reason the mines are planted and are not removed, the military consequences for Iran will be at a level never seen before, he warned. “If they in turn remove what may have been planted, it will be a huge step in the right direction!” – added the US president.

In the next entry, Trump announced that the Americans had destroyed 10 inactive Iranian mine-laying units in the last few hours. He announced the destruction of further such units.

Trump also wrote that U.S. forces are using “the same technology and missile capabilities they use against drug smugglers to permanently eliminate any boat or ship attempting to mine the Strait of Hormuz.” He announced that The US will deal with them “quickly and brutally.” “BEWARE!” – he announced.

The president referred to the campaign that has been ongoing since September, during which the US military has been attacking boats of alleged drug smugglers in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific. At least 157 people have already been killed in several dozen attacks by American forces.

Thousands of mines in stock

Earlier on Tuesday, CNN reported that the Iranians had started mining the strait. According to sources, the process is not yet advanced; Dozens of mines have been planted in recent days. However, Iran still has 80 percent in stock. up to 90 percent small boats and mining vessels, one of the sources said. This means Iranian forces could place hundreds of explosives along the route.

CBS News reported that American intelligence had observed signals that Iran was taking steps to mine Hormuz. The Iranians are to use small boats for this purpose; each of them can transport two to three mines.

There is no public information on how large Iran's stockpile of naval mines is. Over the years it has been estimated that may range from PLN 2,000. up to 6 thousand pieces. These are mines made by Iran, China and Russia.

Since the outbreak of the US and Israel's war with Iran, i.e. since February 28, traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has practically stopped. Under normal conditions, this route is crossed by, among others: about 20 percent crude oil consumed in the world. The practical blockade of this route contributed to the rapid growth of crude oil on world markets.

On Monday, the US president called on tanker captains to pass freely through the Strait of Hormuz and “show some courage.” Trump assured that there was “nothing to be afraid of.”

From Washington Natalia Dziurdzińska (PAP)

Sun/Sun/