WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump warned Tuesday that the United States could escalate attacks on Iran if the country attempts to mine the Strait of Hormuz, as U.S. military forces reported destroying 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels near the critical shipping passage.
The warning comes as tensions rise following U.S. and allied operations targeting Iran’s naval capabilities. According to military officials, Iranian forces have relied on small craft capable of deploying two to three naval mines each as part of their maritime strategy against larger Western naval forces.
The Strait of Hormuz, which is about 21 miles wide at its narrowest point, carries roughly 20 percent of global oil shipments. Analysts warn that Iran’s stockpile of approximately 6,000 sea mines could disrupt tanker traffic for months if deployed in the narrow channel.
Shipping and insurance sources report that commercial traffic through the strait has largely halted amid rising security concerns, with insurers refusing coverage for vessels attempting the transit.
Energy markets have reacted sharply to the instability. Global oil prices surged above $100 per barrel earlier this week, while the national average price for gasoline in the United States rose to roughly $3.48 per gallon.
Trump has warned that Iran would face severe consequences if it disrupts global energy supplies, stating that the United States would respond “twenty times harder” if oil flow through the strait is halted.
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