The United States military announced that it had destroyed 16 Iranian boats believed to be involved in laying naval mines near the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The action came after US President Donald Trump warned Iran against placing mines in the region and demanded their immediate removal.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical maritime routes because a large portion of global oil shipments passes through it.

Trump Warns Iran to Remove Mines Immediately

Trump appeared to respond to media reports suggesting that Iran had started placing mines in the waterway. In a post on the social media platform Truth Social, the US president issued a strong warning to Tehran.

“If Iran has put out any mines in the Hormuz Strait, and we have no reports ⁠of them doing so, we want them removed, IMMEDIATELY!”

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

The conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran has already severely disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which runs along Iran’s coastline. Under normal circumstances, about one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies move through this narrow sea passage.

US Defence Secretary Signals Intensified Military Campaign

Meanwhile, Pete Hegseth said Washington plans to continue its military campaign against Iran according to its own strategy and schedule. Speaking on Tuesday, Hegseth indicated that the fighting could intensify further, warning that the day could see the most powerful wave of strikes since the conflict began.

“As President Trump declared yesterday, we’re crushing the enemy in an overwhelming display of technical skill and military force,” Hegseth said.

“But we do so on our timeline and at our choosing,” he added.

Trump Holds Final Decision on War Timeline

Hegseth also made it clear that the ultimate decision on how long the war will continue rests with Trump. “He’s the one elected on behalf of the American people,” Hegseth said. “And so it’s not for me to posit whether it’s the beginning, the middle or the end, that’s his and he’ll continue to communicate that.”

Reports Claim Iran Has Begun Mining Strait of Hormuz

A report by CNN claimed that Iran has already started laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Sources told the outlet that the operation remains limited so far, with only a few dozen mines reportedly placed in the water.

However, the report also warned that Iran still has the capability to expand the operation quickly if tensions escalate.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Capable of Large-Scale Maritime Disruption

The report added that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps now effectively controls the strait along with the country’s regular navy. The force could deploy a coordinated maritime defence strategy that includes multiple mine-laying boats, explosive-filled vessels and coastal missile batteries.

Such a setup could create what analysts describe as a “gauntlet” for ships travelling through the Strait of Hormuz, potentially disrupting global energy supplies.