US destroyed 10 Iranian mine-laying boats, Trump says

Trump issued the warning in a post on Truth Social, saying any attempt by Iran to mine the narrow maritime passage would trigger a severe response.

“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! 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,” he wrote.

“If, on the other hand, they remove what may have been placed, it will be a giant step in the right direction!”

He later said American forces have destroyed 10 inactive Iranian mine-laying boats and ships in recent hours, warning that additional strikes could follow.

CBS News earlier quoted US officials as saying that Iran may be preparing to deploy naval mines in the strategic waterway in an attempt to further disrupt shipping through the Persian Gulf. According to the officials, Tehran could use small boats capable of carrying two or three mines each to place them in the strait.

The warning comes as the United States continues to review options to protect maritime traffic in the region.

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Tuesday the Pentagon is examining possible measures, including escorting commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, a route through which roughly a fifth of global oil supplies pass.

“We are looking at a range of options to set the military conditions to be able to do that,” Gen. Dan Caine said during a briefing when asked about escorting ships.

He said officials are evaluating the risks and resources required for such an operation.

The White House also signaled that the administration is preparing additional steps to ensure the strait remains open.

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the Trump administration has already offered political risk insurance to tankers operating in the Persian Gulf and temporarily waived certain oil-related sanctions.

She added that Trump has also offered the US Navy to escort tankers if necessary, but confirmed that no ship has been escorted yet, days after the idea was first raised to reassure maritime trade companies.

“The President and his energy team are closely watching the markets, speaking with industry leaders, and the US military is drawing up additional options, following the President's directive to continue keeping the Strait of Hormuz open,” Leavitt said.

Iran's Guards threaten commercial ships

Iranian officials have meanwhile doubled down on their own warnings over access to the strait.

Alireza Tangsiri, commander of the naval forces of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, said ships linked to what he called “aggressors” would not be allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

“If you have doubts, come closer and test it,” Tangsiri wrote on X.

Earlier, the Revolutionary Guards said Arab or European countries that expel Israeli and US ambassadors from their territories would be granted full freedom of transit through the strait starting Tuesday.

US officials say the military campaign against Iran has already reduced Tehran’s ability to carry out attacks.

Gen. Caine said ballistic missile launches have dropped sharply since the start of Operation Epic Fury.

“Ballistic missile attacks continue to trend downwards, 90% from where they started, and one-way attack drones have decreased 83% since the beginning of the operation,” he said.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the United States and Israel were “winning decisively” in the conflict and vowed the campaign would continue until its objectives are achieved.

The goals of Operation Epic Fury, he said, remain destroying Iran’s missile stockpiles, launchers and defense industrial base, degrading its naval capabilities and ensuring Tehran cannot obtain nuclear weapons.

“Our will is endless, but ultimately the president gets to determine the end state of those objectives,” Hegseth said.

President Donald Trump warned Iran that it must immediately remove any mines that may have been placed in the Strait of Hormuz, threatening that failure to do so would trigger military consequences “at a level never seen before.”

"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! 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," he said in a post on his Truth Social.

"If, on the other hand, they remove what may have been placed, it will be a giant step in the right direction!"

US officials earlier told CBS News that Iran could be preparing to deploy naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz in a bid to further disrupt the vital shipping route.

According to the officials, Iran may use small boats capable of carrying two or three mines each to place them in the waterway.

While the exact size of Iran’s mine stockpile is unknown, past estimates have suggested it could hold between about 2,000 and 6,000 naval mines, many produced domestically or supplied by China or Russia.

The Pentagon said Tuesday that around 140 US service members have been injured during 10 days of ongoing attacks linked to the conflict with Iran.

Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the casualties include eight troops with life-threatening injuries who are receiving the highest level of medical treatment.

“Since the start of Operation Epic Fury, approximately 140 US service members have been wounded over 10 days of sustained attacks,” Parnell said in a statement. “The vast majority of these injuries have been minor, and 108 service members have already returned to duty.”

So far, seven US troops have also been killed in Operation Epic Fury, according to official figures.

A strategic adviser to Iran’s parliament speaker on Tuesday appeared on state TV to reassure supporters of the Islamic Republic about Mojtaba Khamenei’s leadership credentials, saying he has long overseen military and security affairs amid criticisms that he lacks executive experience.

Mojtaba Khamenei "has always been particularly focused on military and security issues and has had oversight of them. The country’s war room is now being managed under his direction, presumably," Mahdi Mohammadi said.

"He is very well versed in running the country. For many years, state officials have met with him and reported to him on various issues. He is familiar with the details of the country’s affairs. There will be no disruption in terms of his ability to gain full oversight of the country’s matters. No shortcoming will arise," he said.

He also described Khamenei's son as "an open-minded and up-to-date" person who has "worked with young people".

The United States may be heading toward deploying ground troops, Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal warned on Tuesday after leaving a classified briefing on the war with Iran “dissatisfied and angry."

"There's also the specter of active Russian aid to Iran putting in danger American lives," he said.