Trump vows to destroy Iranian ships laying mines in Strait of Hormuz

US President Donald Trump asserted on Tuesday that any Iranian vessels or boats constructing sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz would be "immediately and systematically destroyed." This threat was conveyed in a statement on Truth Social, where Trump emphasized his "Zero Tolerance policy on mine placement."

Furthermore, Trump claimed that US military forces had informed him that all mines within the Strait of Hormuz had either been removed or destroyed. Despite his prior claims in mid-August that all explosive devices in the waterway had been cleared, and that it had been declared fully open, shipping activity through the strait continues to be significantly below pre-war levels.

In addition to his threat against Iranian ships, Trump announced that the US Space Force was monitoring the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's nuclear facility known as "Pickaxe Mountain," and three other nuclear sites. His comments followed US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's announcement of new measures aimed at isolating Iran from the global economy by targeting entities engaging in trade with Tehran.