On this handout picture obtained from the U.S. Defence Division, Nimitz-class plane provider USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) sails alongside Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121) and Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship USNS Carl Brashear (T-AKE 7) within the Arabian Sea, Feb. 6, 2026.
Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jesse Monford | U.S. Navy | Getty Photos
American forces on Tuesday sunk a number of Iranian ships, together with 16 minelayers, close to the Strait of Hormuz, in response to the U.S. Central Command, amid reviews that Tehran was looking for to mine the waterway vital to world vitality provides.
The U.S. announcement adopted a put up by President Donald Trump that stated if Iran had put any mines within the Strait, “we would like them eliminated, IMMEDIATELY!”
“If for any purpose mines have been positioned, and they don’t seem to be eliminated forthwith, the Army penalties to Iran will likely be at a stage by no means seen earlier than. If, then again, they take away what might have been positioned, it is going to be an enormous step in the precise path!,” Trump stated in a Fact Social put up.
The united statespresident later claimed that 10 inactive minelaying ships have been sunk, with “extra to return.”
A CNN report Tuesday stated that Iran had began laying mines within the Strait of Hormuz, albeit not extensively. Sources that CNN spoke to stated solely a “few dozen” had been laid in latest days.
The report additionally stated that Iran nonetheless retains greater than 80% of its small boats and minelayers, and will feasibly lay a whole lot of mines within the waterway.
Positioned between Oman and Iran, the strait noticed roughly 13 million barrels of crude per day passing by it in 2025, representing about 31% of all seaborne crude flows, in response to vitality consulting agency Kpler.
Oil costs have spiked sharply because the battle began, nearing $120 a barrel on Monday, earlier than coming down. U.S. WTI crude oil was final buying and selling at $83.8 a barrel, whereas world benchmark Brent was at $87.9 per barrel.
CBS Information, which reported that Iran “could also be preparing” to deploy naval mines, stated the nation was utilizing smaller crafts that may carry two to a few mines every to put them within the strait. Whereas Iran’s mine inventory is not publicly recognized, estimates over time have ranged from roughly 2,000 to six,000 naval mines, the report stated.
The Robert Strauss Heart for Worldwide Safety and Regulation in Texas stated that mines can be “useful” to be used by Iran within the delivery lanes of the Strait of Hormuz, both for direct injury or as a deterrent, channeling ships right into a predetermined lane extra favorable to Iran.
A CIA report, declassified in 2009, stated that “the Iranians seem to have acknowledged the restrictions of their mine warfare functionality and have adopted a method by which a number of mines or the specter of mining can be used to discourage delivery.”
The report added that Iran may use mines to boost insurance coverage charges and dissuade ships certain for Arab Gulf ports from coming into the Persian Gulf: “such mining can be simply as efficient as a blockade.”
Final week, oil supertanker prices within the Center East climbed to their highest stage on file, with main marine battle danger suppliers scrapping cowl for vessels working within the Persian Gulf.
ANKARA, TURKIYE – FEBRUARY 28: An infographic titled “Strait of Hormuz” created in Ankara, Turkiye on February 28, 2026. (Photograph by Bedirhan Demirel/Anadolu by way of Getty Photos)
Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Photos
Trump stated final week in a Fact Social put up that he had ordered the U.S. Improvement Finance Company to supply “political danger insurance coverage and ensures for the Monetary Safety of ALL Maritime Commerce, particularly Power, touring by the Gulf.”
“If mandatory, the USA Navy will start escorting tankers by the Strait of Hormuz, as quickly as potential,” he added.
Nonetheless, the U.S. Navy is refusing “near-daily” requests from the delivery business to escort ships, in response to a Reuters report, saying that the dangers of assaults have been too excessive for now.
Whereas the Navy didn’t present a breakdown of the dangers, the U.S. had decommissioned 4 Avenger-class minesweepers that have been stationed in Bahrain in late 2025.
The substitute vessels for the Avenger-class, the Independence-class littoral fight ships, have “struggled to satisfy the necessities of operational mine countermeasures missions,” in response to world naval publication Naval Information.
— CNBC’s Asriel Chua and Lee Ying Shan contributed to this report.
