Trump warns Iran to remove mines from Strait of Hormuz if they placed them

President Donald Trump on Tuesday indicated he had not seen intelligence suggesting that Iran was mining the Strait of Hormuz and vowed that he would bring "military consequences" to Tehran if they did so.

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

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical waterway through which much of the world's oil supplies flow. Since the start of the Iran conflict, shipping firms have suspended cargo bookings while production firms have shuttered operations.

Trump has sought to keep trade flowing through the strait and floated naval escorts for oil tankers, though the Navy does not appear to have begun such operations.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent at Just the News. Follow him on X.