Trump says U.S. destroyed 10 Iranian mine-laying boats in the Strait of Hormuz

President Trump said the United States has destroyed 10 inactive Iranian mine-laying boats and ships after warning Tehran to remove any mines that may have been placed in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil shipping lanes.

“I am pleased to report that within the last few hours, we have hit, and completely destroyed, 10 inactive mine laying boats and/or ships, with more to follow!,” Trump said in a post on Tuesday.

In an earlier post, Trump said the United States had no reports that Iran had placed mines in the strait, but warned that if any had been deployed and were not removed immediately, “the Military consequences… will be at a level never seen before.”

The posts came shortly after CBS News reported, citing U.S. officials, that Iran may be preparing to deploy naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz in an effort to further disrupt the waterway.

The Strait of Hormuz lies between Iran and Oman and connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. A large share of the world’s seaborne oil passes through the narrow waterway.

Crude oil prices have surged since the war with Iran began. Prices rose from the mid-$60s a barrel before the conflict to nearly $87 on Tuesday, after at one point spiking to almost $120 before pulling back.