On October 10, President Donald Trump claimed that the United States had completely destroyed 10 vessels equipped for laying mines, coinciding with reports of Iran's recent activity in the Strait of Hormuz. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump expressed satisfaction in announcing that the U.S. had targeted and rendered inoperable the ships used for mine-laying, with additional strikes to follow. This response comes shortly after CNN reported that Iran has begun to deploy dozens of mines in the strategic waterway, potentially escalating tensions in the region.

According to U.S. intelligence sources cited by CNN, while the current scale of Iran's mine-laying activity is limited, the country retains a significant capability to deploy additional mines, with around 80-90% of its small boats and mine-laying equipment still in their possession. Estimates suggest that Iran could have a stockpile of between 2,000 and 6,000 mines, including both domestically produced and imported from countries like China and Russia. This military posture raises concerns about potential disruptions in one of the world's most critical shipping lanes, through which a large percentage of global oil shipments pass.

The destruction of the vessels aligns with Trump's earlier warnings regarding the consequences of Iran's mine-laying operations. He indicated that a severe military response would occur should mines be deployed and not swiftly removed. U.S. military operations aimed at countering Iran's mine-laying capabilities have reportedly intensified, with Central Command actively tracking and targeting both the vessels involved and the storage facilities for the mines. The ongoing conflict in this region underscores the fragile balance of power in the Middle East and the U.S.'s commitment to maintaining freedom of navigation through vital maritime routes.