Trump: US forces strike 28 Iranian mine-laying vessels near Strait of Hormuz

President Donald Trump revealed Wednesday that US military forces have targeted 28 Iranian mine-laying vessels in ongoing operations near the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking to reporters during a tour of a pharmaceutical company in Ohio, Trump stated "They started talking about mine. So, we hit 28 mine ships as of this moment, 28," adding that the strikes employed "the exact same weapon" previously used in maritime operations against drug trafficking.

Maritime escalation intensifies

The president's announcement follows US military reports earlier this week confirming the destruction of multiple Iranian vessels near the strategic waterway amid intelligence suggesting Tehran may have begun laying naval mines in the area. The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies pass, has become a focal point of the expanding conflict, with Iran having effectively closed the waterway since March 1.

Trump predicts oil prices will drop

Despite the ongoing military campaign and disruption to critical shipping lanes, Trump predicted that global oil prices "will soon be coming down," asserting that market disruptions have been "less than I thought." The comments come as the US-Israeli war on Iran enters its 12th day, with energy markets remaining volatile and concerns about regional stability continuing to mount.

Conflict enters third week

The strikes on Iranian mine-laying vessels represent the latest escalation in the US-Israeli campaign against Iran that began Feb. 28. The offensive has killed more than 1,300 people, including former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, over 150 schoolgirls, and senior military officials. Tehran has responded with drone and missile strikes targeting Israeli cities and locations hosting US military assets across the region, raising fears of a broader Middle East conflict that could draw in additional actors and further destabilize the region.