Iran has begun deploying mines in the Strait of Hormuz in an apparent bid to blow up oil tankers, it has been claimed.
President Trump has warned Iran against such action, saying it would face consequences “at a level never seen before”.
He posted on Truth Social: “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!”
Mr Trump added: “If, on the other hand, they remove what may have been placed, it will be a giant step in the right direction!”
Late on Monday, the US Commander-in-Chief said Tehran would face “death, fire and fury” should it attempt to stop oil tankers passing through the vital passage.
Iran, in return, threatened to assassinate him.
Iran is understood to be in possession of between 2,000 and 6,000 mines, using Chinese and Russian models to build up its armoury.
The US military destroyed 10 mine-laying vessels, Mr Trump said.
The “inactive” vessels had been “completely destroyed” in strikes carried out on Tuesday, but Mr Trump said that would not be the end of it.
“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!”, he said.
Donald Trump has issued a deadly warning
|REUTERS
G7 leaders will convene on Wednesday as they bid to settle a de-escalation.
Leaders will meet after Mark Carney, the Canadian prime minister, spoke with Emmanuel Macron about the Iran crisis.
Mr Carney said earlier that the G7’s strategic petroleum reserves should be available in order to stave off surging oil prices, sparked by the Middle Eastern conflict.
“The best option is de-escalation, to have peace”, he said.
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He added: “We need to use the G7 oil reserves.”
It follows Iran’s UN envoy saying the conflict has seen 1,300 civilians killed so far.
Amir Saeid Iravani said this evening that almost 10,000 civilian sites, including 8,000 residential homes, had been targeted in US-Israeli strikes.