President Donald Trump warned Iran that they would face further attacks were they to use mines to block oil tankers in the vital Strait of Hormuz, through which passes 20% of global petroleum
Donald Trump has launched a scathing attack on Iran after reports revealed that their navy as been deploying a series of underwater mines designed to cause chaos in the Strait of Hormuz.
American news channel CBS is reporting that American intelligence has revealed that the Middle Eastern country‘s plans form just part of their plans to disrupt the Strait, which forms part of a vital shipping route for Oil leaving the Gulf.
The President laid into Iran on his social media site Truth Social, using his classic all-caps posting style to demand his enemy removes any mines “IMMEDIATELY!”.
“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”, added Trump.
“If, on the other hand, they remove what may have been placed, it will be a giant step in the right direction!”
Trump also boasted that Washington has already ” hit, and completely destroyed, 10 inactive mine laying boats”.
Iran are believed to have been stockpiling mines for decades, holding potentially thousands of Chinese and Russian made underwater explosives in their naval arsenal.
Just one mine can blow a large oil tanker out the water, and the Iranian navy is reportedly launching numerous vessels containing several mines each all across the vital sea route.
Around 75-80 oil tankers pass through the Strait of Hormuz each day, equating to about a quarter of the world’s total seaborne oil trade.
Disruption to the Strait, as well as in the wider region, has seen the price of crude oil sky rocket, reaching over $100 a barrel for the first time since Covid.
The sea passage is used by the likes of the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia to transport petroleum around the world. Any barriers to this would likely not only affect the price of petrol and other oils, but also potentially cause interest rates globally to skyrocket.
Stock markets have already seen eye-watering falls as a result of the disruption, and so economists will be keen to keep further problems to a minimum.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.