World News
U.S. destroys Iranian mine-laying fleet, escalating Strait of Hormuz crisis
The U.S. has destroyed 16 mine-laying vessels near the Strait of Hormuz.
This was disclosed by the United States military.
It appears that the war might take longer than envisaged as Iran, Israel and the United States have not shown any sign of ending the war.
Many countries not involved in the war are feeling the impact as the prices of oil and gas have skyrocketed.
President Trump had earlier warned that Iran should remove any mines placed in the strait.
“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!” he wrote on Truth Social. “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.”
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth also said the U.S. would not allow what he called “terrorists” to hold the strait hostage.
The United Kingdom is currently working with its allies to support shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
After speaking to the leaders of Germany and Italy late on Monday, Downing Street said in a readout that they agreed on the “vital importance of freedom of navigation” through the Strait and “agreed to work closely together in the coming days in the face of Iranian threats.
“We’re working with our allies on a range of options to support commercial shipping through the Strait as the threat picture develops,” the spokesperson told reporters when asked about the readout.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on Tuesday they would not let any oil out of the Middle East until U.S. and Israeli attacks cease.
Starmer’s spokesperson said Energy Secretary Ed Miliband had spoken to oil majors. BP and Shell, in the last few days, added that the safety of their vessels was their primary concern.
He added that finance minister Rachel Reeves had liaised with Lloyd’s of London to ensure there was “appropriate insurance cover available to operators”, including cover for war, revolution and terrorism.
Roughly a fifth of the oil consumed globally passes through the narrow waterway between Oman and Iran. The Iran war has effectively shuttered the strait to tanker traffic and roiled markets.