Trump: "Most Mine-Laying Vessels Removed Overnight"
by Hwang Yoonju
Published 12 Mar.2026 03:05(KST)
Updated 12 Mar.2026 09:56(KST)
"Oil companies should use the Strait of Hormuz"
"We could make the situation in Iran much worse"
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on the 11th (local time) that the U.S. military has removed most of Iran's mine-laying vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
President Trump told reporters on his way to Ohio that "overnight, most of the mine-laying vessels in the Strait of Hormuz were removed," and added, "Their navy (Iranian forces) has almost disappeared."
When asked whether he would encourage oil companies to resume oil transportation through the Strait of Hormuz, he replied, "They should," and stated, "I think they need to use that area (the Strait of Hormuz)."
President Trump emphasized that Iran "has lost its navy and also lost its air force. They have no air defense equipment at all. They do not have radar, either," and went on to say, "Their leadership is gone, and we could make their situation much worse if we chose to."
He further stated, "We are leaving certain targets that are designated for elimination, but they could be removed as early as this afternoon," and added, "In fact, within an hour, they could literally never be able to rebuild their country again."
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