US destroys mine-laying vessels in 'most intense day' of Iran strikes

( USA Today )

The U.S. military "eliminated" 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, the U.S. Central Command said in a statement, on the same day Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said the United States delivered "the most intense day of strikes inside Iran."

“We’re crushing the enemy in an overwhelming display of technical skill and military force,” Hegseth said. "Today will be yet again our most intense day of strikes inside Iran: the most fighters, the most bombers, the most strikes, intelligence more refined and better than ever," Hegseth told reporters.

The Pentagon said earlier on Tuesday that it was striking Iranian mine-laying vessels and ​mine storage facilities. The U.S.-Israel war against Iran has already effectively halted shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, along Iran's coast, where a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas normally passes.

On Monday, President Donald Trump predicted the Iran war would end "soon" and Hegseth said Tuesday the call was Trump's alone on when to end the conflict. Oil prices fell below $100 a barrel on Trump's suggestion of a shorter war.

But Iranian officials said they were determined to make the U.S. and Israel pay for the devastating bombardments that have killed more than a thousand people, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several top leaders.