Trump threatens Iran with 'unprecedented consequences' if it mines Strait of Hormuz

US President Donald Trump issued a direct threat to Iran, warning of 'unprecedented consequences' if Tehran deploys mines in the Strait of Hormuz. The warning comes hours after US intelligence reported seeing indications that Iran is taking preparatory steps to mine the strait — a move that would transform the Hormuz closure from an effective blockade into a physical one, making even US Navy-escorted transit dangerous without dedicated mine-clearance operations. Trump's 'unprecedented consequences' language is deliberately vague — designed to maximize deterrence without committing to a specific response. In context, 'unprecedented' likely refers to: direct US strikes on Iranian oil infrastructure (the 'doomsday option' Trump told Israel not to trigger unilaterally); strikes on Iran's remaining naval assets; or a broader escalation of the kinetic campaign beyond its current 'limited in scope' framing. The mine threat also puts pressure on the White House's insistence that gas prices are a 'temporary blip' — Hormuz mining would make the supply disruption structural and long-term, not temporary. White House Press Secretary Leavitt said the US military is 'drawing up additional options' for Hormuz, and that Trump 'is not afraid to use them.'