PANews reported on March 11 that, according to Jinshi, CNN, citing two sources familiar with US intelligence, revealed that Iran has begun laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz. The current scale of the mine-laying is small, with only a few dozen mines laid recently. One source stated that Iran still retains 80% to 90% of its small boats and mine-laying vessels, making it entirely possible for its forces to lay hundreds of mines in the waterway. According to a CBS reporter citing sources, Iran is using small boats in the Hormuz waterway, each carrying two to three mines. While the exact number of mines Iran possesses has not been publicly disclosed, estimates over the years suggest between 2,000 and 6,000 mines.

In response, US President Trump stated: "If Iran has laid any mines in the Strait of Hormuz—although we have not received any reports of this at the moment—we demand their immediate removal! If, for any reason, Iran has indeed laid mines and has not removed them immediately, Iran will face unprecedented military consequences. On the other hand, if they remove any mines that may have been laid, it will be a major step in the right direction."