Beijing is not happy.

Shipping data... shows 171 crude tankers are bound for the U.S. Gulf to load crude oil cargoes…

The U.S. military announced it had successfully destroyed multiple Iranian naval assets, including 16 mine-laying vessels and associated storage facilities near the Strait of Hormuz, as part of ongoing operations in the escalating conflict with Iran. President Donald Trump confirmed the strikes on Truth Social, stating that U.S. forces had 'hit, and completely destroyed' 10 inactive mine-laying boats, with more actions planned. This followed warnings from Trump demanding the immediate removal of any Iranian mines in the vital shipping lane, which carries about 20% of global oil supplies. U.S. Central Command released footage showing the elimination of these vessels on March 10, 2026, amid what Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described as the war's most intense airstrikes yet, now in its 11th day under Operation Epic Fury. Iran responded by vowing to block oil exports through the Strait unless U.S. and Israeli attacks cease, heightening fears of global economic disruption. The strikes targeted Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps capabilities, including dispersed mine-laying boats and shore-based missile batteries, aimed at preventing threats to commercial shipping. Trump emphasized using advanced technology, similar to anti-drug trafficking efforts, to neutralize any mining attempts. Casualty figures remain unclear, but the actions have rippled across markets, with U.S. stocks holding steady amid uncertainty over the conflict's duration. Iranian leaders rejected negotiations, launching counterattacks on Israel and Gulf states, while the Pentagon reported injuries to U.S. troops. These developments underscore the intensifying U.S.-Israel-Iran confrontation, with potential long-term impacts on energy security.

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