The US military has completely destroyed 16 Iranian minelaying vessels near a major sea route used to export oil.

The attack comes after the White House warned Iran that it would be hit “at a level never seen before” if mines were placed in the Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns that the regime would target the key oil waterway.

‘On March 10, US forces eliminated multiple Iranian naval vessels, including 16 minelayers near the Strait of Hormuz,’ the US Central Command announced on X, along with a video of some of the strikes.

The Strait of Hormuz is the only sea passage between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

According to MailOnline, the minelayers near the Strait of Hormuz were among multiple Iranian vessels taken out by US forces on Tuesday.

The military published the figure and unclassified footage of some of the vessels after Donald Trump warned Iran against laying mines in the critical waterway.

Trump  has previously said he is ‘not afraid’ to use military force to keep the passage open, as oil prices steady following a rapid surge over the weekend.

In a post to social media, Trump said the US military ‘completely destroyed’ the inactive Iranian mine-laying vessels after reports of Iranian action in the Strait of Hormuz.

In his social media post, he added that there would be ‘more to follow.’

“If for any reason mines were placed, and they are not removed forthwith, the Military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before,” Trump wrote.

Amid concerns over the ‘energy situation’, French President Emmanuel Macron announced, the G7 leaders will hold a video conference on Wednesday to discuss the economic impacts of the war in the Middle East.