- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Kilauea Today
By the People, for the People
U.S. Defense Officials Dispute Claims of New Iranian Mines in Strait of Hormuz
Hegseth and Caine say there is no clear evidence of Iran placing new mines in the strategic waterway as war continues.
Mar. 13, 2026 at 1:33pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine briefed reporters on the latest developments in the ongoing war with Iran. Hegseth stated that while the U.S. has heard Iran talking about placing new mines in the Strait of Hormuz, there is "no clear evidence" that they have actually done so. The officials also discussed continued U.S. strikes against Iran's ballistic missiles and navy, as well as the impact of the conflict on global oil prices.
Why it matters
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global chokepoint for oil shipments, and any disruption to shipping in the strait could have major economic consequences worldwide. Iran has previously threatened to block the strait, raising concerns about potential escalation in the region.
The details
Hegseth and Caine said the U.S. is "continuing to destroy the Iranian navy" and targeting Iran's mining capability to prevent attacks on commercial vessels. They stated that the U.S. will not allow the strait to "remain contested." The officials also addressed a recent U.S. military refueling tanker crash in Iraq that killed at least four service members, with two others still missing.
- On March 13, 2026, Hegseth and Caine briefed reporters at the Pentagon.
- The U.S. and Israel have struck more than 15,000 "enemy targets" since the war began on February 28, 2026.
The players
Pete Hegseth
The U.S. Defense Secretary who briefed reporters on the latest developments in the war with Iran.
Dan Caine
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who briefed reporters alongside Hegseth.
Scott Bessent
The U.S. Treasury Secretary who announced the U.S. would temporarily loosen sanctions against Russia to allow the Kremlin to sell Russian oil.
What they’re saying
“We have no clear evidence of that.”
— Pete Hegseth, U.S. Defense Secretary
“That's not a strait we're going to allow to remain contested.”
— Pete Hegseth, U.S. Defense Secretary
“Bad things happen, and we praise the crew as heroes.”
— Pete Hegseth, U.S. Defense Secretary
“We have options, for sure.”
— Pete Hegseth, U.S. Defense Secretary
“We know the new not-so-Supreme Leader is wounded and likely disfigured.”
— Pete Hegseth, U.S. Defense Secretary
What’s next
The U.S. military investigation into the bombing of an elementary school in Iran is ongoing, with a designated investigating officer from outside CENTCOM carrying out the command investigation.
The takeaway
The ongoing conflict between the U.S. and Iran continues to raise concerns about the security of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global chokepoint for oil shipments. While U.S. officials dispute claims of new Iranian mines in the strait, the war has already had significant economic impacts, including rising oil prices and stock market volatility.
