Fri 24 April 2026:

Iran’s navy has allegedly placed fresh underwater mines in the Strait of Hormuz this week while the United States dispatched a third aircraft carrier to the region, according to an Axios report on Thursday.

The report, citing a US official and a separate source familiar with the matter, said American forces detected the operation and have been closely tracking it. Officials said they know the exact number of mines deployed but declined to reveal the figure.

Following briefings on the new developments, President Donald Trump ordered the US Navy via a Truth Social post to shoot any Iranian boats caught laying mines with “no hesitation.”

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been severely disrupted since the US-Israeli war against Iran began on Feb. 28, and a US naval blockade was announced on April 13.

About 20% of the global oil supply passes through the strait daily, and heightened insecurity has driven up oil prices as well as shipping and insurance costs.

Axios said the US Navy is operating underwater drones in the strait to locate and clear the mines, an effort Trump said he has ordered to be tripled.

The aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush arrived in the region on Thursday as the third American carrier deployed there, giving Washington additional military options should Trump decide to resume the war.

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supreme leader warns of ‘enemy’ media operations targeting national unity

Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned Thursday of “enemy” media operations targeting national unity, saying such efforts aim to undermine public morale and security.

In a post on the US social media company X’s platform, Khamenei said an “unusual unity” among Iranians has led to divisions among adversaries, adding that maintaining and strengthening this cohesion would further weaken them.

He warned that such enemy media operations are aimed at people’s minds and psyche, seeking to damage national unity and security.

Khamenei urged vigilance against attempts to exploit complacency, warning against allowing such efforts to succeed.

On Feb. 28, the US and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran, which retaliated with strikes on Israel and other regional countries hosting US assets.

The US-Israeli operations killed more than 3,300 people before Washington and Tehran announced a two-week ceasefire on April 8 mediated by Pakistan.

While originally scheduled to expire on April 22, US President Donald Trump announced an indefinite extension of the truce on April 21 at the request of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and and military chief Asim Munir.

-Source: AA

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