An Iranian military source cited by Tasnim dismissed U.S. assertions that last
night’s action was intended to stop Iran laying sea mines in the Strait of
Hormuz as fantasy and fabrication, saying the incident was unrelated to
mine‑laying. The source said Washington has simultaneously claimed to have
cleared all mines and to have prevented new deployments, and accused the U.S. of
trying — unsuccessfully — to block Iran from punishing tankers it says violated
rules. Iran said the alleged violating vessels were punished and that their
regional bases were struck by Iranian missiles.
