Iran begins new war tactic that could bring down the world economy

There are fears that the world economy could be at risk following claims from intelligence sources about a new tactic being employed by Iran.

In the wake of Donald Trump's action against Iran on February 28 which killed the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, there has been numerous back-and-forth strikes.

Airports, US embassies and landmark hotels across the middle east were hit with retaliatory drone strikes, grounding flights and stranding thousands of holiday-makers and ex-pats abroad.

Despite Trump's new claim that the Iran war is 'very complete' following a call with Russia's Vladimir Putin, new intelligence from sources claims Iran is using a terrifying new tactic involving landmines.

The news is at odds with Trump's claim to CBS News that Iran has 'nothing left' following the attacks from the US, insisting "I think the war is very complete, pretty much."

"They have no navy, no communications, they've got no air force. Their missiles are down to a scatter. Their drones are being blown up all over the place, including their manufacturing of drones. If you look, they have nothing left. There's nothing left in a military sense."

According to CNN and the Guardian, on Tuesday the US military said it attacked and destroyed 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels near the vital strait of Hormuz.

The waterway is a narrow passage between Iran and Oman.

It followed claims that Iran was laying landmines and other explosive devices in the waterway, which is vital for the world's oil supply.

CNN quoted intelligence sources as saying Iran has placed 'a few dozen mines' in the region and 'has the capability to sow hundreds more.'

The strait of Hormuz is hugely important for the economy and for the oil supply, as around one-fifth of the world’s oil passes through there.

The news of the mines comes days after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps insisted not 'one litre of oil' would be allowed to pass through, if Trump did not put a stop to the attacks.

Trump took to Truth Social, and wrote: "If Iran has put out any mines in the Hormuz Strait, and we have no reports of them doing so, we want them removed, IMMEDIATELY!”

Hours after his comments, the US military shared video footage of them taking out the mine-laying vessels.

According to the WSJ, before this conflict started Iran was producing up to 3.5 million barrels of oil a day, and was exporting roughly half of that.

The US military has responded to the claims from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, insisting it would retaliate with force.

The top US general, Dan Caine, said at a press conference that the US Navy may be brought in to escort ships through the strait: “We’re looking at a range of options there, and we’ll figure out how to solve problems as they come to us."

Echoing his sentiments, the US Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, said if “Iran does anything to stop the flow of oil within the strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States of America 20 times harder than they have been hit thus far”.

Following Trump's Truth Social post, Hegseth also shared on X that the US 'has been eliminating inactive mine-laying vessels in the Strait of Hormuz—wiping them out with ruthless precision. We will not allow terrorists to hold the Strait of Hormuz hostage.'

The price of oil has been fluctuating hugely thanks to the uncertainty of whether oil and crude will be able to be transported through the strait.

The volatility has seen the price per barrel swinging from over $90 to less than $80, back and forth.

However, on Monday the price soared to $120 a barrel according to Neil Quilliam, from the Chatham House thinktank, and he feared it could rise to $150 if there were further attacks on Iran's oil supply.