Lead: On March 13, 2026, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine briefed reporters at the Pentagon and said U.S. intelligence has heard Iranian discussions about placing new mines in the Strait of Hormuz but, as of the briefing, “no clear evidence” supports that claim. The Pentagon reported that ship traffic in the Strait remains largely halted while U.S. forces continue strikes targeting Iranian ballistic missiles and naval capabilities. The briefing came a day after a U.S. military refueling tanker crashed in western Iraq, an incident CENTCOM later said killed all six crew members and is under investigation. Economic fallout has followed: oil prices have climbed above $100 a barrel and markets are reacting to sustained Iranian assaults and allied operations.
Key Takeaways
- The Pentagon says it has intercepted Iranian talk about laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz but has “no clear evidence” of new mine emplacement as of March 13, 2026.
- U.S. Central Command reports roughly 6,000 U.S. strikes inside Iran through Thursday; Hegseth said U.S. and Israeli strikes combined exceed 15,000 targets.
- Hegseth asserted that Iran’s missile launch volume has declined by about 90% from earlier levels, and he described Iranian defense firms as “functionally defeated.”
- A U.S. refueling tanker crash in western Iraq resulted in six U.S. service-member deaths; CENTCOM is investigating the cause and withheld identities pending next-of-kin notification.
- Ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is largely stopped; Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the U.S. Navy could escort oil tankers and the U.S. temporarily loosened some sanctions to allow Russian oil already at sea to be sold.
- Oil has risen to over $100 per barrel and global markets show increased volatility amid the campaign and reserve-management measures.
Background
The U.S.-Iran war that began on Feb. 28, 2026, has rapidly escalated across multiple domains: air, sea and cyber operations. The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic chokepoint through which a significant share of world oil transits, so any threat to safe passage has immediate global market and diplomatic consequences. Historically, the strait has been the focus of naval confrontations and mining threats in prior regional crises, raising concerns among Gulf states and commercial shippers alike. Key stakeholders in the current confrontation include the U.S. military and its regional partners, Iran’s armed and paramilitary forces, Gulf monarchies whose exports depend on the strait, and global energy markets that react quickly to disruptions.
U.S. strategy, as described at the Pentagon briefing, centers on degrading Iran’s ability to strike or interdict commercial shipping and to reduce Iran’s missile and naval effectiveness. That approach combines kinetic strikes, maritime patrols, and diplomatic efforts to maintain coalition support and manage energy supplies. Domestic politics in the United States and allied capitals are also shaping operational choices, since sustaining a long, visible campaign has political and fiscal costs. Meanwhile, Iranian state media continues to broadcast defiant rhetoric and has urged leverage over the Strait, which keeps regional tensions high.
Main Event
At the March 13 Pentagon briefing, Hegseth and Caine reviewed ongoing operations and intelligence assessments. Hegseth emphasized that while the U.S. has heard talk of new Iranian mining activity, the military had not yet confirmed placement of new mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Caine said U.S. forces were “going after Iran’s mining capability” as part of broader operations to limit threats to commercial shipping.
Both officials reiterated that the campaign has targeted ballistic missile infrastructure and elements of the Iranian navy; Hegseth described Iran’s defense companies as largely neutralized. The briefing followed a separate announcement that U.S. forces had conducted roughly 6,000 strikes in Iran, a tally CENTCOM provided through Thursday. Hegseth also stated a cumulative figure of more than 15,000 targets struck by U.S. and Israeli forces combined.
The same day, CENTCOM updated the public on a separate, fatal incident: a U.S. military refueling tanker crashed in western Iraq during a combat mission. Initial rescue reports were later superseded by a CENTCOM release confirming that all six crew members were killed and that the circumstances remain under investigation. CENTCOM said the crash occurred over friendly territory and was not the result of hostile or friendly fire, according to the officials briefed at the Pentagon.
Iranian state media has provided mixed signals about senior leadership and battlefield messages. State outlets released a statement urging continued pressure on Gulf Arab targets and asserting that Iran should leverage control over the strait; at the same time, there are conflicting reports about injuries to Mojtaba Khamenei, the new Supreme Leader, which remain unresolved publicly.
Analysis & Implications
Operationally, the repeated focus on Iran’s naval and mining capabilities signals U.S. concern about asymmetric maritime threats that can quickly choke global trade routes. If mines were deployed, even a small number could force tankers to reroute, increase insurance costs, and compound supply shortages. The U.S. emphasis on destroying mining capabilities aims to deter or remove that asymmetric lever, but such operations near congested shipping lanes carry escalation risks that commanders must weigh carefully.
Economically, an extended interruption of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz or sustained attacks on shipping would likely keep oil prices elevated and deepen volatility in global markets. Policy moves such as temporarily easing sanctions to allow Russian oil already at sea to be sold are short-term measures to relieve prices; they do not address structural risk from a contested strait. Energy-market stress increases pressure on governments worldwide to seek diplomatic or military measures that restore safe passage quickly.
Politically, assertions that Iran’s missile launches are down 90% and that defense firms are “functionally defeated” will be scrutinized by allies and adversaries. Metrics of battlefield success are complex and may not capture longer-term resilience in Iran’s industrial or asymmetric capacities. Further, questions about responsibility for civilian harm — including the reported bombing of an elementary school in Iran and the ongoing probe into that incident — could shape international opinion and legal accountability if the investigation yields firm findings.
Comparison & Data
| Metric | Reported Figure |
|---|---|
| U.S. strikes inside Iran (through Thu.) | ~6,000 |
| U.S. + Israeli targets struck (cumulative) | >15,000 |
| Iran missile launch volume (reported drop) | -90% |
| Oil price (recent) | >$100 per barrel |
| U.S. crew deaths in tanker crash | 6 |
The table summarizes figures provided at the Pentagon briefing and in CENTCOM statements. Numbers reflect U.S. officials’ tallies and public briefings through March 13, 2026; they are useful for comparing scope of strikes, observed changes in Iranian missile activity, market response, and the human cost of operations. Analysts caution that strike counts alone do not measure strategic effect, and that reported percentage drops in missile launches should be evaluated alongside intelligence confidence levels and timing.
Reactions & Quotes
Officials framed operational priorities during the briefing and explained what steps the U.S. is taking to protect commerce and limit Iran’s capabilities.
“We have no clear evidence of that.”
Pete Hegseth, U.S. Secretary of Defense
Hegseth used that phrase specifically regarding intelligence of new mine emplacement in the Strait of Hormuz. He cautioned reporters that while discussions had been intercepted, confirmation requires on-the-ground or maritime detection before the U.S. treats the reports as established fact.
“We are continuing to destroy the Iranian navy … going after Iran’s mining capability.”
Adm. Dan Caine, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
Caine described ongoing strikes aimed at neutralizing naval platforms and the means by which Iran could threaten commercial shipping. He linked those operations to a broader campaign to reduce Iran’s ability to contest the strait.
“The U.S. Navy could escort oil tankers through the waterway.”
Scott Bessent, U.S. Treasury Secretary
Bessent’s comment, delivered separately, signals a willingness to use naval escorts as a practical measure to keep oil moving while diplomatic and economic tools are used to stabilize markets.
Unconfirmed
- Claims that Iran has already placed new mines in the Strait of Hormuz remain unconfirmed by U.S. officials and have not been corroborated by independent maritime authorities.
- Reports about Mojtaba Khamenei being “wounded and likely disfigured” are inconsistent across sources and lack independent verification at this time.
- Preliminary suggestions in some reports that the U.S. was responsible for the bombing of an Iranian elementary school are under formal investigation and should be treated as unverified until the command inquiry is complete.
Bottom Line
The Pentagon briefing on March 13, 2026, underscores a cautious U.S. posture: officials are actively degrading Iranian strike and naval capabilities while stopping short of confirming new mining in the Strait of Hormuz. The distinction between intercepted communications and physical confirmation matters; it shapes immediate military responses and the legal status of any remedial actions in international waters. Observers should watch for independent maritime reporting and satellite or on-scene evidence that would confirm mine emplacement.
Near-term risks include continued market volatility, potential disruptions to global energy supplies, and the political fallout from battlefield incidents and investigations. Longer-term, the campaign’s stated goals — preventing Iran from threatening commercial shipping and denying nuclear development — will hinge on follow-through, allied cooperation, and the findings of ongoing inquiries into civilian harm and high-profile leadership reports.