The Pentagon said the United States has sunk 16 mine-laying ships soon after President Donald Trump threatened Iran over reports of mines in the Strait of Hormuz.

Amid concerns that Iran plans to choke off the world’s access to oil, the U.S. military said Tuesday that its forces had attacked 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels near a major oil route.

On Tuesday, the White House confirmed that the United States Navy has not yet escorted any vessels through the strait, contradicting an earlier social media post by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright ...