There’s nothing better than getting your hands in the soil. It contains a bacterium (mycobacterium vaccae) which can stimulate the production of serotonin, a ‘natural antidepressant’ that improves mood. But gardening can put our hands at risk, so it’s important to find the best gardening gloves to protect them.

“There are so many good reasons to wear gardening gloves,” says Alan Down, lifelong avid gardener and nurseryman with more than 35 years of retailing experience. “A good pair of thorn-proof gloves protect your hands from soil borne diseases, cuts and abrasions, and even from damp, cold, nettles and thorns,” he says.

Over the years, gardening gloves have become much more sophisticated, available in a range of materials, styles and sizes, with some offering specialised features. I’ve tested 16 gloves from the most trusted brands below, as well as answered some frequently asked questions. But if you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick look at my top five:

The best gardening gloves: At a glance

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How to choose the best gardening gloves

“It’s not one-size fits all,” Alan Down says. “Ideally you need a choice of gardening gloves to enable you to carry out specific garden tasks. You might choose a leather pair for extra protection, or a lighter pair for more dexterous jobs like sowing seeds. In fact, I use hard wearing and heavier weight gloves in autumn and winter but thinner ones in spring and summer, when I’m doing gardening tasks that need more sensitivity.”

Choosing the right gardening gloves could make a tangible difference to your gardening activities, allowing you to carry out specific gardening tasks more safely, comfortably and easily. They can also help with gripping machinery like leaf blowers and pressure washers, especially during the cooler months.

How we test gardening gloves

For this guide, I tested a wide range of gardening gloves from the main players in the garden industry including Ansell, Stonebreaker and Briers. I reviewed some basic styles, some all-purpose designs and some gardening gloves with specific features that could improve your gardening experience (such as the ability to use your phone without taking them off). I wore each pair while carrying out a wide range of gardening tasks over the course of two or three days.

Attorney General Pam Bondi has reportedly been moved to secure housing on a Washington, D.C. area military base after she received threats from drug cartels and those angry over her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case, according to a new report.

Sometime in the past month, Bondi was moved out of an apartment in Washington, D.C. after federal law enforcement officials flagged the threats against her, The New York Times reports, citing “people familiar with the situation.”

Bondi reportedly began receiving threats in the wake of the Trump administration’s capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January, a senior official with direct knowledge told The NYT.

The report did not include specific details of any of the threats made against Bondi.

She isn’t the only Trump administration official who has been moved onto military bases to protect them from blowback.

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President Donald Trump‘s Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller — widely seen as the architect of Trump’s heavy-handed anti-immigration agenda — has also been moved into protective housing.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former Department of Homeland Security Director Kristi Noem, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have also been placed in secured housing.

All of the officials are the public faces of Trump’s most controversial undertakings — his foreign policy, his anti-immigration agenda, and his military adventurism — and now Bondi, the face of the Justice Department that handled the Epstein case, will join them. The report did not disclose the exact location of the base where the AG has been moved.

It’s unclear if Bondi and the rest of Trump’s front-liners are paying to stay on the bases. Last year, before she was ousted, Noem told The NYT that she was paying “fair-market rent” for her on-base housing.

U.S. officials who are at risk of being targeted by domestic or foreign threats taking up residence on military bases is not an unprecedented practice. During Trump’s first term, Mike Pompeo similarly stayed on a base, as did Trump’s then-Defense Secretary James Mattis.

During former President George W. Bush’s administration, his Defense Secretary Robert Gates, stayed in naval housing near Washington, D.C. In 1974, Congress approved the use of the U.S. Naval Observatory for use as the vice president’s residence.

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Bondi’s move to base housing reportedly occurred around or just after the Super Bowl, based on the report. During this year’s Super Bowl, the survivors of Epstein’s crimes ran a televised public service announcement pleading with Bondi to adhere to the terms of the Epstein Files Transparency Act and release all of the documents the government has regarding the investigation.

“Stand With Us, Tell Attorney General Pam Bondi It’s Time For The Truth,” the PSA said.

Bondi and the Department of Justice released more than 3.5 million documents relating to Epstein in late January, some 42 days after it was legally required to do so. But the public later learned there were documents pertaining to Epstein that, for reasons unknown, the Justice Department did not make public. That revelation gave rise to renewed suspicions of a cover-up by the Trump administration.

Bondi has faced criticism not only for failing to release all of the Epstein files, but also for failing to properly redact the files that were released. She was forced to remove thousands of published Epstein documents because they contained names and other identifying information about victims.

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“This latest release of Jeffrey Epstein files is being sold as transparency, but what it actually does is expose survivors,” Epstein victims wrote in a statement following the release. “Once again, survivors are having their names and identifying information exposed, while the men who abused us remain hidden and protected. That is outrageous,”

They continued, saying that “as survivors, we should never be the ones named, scrutinized, and re-traumatized while Epstein’s enablers continue to benefit from secrecy.”

“This is a betrayal of the very people this process is supposed to serve,” the letter said.

The Independent has requested comment from the Department of Justice.

Pedro Porro has sent a message of support to Antonin Kinsky after his nightmare performance in Tottenham’s 5-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

In another nightmare performance for Spurs, Atletico were three ahead after just 15 minutes in the first leg of their last-16 tie with Kinsky responsible for two of the goals.

Kinsky, who was making only his third appearance of the season, was then substituted by Igor Tudor in the 17th minute with Guglielmo Vicario replacing him goal for the remainder of the game.

The 22-year-old, who joined Spurs in a £12.5 million deal from Slavia Prague 14 months ago, was blanked by Tudor on the touchline before he headed straight down the tunnel.

‘I want to send him a message of support,’ Porro told Movistar Plus after Spurs defeat when asked about Kinsky’s substitution.

‘It’s a tough time for him right now. The lad has been working really hard. He also had Vicario ahead of him who was doing well, and when you get a chance, these things happen… sometimes that’s football.

‘It reminds me of my slip in Scotland with Spain. You have to pick yourself up. I haven’t been able to talk to him yet, but I’ll give him a big hug now.’

Tudor, meanwhile, revealed after his fourth defeat in charge of Spurs that he had spoken to Kinsky in the dressing room.

‘We need to apologise to the fans, incredibly difficult to explain, these 20 minutes I’ve never seen in my life in the Champions League at this level, very strange to explain,’ Tudor said.

‘I’m sorry for the guy also, I needed to take him [off] to preserve him, to help him, to help the team, it was not a nice thing.

‘But Toni understands, he’s a very good goalkeeper, a really good guy, we need to stay together now, try to help each other in a difficult moment.’

Asked if he had spoken to Kinsky, Tudor replied: ‘Of course, of we speak.

‘He understands everything, it’s a big lesson, unfortunately it happened in this big game.

‘Sport is like this, it’s not even about him it’s about us. We need to keep working.’

Atletico head coach Diego Simeone was also asked about Tudor’s decision to substitute Kinsky.

‘No, I hadn’t seen that at a professional level,’ Simeone said.

‘It’s not my problem, it’s theirs, their coach’s and the goalkeeper’s, and we’re focused on ourselves, not on someone else’s decision-making.’

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Peter Schmeichel has accused Igor Tudor of ‘killing’ Antonin Kinsky’s career after Tottenham’s 5-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.

Atletico were three ahead after just 15 minutes in the first leg of their last-16 tie in Madrid with Kinsky responsible for two of the goals.

Kinsky, who had not made an appearance for Spurs since October, was then substituted by Igor Tudor in the 17th minute with Guglielmo Vicario replacing him goal for the remainder of the match.

The 22-year-old, who joined Spurs in a £12.5 million deal from Slavia Prague 14 months ago, was also blanked by Tudor on the touchline before he headed straight down the tunnel.

‘I feel really, really sorry for him,’ Schmeichel told CBS Sports when asked about the decision to substitute Kinsky.

‘You make mistakes, you know, he’s put him in goal. Obviously, he’s costing the team the opportunity to win. Not that Tottenham have any opportunity to win. I mean, it was a terrible performance.

‘But when this happened, when you look at the clock there, 14:55, what does Igor Tudor then? Well, he substitutes him.

‘That’s going to have ramifications for the rest of his career. This will be a moment that everybody in football will always remember every time they see and hear his name.

‘You make your choice as a coach and yes, it wasn’t going your way and you’re 3-0 down, there’s no way that this team would ever come back from that. You’ve got to stick with him and at least stick until half-time.

‘What he’s done there, for me, he’s absolutely killed his career. That’s going to take something to get over that.’

Meanwhile, Tudor insists Kinsky ‘understands’ the decision to substitute him so early in the game.

‘What happened is very rare. I’ve been coaching for 15 years, I’ve never done this. It was necessary to preserve the guy, preserve the team. Incredible situation, nothing to comment,’ Tudor said.

‘It was, before the game, the right choice to do in the moment like we are, with the pressure on Vicario, another competition. Toni is a very good goalkeeper. It was for me the right decision. After this, of course, it’s easy to say that it was not the right decision. So I explained to Toni also, speaking after: he’s the right guy and a good goalkeeper.

‘Unfortunately, it happened in this big game, these mistakes. He was sorry. The team is with him, me too. I was speaking with him. He understands the moment, he understands why he goes out. As I said, he’s a very good goalkeeper. We are with him, we are all together. It’s never about one player. It’s happened. It’s the Champions League again. We paid [for] this start of the game.

‘It was too much for us in this moment when we are fragile, when we are weak. I recognise what we are and which problems we have. I recognise that every game something happens. Sometimes it’s very difficult to explain. When these things happen, in the moment where we are now, unfortunately, it’s like that. Even these slippery things happen, it explains the moment [we are in].’

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A new study found the key protein has ‘meaningful’ benefits for your skin, bones and muscles

A recent study revealed the wide-reaching effects of a single supplement which could help your skin, bones and muscle health. However, experts at Boots warned people may need to be taking this supplement for a long time before reaping the benefits.

Collagen is a key protein found in many bodily functions. While we do naturally produce our own collagen stores, production levels tend to slow down as we get older causing a range of potential aesthetic and functional issues. Vicky Pennington, nutritionist at Boots, explained: “Collagen is one of the human body’s most abundant proteins and it’s essential for building muscle and cell repair.”

Popularity of collagen supplements is growing on social media but the nutritionist urged people to look elsewhere first: “Before you think about taking collagen supplements, it’s important to ensure that you’re doing as much as you can naturally to maintain collagen levels.

“This means eating a healthy diet including a mixture of nuts and seeds, a variety of colourful fruits and veggies, fish and grass-fed protein. Marine collagen, from wild-caught fish such as salmon is absorbed up to 1.5x more efficiently than cow or pig sources, so opt for fish when you can.”

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Collagen has been lauded by some on social media for its effect on the skin, and this may be worth the hype, as Vicky explained: “Collagen is essential for so much more than skin elasticity and hydration. It plays a key role in support for holistic skin maintenance, healthy bones and joints, muscle repair and protecting organs, including the gut.”

Another common misconception about collagen is when people should start taking it. Vicky continued: “Taking collagen won’t have an instant impact, but taking it consistently over a long period of time is shown to have the best effect.

“There is no perfect time to begin taking collagen. When you reach 40+, collagen production declines quicker so many choose to start taking collagen supplements in their 20s and 30s.”

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Kirstie Thorley-Mitchell, head of wellness at Boots, revealed that people in their 20s seem to be on top of the trends: “Collagen supplements are more popular with younger generations, a recent survey by Boots revealed that half of Gen Z and millennials have tried collagen, compared to just 20% of people in their 60s.

“If you do want to supercharge your collagen intake to replace lost collagen or encourage your body to produce more of it, then collagen supplements might be for you.

“Collagen supplements come in multiple forms including tablets, powders, capsules, gummies and drinks, so there’s a way for everyone to incorporate it in their everyday routine.

“For anyone feeling overwhelmed with the choice of options available, Boots has introduced new wellness training to over 500 Health & Wellness Specialists in 140 stores nationwide.”

Some of Kirstie’s top collagen picks include Free Soul Collagen Gummies for £14.99, Absolute Collagen’s Liquid Marine Collagen sachets for £30 and Boots Marine Collagen tablets for £33.

NHS consultant’s perspective on collagen

One senior doctor spoke to the BBC about collagen supplements in 2025 but was more sceptical. Professor Faisal Ali, a consultant dermatologist at Mid Cheshire NHS Trust, said: “The best thing you can do for your skin is using decent sunblock. We know the sun has a huge impact on ageing our skin.

“Sun cream, healthy diet, and if you smoke, stop. These will have a far greater impact than collagen supplements.”

The key to a well-cut lawn is neat edges – but they’re hard to achieve. Often, a lawn mower is too bulky and if there’s a flowerbed or rockery, you risk damaging your flowers, your lawn mower or both. The best strimmers, whether petrol, electric or cordless, make it easy.

In fact, if your garden needs serious landscaping, turn to a strimmer first. “If the grass is longer than your lawn mower can handle, the strimmer can take that down ready for you to go over it with the mower,” explains James Broadhouse, a professional groundskeeper of 12 years (known online as Jimmy The Mower). For something tougher, like a bramble patch, a powerful strimmer or brushcutter will also help.

Below we’ve reviewed this year’s best strimmers from brands including Stihl, Ryobi and Bosch. You’ll also find answers to popular questions about them. But first, here’s our top five:

The best strimmers: At a glance

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How to choose the best strimmer

According to Broadhouse, the key things to look for in a strimmer are a robust build, comfortable handling and, if it’s cordless, a decent battery life.

“Most homeowners probably shouldn’t be looking at a petrol strimmer,” says Broadhouse. “A can of petrol is only really fresh for a couple of months, after which, if you haven’t used it all, it just goes to waste.” That said, heavy-duty or commercial users, will benefit from the extra power and range petrol models provide.

Broadhouse also recommends choosing a cordless strimmer over a corded one, because of the potential safety risk a trailing power cord poses.

Look for interchangeable heads for different kinds of mowing. Most strimmers will display their noise and vibration output, which can help narrow down your options. They are heavier than they look, so it’s worth visiting your local garden centre to try a few and see what feels manageable.

How we test strimmers

The mum’s secret behind bars romance was rumbled when the convict became ‘overprotective’ of her and began attacking other prisoners

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A prison officer sent naked pictures and videos of sex acts to a serving inmate after the two formed an “intimate relationship” behind bars. Zoe Oldham also received bank transfers from a family member of the criminal in question, Lewis Smith.

But their secret romance was rumbled when he became “overprotective” of her and began attacking other prisoners whom he believed had stepped out of line with the mum. The authorities then discovered a mobile phone hidden within a sock in his cell, with more than 1,000 messages which were uncovered as a result having laid bare the true nature of their relationship.

Liverpool Crown Court heard today, Tuesday, that Oldham had been a guard at HMP Risley in Warrington for five years by 2023, when she engaged in an “intimate relationship” with Smith over the course of several months. This “included her sending images of her genitals” and money being transferred into the 29-year-old officer’s account.

Simon Christie, prosecuting, described how there was also a “strong inference that there was a sexual relationship”, although no specific acts were ultimately identified. Concerns were first raised over the two in March of that year after Smith “became overprotective over Ms Oldham and carried out assaults on prisoners who he believed had disrespected her”.

This led to a search of the 32-year-old inmate’s cell, which revealed a mobile phone hidden inside a sock. When analysed, the device was found to contain a total of 1,184 messages which had been exchanged between the couple.

Mr Christie added: “Amongst the other images found were full face images of the defendant, images of her in her underwear, images of a female masturbating with a sexual aid and images of female genitals sent to the defendant Smith. He, in return, sent topless pictures of himself. The two of them say on many occasions how much they love each other.”

Oldham, of Marlborough Road in Accrington, Lancashire, was also said to have given Smith her bank details, leading to funds of “at least” £350 being transferred into her account via his sister. She has no previous convictions.

Damian Nolan, defending, told the court: “I am probably going to concede that the gravamen in this case is the public interest in ensuring that the prison system operates in a carefully ordered way. If it does not, the ramifications can be significant.

“But this offence can be committed in a number of different ways. We would submit that, ordinarily, the courts will be particularly concerned if items were being taken in, either weapons, phones, drugs or other associated paraphernalia. Thankfully, this is not one of those cases. But what she has done is allow her office to be corrupted by, essentially, a combination of Smith’s actions and her actions.

“This is not someone who has been reckless throughout while she was a prison officer. It is asserted that, on a previous occasion, she had, in fact, reported inappropriate contact from a serving prisoner. She was commended for doing that and indicated that she would not go back on the wing until that had been dealt with.

“This all arose at a particularly vulnerable time for her personally. She is the mother of a young child. She was at a vulnerable time in her relationship with the father of her child. I am informed that, for some time, they have been back together as a couple and live together as a family. She had to move out of her own accommodation because she lost her job.

“This has been the most salutary of lessons for her. She lost this employment. She tried other employment, but that fell away when this was reported. This has, in effect, haunted her since she was first arrested.

“The first date placed on this indictment is now almost three years ago. She got subsequent employment, but social media did its best so that she had to resign from that company. She hopes that, because she did that, she can reobtain that employment. She is, at the moment, on state benefits, but she is very much keen to work and put this aberration on her otherwise exemplary character behind her.

“No one knows more than her just what a grave error of judgement she made with Smith. She has been haunted by that and will remain so. The court can mark the offence by saying, in effect, that this was worthy of a prison sentence but suspended, so that she can continue to rehabilitate.

“Obviously, there is a very stark choice. While she has had to make certain arrangements, the ideal would be that she is not separated from her young daughter. It is clear that she has learned a lesson. She will not work in the public sphere in that way again.

“The court can be satisfied that she will return to a law abiding life. She is a good mother, as all the references attest to. She wants to set good standards for her daughters. She has slipped, but that does not stop her from being a good mother.

“The ultimate sacrifice, namely going to prison immediately, in my submission, can be avoided in this case. The height of it is an intimate relationship, embarrassing to her. All of her family and everyone that she knows know what she did. Three years have passed since the commission of the offence. She has demonstrated humility about that.”

Oldham admitted one count of misconduct in a public office during an earlier hearing. Appearing in the dock wearing a brown fur coat and sporting long brown hair, she was jailed for eight months.

Sentencing, Judge David Swinnerton said: “You were, in March 2023, working as a prison officer at HMP Risley. You had been there for about five years by then. You were not a very junior officer. You had some experience.

“What was discovered upon seizing a phone found in the cell of Lewis Smith, hidden in a sock, was that you and he, he being a serving prisoner, spent some months conducting an intimate relationship. That is not to say that there was physical sexual activity between you, but the nature of your messaging was intimate and romantic. That went on for some months. This was not just a one off. You knew full well that it was wrong.

“It is a slightly double edged sword. You chose not to report the initial contact because you were not satisfied with the way that the prison service had dealt with contact from a previous prisoner. You had been trained what the right thing to do was.

“You must have known how undermining it is of prison discipline if officers have relationships like this with prisoners. You are not only letting down the public, who place trust in those that are employed as prison officers, but you also badly let down your colleagues. It makes their lives more difficult and risky when prisoners are able to manipulate officers.

“You did not take anything into the prison for him. If you had, your position would have been much, much worse. But you made yourself very, very vulnerable. You accepted money from him. Two separate sums of money were transferred to your account by his sister, you having provided a serving prisoner with your bank account details.

“If you had stopped for a moment to think, you would have realised just how foolish that was, just how vulnerable that made you and just how vulnerable that made the security and safety of the prison. With relationships like this, there might be a risk that you will be leant upon, even blackmailed. You knew full well, throughout the months that this went on, that this was wrong.

“The authorities make clear that punishment and deterrents are always very important elements in such cases. Really, the cases where suspension is justified are exceptional.

“You are of previous good character. This began at least three years ago and ended two-and-a-half years ago now. In that time, you lost your job as a prison officer. You sought other employment, which you lost after publicity about what you have done. But you have stayed out of trouble. You have tried to work and continued to look after your daughter.

“It is an important factor, of course, that you have a now five-year-old daughter that you are the primary carer for, albeit you are now living at your father’s house with him and her father. You do not present a high risk of reoffending

“Immediate custody will result in a significant harmful impact on others. You have a dependant child, albeit she can stay where she is and has her father and grandfather with her. But I have to weigh against that the seriousness of the offending.

“I have taken the view that appropriate punishment can only be met by immediate custody. Prison officers have to realise that they cannot form these inappropriate relationships. It carried on for months. You won’t be away for very long, but the punishment is going away at all. The message is that immediate imprisonment follows, almost always, in cases of this nature.”

Smith, of Abbey Hey Lane in Gorton, Manchester, was handed a further eight months imprisonment by the same court in December last year. He pleaded guilty possession of a mobile phone in a prison and possession of a class C drug in a prison, the latter count relating to anabolic steroids which he was found with while serving at HMP Wymott in Lancashire.

At least six people have died in a bus blaze in Switzerland, which was allegedly started by a man inside the vehicle, according to police and local media reports.

Police said the blaze took place in Kerzers, a town in the western canton of Fribourg, at around 6.25pm on Tuesday. The victims have not yet been identified.

Five people have been injured, including an emergency responder, and three of them have been taken to hospital in critical condition, Fribourg police said in a statement.

Man ‘set himself alight’ in possible ‘wilful act’

It is unclear whether any other people have been hurt in the blaze, as officials said it is not known how many people were inside the bus when the fire, which “totally engulfed” the vehicle, started.

A man inside the bus “poured out petrol and set himself alight”, a witness claims in a video shared with Swiss newspaper Blick. This account was corroborated by other witnesses, according to the report.

The fire could have been a “wilful act”, the spokeswoman of Fribourg’s police said at a news conference, adding the force had “information that a person is the cause of the fire”.

She said that while police have received information that someone had poured petrol over themselves, she could not confirm this.

Another spokesperson said the fire could have been “deliberately” started, and added police would not reveal whether the alleged perpetrator is among the injured or dead.

Police have not ruled out a terror act and said an investigation is under way.

Officers are set to remain at the scene, where the burnt-out bus is shielded from view by barriers. Residents have been asked to avoid the area.

President ‘saddened’ by another deadly blaze

Schweizerische Post, the company operating the bus, said in a statement to Swiss paper Der Bund: “Our thoughts are with the injured and the families of the deceased.”

Swiss President Guy Parmelin said in a post on X: “It distresses and saddens me that yet more people in Switzerland have lost their lives in a serious fire.

“The background is being clarified. To the relatives of the deceased from Kerzers, I extend my condolences. And I think of the injured & the emergency services.”

The bus fire comes just months after a bar blaze in the Swiss mountain resort of Crans-Montana killed 41 people and injured 115 more in the early hours of 1 January.

Most of those who died were teenagers, and many were foreigners, including several from France and Italy.

Pressure washers have endless uses, from cleaning your car or bike to the patio, the gutters, a well used barbecue, dusty garden chairs and even your windows. Some even use them to clean carpets and chimneys, which seems foolhardy, but the trick is to use the best pressure washer for the job since the likes of Kärcher and Clarke differ from Bosch and Worx.

Using high pressure is essential to lift any sort of deeply ingrained dirt, but lower-pressure washers are more economic if you’re just cleaning mucky boots. Either way, these handy devices use less water than trying to clean stubborn dirt with a hose because they require far less water to make an impact.

Pressure washers can cost anything from £50 to £650, but you can find in-depth reviews of all the biggest brands in the business below, and some advice from a professional gardener on how to use them. First, here’s a quick look at our top five:

The best pressure washers: At a glance

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How to choose the best pressure washer

The key thing to look at is the cleaning pressure. Anything over 150 bar is high, capable of blast-cleaning concrete, while anything under 50 bar is low and best left for plastic garden furniture. Consider the quality of the materials too, metal pumps are better than plastic ones, for example.

Also take into account any additional features and accessories it comes with – such as nozzles, spray washers or a remote control – since these can be expensive to buy separately. Hose length, noise level, weight and value for money are also important. They generally draw between 1,400 and 2,800 Watts, which at today’s prices will cost between 37p and 74p an hour to run

As with other power tools (see our guides to the best lawn mowers, best hedge trimmers, best leaf blowers and best strimmers) pressure washers vary greatly in weight, power and usability.

How we test pressure washers

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.

“I am pleased to report that within the last few hours, we have hit, and completely destroyed, 10 inactive mine laying boats and/or ships, with more to follow!” Trump wrote on Truth Social Tuesday afternoon.

U.S. Central Command later wrote on X the military destroyed a total of 16 mine-laying ships near the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump’s announcement came minutes after the president warned against Iran placing mines in the waterway that carries about a fifth of the world’s oil supply.

“If for any reason mines were placed, and they are not removed forthwith, the Military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before,” Trump wrote on Truth Social earlier Tuesday.

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CBS News had reported Iran may be getting ready to deploy mines in the Strait of Hormuz, citing U.S. officials.

People familiar with U.S. intelligence reporting on the matter told CNN Iran had already laid a few dozen mines in the key waterway in recent days.

Trump said the U.S. was using “the same Technology and Missile capabilities deployed against Drug Traffickers to permanently eliminate any boat or ship attempting to mine the Hormuz Strait.”

The president was seemingly referring to the controversial boat strikes the U.S. has carried out in the Caribbean and Pacific, which have killed more than 150 people.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday the U.S. “will not allow terrorists to hold the Strait of Hormuz hostage.”

“At the direction of President Trump, @CENTCOM has been eliminating inactive mine-laying vessels in the Strait of Hormuz—wiping them out with ruthless precision,” Hegseth wrote on X. “To the weakened Iranian regime: you have officially been put on notice!”

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Iran has threatened to attack any ship that tries to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, which is bordered in the north by the Middle Eastern country.

Ebrahim Jabari, a senior official with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said last week, “The strait is closed. If anyone tries to ​pass, the heroes of the Revolutionary Guards and the regular navy will set ​those ships ablaze,” according to Reuters, which cited Iranian state media.

Tankers that travel through the Strait of Hormuz transport oil and gas from Iran, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates, the Associated Press reported. Most of the oil carried through the waterway is sold to Asia.

Oil prices surged Monday to nearly $120 a barrel, the highest since 2022. Oil prices later recovered, dropping back below $90 after Trump told CBS News the Iran war is “very complete, pretty much.”

Iran has “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,” Trump said.

But uncertainty about how long the U.S. will continue its military campaign against Iran remains during the second week of the conflict.

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A new Quinnipiac University poll found 18 percent of American voters think it will take weeks for the Iran war to end, 32 percent think it will take months and 26 percent think the conflict will last longer than a year.

At least 1,230 people in Iran have been killed in the conflict, according to the Associated Press. The joint U.S.-Israeli strikes killed the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. His son, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, has taken over as Iran’s supreme leader. At least seven American service members are dead over the conflict.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has decried Trump’s argument for starting the Iran war.

“The claim that Iran was planning on attacking the U.S. or U.S. Forces, whether preventively or preemptively, is a sheer and utter lie,” Araghchi wrote on X Tuesday. “The sole purpose of that lie is to justify Operation Epic Mistake, a misadventure engineered by Israel and paid for by ordinary Americans.”

Trump has insisted Israel did not force America’s hand to launch military strikes against Iran, in an effort the U.S. has dubbed Operation Epic Fury.

“I might of forced their hand,” the president told reporters.