India, March 11 -- The conflict between the United States and Iran intensified further after the US military said it destroyed more than a dozen Iranian vessels believed to be laying naval mines near the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important oil shipping routes.According to US officials, American forces targeted and destroyed 16 Iranian mine-laying boats on Tuesday. The move came amid growing concerns that Iran might try to block the key maritime corridor that carries a major share of the world's crude oil.

The operation took place near the narrow waterway that connects the Persian Gulf to global markets. Roughly 20 per cent of global oil shipments pass through the Strait of Hormuz, making it a critical chokepoint for energ...