No certainty mines have been laid in Hormuz, France's defence minister says

​France has ​no certainty ‌at this stage ​that mines have been laid in ‌the Strait of Hormuz, Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin said on Wednesday after ‌U.S. media reports that at least ‌10 mines had been identified in the area.

"At this moment, I have no ⁠certainty ​on ⁠the subject, but in any case we ⁠are preparing for the necessity to ​potentially remove mines," Vautrin told France ⁠Info radio.

Demining ships were being sent ⁠to ​the region as part of a potential future Franco-British-led ⁠mission in the area and France has ⁠one ⁠at its base in Djibouti, she said.