President Donald Trump has ordered the U.S. military to “shoot and kill” any boat caught placing mines in the Strait of Hormuz. In a post on Truth Social, Trump declared, “I have ordered the United States Navy to shoot and kill any boat, small boats though they may be (Their naval ships are ALL, 159 of them, at the bottom of the sea!), that is putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz. There is to be no hesitation.”
He added, “Additionally, our mine ‘sweepers’ are clearing the Strait right now. I am hereby ordering that activity to continue, but at a tripled up level!”
Trump’s statement comes amid ongoing uncertainty over the use of the strait, as he extended the ceasefire with Iran indefinitely on Tuesday while maintaining the blockade. The Washington Post reported Wednesday that the Pentagon informed Congress that clearing the mines from the strait could take up to six months.
The Strait of Hormuz is a vital waterway through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas typically passes. However, oil-tanker traffic has been below normal since the start of the conflict, contributing to high oil prices.
U.S. Central Command posted on X overnight that U.S. forces had directed 31 vessels to “turn around or return to port as part of the U.S. blockade against Iran.”
In a subsequent post on Thursday, the president commented on Iran’s internal situation, saying, “They just don’t know! The infighting is between the ‘Hardliners,’ who have been losing BADLY on the battlefield, and the ‘Moderates,’ who are not very moderate at all (but gaining respect!), is CRAZY!”
He further asserted, “We have total control over the Strait of Hormuz. No ship can enter or leave without the approval of the United States Navy. It is ‘Sealed up Tight,’ until such time as Iran is able to make a DEAL!!!”
