US President Donald Trump ordered the Navy to “shoot and kill” any boat putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz.
While posting on his social media platform Truth Social on Thursday, April 23, Trump said the U.S. would intensify efforts to clear mines that he claimed have helped choke off global shipping.
“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,” he said.
“There is to be no hesitation. Additionally, our mine ‘sweepers’ are clearing the Strait right now. I am hereby ordering that activity to continue, but at a tripled up level!”
Also Read: Trump Envoy Suggests Replacing Iran with European Nation at 2026 World Cup
Trump Claims Authority Over Strait of Hormuz
The President further claimed that the United States has established full operational control over the Strait of Hormuz, stating that no vessel can pass through the key shipping route without approval from the U.S. Navy.
“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,” he added.
At the same time, Trump suggested that Iran is experiencing internal divisions between hardline and moderate factions, claiming that the country’s leadership is struggling to maintain cohesion.
He also alleged that the hardline camp has been weakened in recent confrontations, while moderates are gaining influence.
The U.S. military announced earlier that it had boarded another tanker involved in smuggling Iranian oil, as the intensifying maritime standoff between the two countries leaves the key Strait of Hormuz trade route effectively shut.
Tehran attacked three commercial ships and seized two of them on Wednesday, and said the U.S. naval blockade is a “main obstacle” to new peace talks.
Also Read: Iran Goes Silent on U.S. Proposal as Trump Team Presses Pakistan for Response
The closure came as reports emerged that vessels in or near the strait, including a tanker, were targeted by Tehran on Saturday.
Why Iran Closed Hormuz
The Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) blamed a continuing US blockade for its decision, which comes a day after Iran’s foreign minister announced the key global shipping channel had been temporarily reopened.
US President Donald Trump said Iran cannot “blackmail” the US with threats regarding the waterway, which Tehran has effectively blocked for nearly two months, causing global energy prices to soar.
IRGC Navy warned in a statement on Saturday that “no vessel is to move from its anchorage in the Persian Gulf or the Sea of Oman”.
Despite the mounting global economic consequences, Trump said there is “no time pressure” in talks with Iran and “no time frame” on ending the war after he extended the ceasefire.
