Donald Trump has directed the U.S. military to take lethal action against any vessels found deploying mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he had instructed the United States Navy to “shoot and kill” any boats involved in laying mines in the vital shipping route, stressing that there should be no hesitation in carrying out the order.
He added that U.S. mine-clearing operations were already underway in the strait and ordered that those efforts be intensified significantly.
The directive comes amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding access to the waterway, after Trump earlier extended a ceasefire with Iran indefinitely while maintaining a blockade in the region.
According to The Washington Post, the Pentagon has informed Congress that clearing mines from the strait could take up to six months.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global shipping route, handling roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supplies. However, tanker traffic has declined since the conflict began, contributing to elevated oil prices.
United States Central Command said U.S. forces recently instructed 31 vessels to turn back or return to port as part of enforcement of the blockade against Iran.
In a follow-up post, Trump claimed Iran was struggling with internal divisions over its leadership, describing tensions between hardliners and more moderate factions. He also asserted that the United States currently has full control over the strait, saying no ships can pass without approval from the U.S. Navy and that the route would remain effectively sealed until Iran agrees to a deal.
