President Trump announced Thursday that he has instructed the U.S. Navy to open fire on any boat caught placing mines in the Strait of Hormuz, escalating his administration's response to Iranian disruptions in the vital waterway.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, "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 that mine-sweeping operations are underway and will be tripled in intensity.
The directive comes amid uncertainty about how long the strait will remain unusable. Trump extended the ceasefire with Iran indefinitely on Tuesday and has maintained a naval blockade, which has significantly reduced oil tanker traffic through the channel that normally carries about a fifth of the world's oil and gas, keeping global prices elevated.
According to a Washington Post report Wednesday, the Pentagon informed Congress that clearing the mines could take up to six months. U.S. Central Command posted on X that American forces have ordered 31 vessels to turn around or return to port as part of the blockade.
In a subsequent post, Trump claimed Iran is in internal disarray, writing, "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 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!!!"
The White House has stated that Trump is not imposing a deadline for Iran to submit a new peace proposal, leaving the timeline open-ended.
This aggressive posture follows a pattern of escalating tensions. Earlier, Trump extended the Iran ceasefire despite an attack by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a move some analysts viewed as a strategic retreat. Meanwhile, Senate Republicans have repeatedly blocked efforts to curb Trump's military authority over Iran, and Democrats have criticized the administration's approach as a "war of choice" that may be giving Iran a strategic edge.
The administration's focus on the Strait of Hormuz also coincides with other policy moves, such as Trump's directive on psychedelics and ongoing debates over domestic spending and immigration enforcement.
