President Donald Trump said Thursday he has ordered the U.S. Navy to “shoot and kill” any vessel laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, warning there should be “no hesitation” as tensions escalate over the vital global oil shipping route.
In a series of posts, Trump said he has also directed U.S. minesweepers to operate in the area at what he described as a “tripled up level,” signaling an intensified U.S. naval presence as the waterway remains heavily disrupted amid the ongoing conflict.
The comments come as the United States increases pressure on Iran over access to the strait, which has seen sharply reduced traffic since the war began in late February. Trump has pushed for the route’s full reopening as part of a fragile ceasefire arrangement that he recently extended.
The administration has also imposed what it describes as a naval blockade on Iranian ports in the region, aiming to force Tehran into negotiations. U.S. Central Command reported that 31 vessels have been ordered to turn around or return to port as part of the effort.
Trump said the United States maintains full control over the strategic chokepoint. “We have total control over the Strait of Hormuz,” he wrote, adding that no ship can pass without approval from the U.S. Navy until Iran agrees to a deal. He also shared and endorsed commentary suggesting he does not need a formal agreement to achieve U.S. objectives in the region.
Maritime traffic through the strait remains far below normal levels. The waterway typically handles about 20% of global oil shipments, with more than 100 vessels passing through daily in peacetime. Recent tracking data shows traffic has dropped to single digits on many days, with only a handful of tankers moving through at a time.
Iranian officials have pushed back, with parliamentary leaders saying reopening the strait is not possible while U.S. restrictions remain in place.
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