U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the American military to “shoot and kill” any small Iranian boats suspected of deploying naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, significantly escalating tensions in the vital global energy corridor.
The directive, announced via social media on Thursday, comes amid growing confrontations between the United States and Iran over security in the narrow waterway, through which roughly 20 percent of the world’s traded oil and gas flows.
Trump said the United States Navy had been instructed to act decisively against any vessels attempting to disrupt maritime traffic by laying mines.
“There is to be no hesitation,” he stated, adding that U.S. forces are also intensifying mine-clearing operations to keep the route open.
The latest development follows the seizure of a tanker allegedly linked to Iranian oil smuggling, as part of broader enforcement efforts targeting illicit supply networks. The US Department of Defense confirmed the operation and reiterated its commitment to maintaining maritime security.
Tensions further escalated after Iran’s paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reportedly attacked three cargo vessels in the strait, capturing two of them.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical النفط transit routes, and any disruption has immediate global implications for energy markets and shipping security.
Analysts warn that the latest military posture risks deepening the standoff between Washington and Tehran, raising fears of broader conflict and further instability in global oil supplies.
