President Donald Trump has ordered the United States Navy to “shoot and kill” any small vessels seen laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, sharply escalating a months‑long standoff in one of the world’s most critical maritime corridors.
In a post on Truth Social on Thursday, Trump told the Pentagon there should be “no hesitation” in targeting such boats and said that U.S. minesweeping operations in the strait were already underway and would be significantly expanded.
The order comes amid a widening confrontation with Iran over control of the narrow passage through which roughly a fifth of the world’s traded oil and gas flows. Washington has long worried that Iran could use small boats, mines and drones to choke the route, and the latest move signals a readiness to respond with lethal force to any perceived threat.
Trump’s announcement followed a fresh U.S. seizure of a tanker accused of transporting Iranian oil in violation of sanctions, underscoring a broader campaign to disrupt Tehran’s energy exports. American forces boarded the vessel in the northern Indian Ocean, releasing video footage showing personnel securing the ship’s deck. Pentagon officials described the action as part of ongoing “maritime enforcement” operations aimed at dismantling networks that support Iran’s oil trade.
Shipping data indicates the tanker was travelling from the Indian Ocean toward Asia, en route to China. The vessel had previously been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2024 under a different name and is alleged to have a role in smuggling Iranian crude, according to U.S. officials.
There was no immediate formal response from Tehran to the latest seizure. But the standoff has intensified after a series of attacks earlier in the week that U.S. officials attribute to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Several cargo vessels were targeted in the Strait of Hormuz, with at least two reportedly captured, further destabilising traffic through the already volatile route.
Trump’s order comes against the backdrop of a fragile ceasefire he extended days earlier, even as U.S. restrictions on Iranian ports remain in place. It is unclear whether diplomatic efforts, which have included Pakistani‑led mediation in Islamabad, will resume. Both sides continue to escalate operations at sea, testing the limits of the pause that Washington describes as “indefinite.”
The cumulative effect has been a severe disruption to commercial movement through the strait. Rising insurance costs, coupled with fears of further attacks, have forced many shipping companies to halt normal schedules or reroute journeys around the Cape of Good Hope instead. Analysts say Iran’s ability to threaten the chokepoint gives it significant leverage, even as mounting economic pressure weighs on Tehran’s broader economy.
Beyond the region, the disruption is beginning to reverberate through global markets, pushing up energy prices and increasing costs across supply chains. Officials in several countries have warned that prolonged instability in the Strait of Hormuz could have lasting consequences for businesses and consumers worldwide.
Amid the geopolitical tensions, developments also unfolded in Europe. Reza Pahlavi, a long‑time critic of the Iranian government and son of the country’s last shah, was reportedly attacked outside a venue in Berlin after a news conference. He had earlier criticised the ceasefire, arguing that it rested on the flawed assumption that Iran’s leadership would change its behaviour.Pahlavi, who has lived in exile for nearly five decades since the 1979 revolution, has sought to position himself as a potential figure in Iran’s political future. His remarks reflect broader divisions over how the West and regional powers should respond to the escalating crisis.
Since late February, dozens of vessels have been attacked or otherwise targeted across the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman. The sustained disruptions have underscored the strategic importance of the waterway and the risks posed by the current confrontation.
Despite intermittent calls for restraint, the combination of U.S. enforcement actions and Iranian responses has strained the ceasefire to its limits. With no clear timetable for renewed talks, the situation remains precarious, raising the possibility that a further escalation in the Strait of Hormuz could have far‑reaching global consequences.
