President Donald Trump directed the U.S. Navy on Thursday to shoot and kill any small boat caught deploying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, ordering simultaneous mine-clearing operations to be tripled. "I have ordered the United States Navy to shoot and kill any boat, small boats though they may be," Trump posted on Truth Social, adding: "There is to be no hesitation." Trump also ordered U.S. minesweepers to continue clearing the strait "at a tripled up level." The directive was confirmed by the Associated Press, NBC News, and CNBC, among others.
The order arrives as allied governments prepare parallel mine-clearing contributions. The United Kingdom is deploying divers to clear naval mines in the strait, and the U.K. Ministry of Defense confirmed Royal Navy divers are preparing for those operations. Britain is also offering autonomous mine hunters as part of a proposed multinational coalition. The Washington Examiner first reported the Royal Navy deployment; POLITICO also reported it, citing the U.K. Ministry of Defense.
The mine-clearing push follows an escalation in the strait on April 22. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps seized two container ships, the MSC Francesca and the Epaminondas, according to Iranian state media via Tasnim News Agency. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, in a televised interview with Fox News, said the seizures were not a ceasefire violation because the ships were international, not U.S. or Israeli, vessels. NBC News and Argus Media confirmed Leavitt's position.
Trump extended the ceasefire, which had been set to expire this week, but Washington has kept its blockade on Iran-linked shipping in place. Trump separately posted that "no ship can enter or leave without the approval of the United States Navy," declaring the strait "sealed up tight" until Iran reaches a deal. Iran's parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said reopening the strait is "impossible" while Washington's blockade of Iranian ports remains in force.
Sources: POLITICO | Associated Press | NBC News | CNBC | Washington Examiner | Argus Media | Euronews | Newsweek
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