Donald Trump is intensifying his campaign to prevent Iran from using the Strait of Hormuz, instructing the U.S. Navy to “shoot and kill” any Iranian vessels found laying mines in the Persian Gulf.
In a Thursday morning post on Truth Social, the former President stated, “I have directed the United States Navy to shoot and kill any boat, no matter how small, that is placing mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz. Their naval fleet, all 159 ships, are already at the bottom of the sea!”
He added, “There is to be no hesitation. Additionally, our mine ‘sweepers’ are actively clearing the Strait as we speak. I am now ordering that this activity be intensified threefold!”
This declaration comes as U.S. forces have seized another tanker accused of smuggling oil from Iran, just a day after Tehran captured two vessels.
Prior to Trump’s post, the Pentagon released footage showing U.S. naval forces boarding the Majestic X, an Iranian-linked oil tanker in the Indian Ocean. Reports indicate the ship was transporting oil produced by Iran.
The Pentagon emphasized, “We will persist in enforcing global maritime laws to disrupt illicit networks and intercept vessels that provide material support to Iran, wherever they may be operating,” in a statement shared on X.
The Pentagon warned that sanctioned actors cannot use international waters as cover, vowing to keep blocking ‘illicit actors and their vessels’ from operating freely at sea.
Global oil prices began to skyrocket on Thursday as concerns grew that the truce between the US and Iran would collapse. The price of Brent crude rose above $103 a barrel on Thursday morning, up 1.3 percent.
Trump is stepping up his push to cut off Iran from using the Strait of Hormuz by demanding the US Navy ‘shoot and kill’ any Iranian boat laying mines in the Persian Gulf
Shortly before the President’s Truth Social post, the Pentagon released video of US naval forces boarding the oil tanker Majestic X in the Indian Ocean
A day prior, Iran had retaliated against Trump’s naval blockade of Hormuz by attacking three oil tankers and seizing two vessels
Masked fighters are seen racing toward the MSC-Francesca ship by using a gunboat before climbing its hull with rifles strapped to their backs
There was no immediate response from Iran on the news of the seizure.
A day prior, Iran had retaliated against Trump’s naval blockade of Hormuz by attacking three oil tankers and seizing two vessels. Iran’s state media released a video showing masked commandos boarding two cargo ships
Masked fighters are seen racing toward the MSC-Francesca ship by using a gunboat before climbing its hull with rifles strapped to their backs.
The escalating standoff has effectively shut down the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil flows.
Earlier this week, Trump extended his ceasefire with Iran for the fourth time without setting a deadline but while still maintaining an American blockade of Iranian ports.
The President extended the ceasefire in part because he was reportedly reluctant to resume the bombing campaign and risk prolonging the conflict with Iran ahead of the midterms.
Trump is said to have cited the war’s unpopularity with the American public and the toll it is taking on domestic inflation as reasoning for an off-ramp.
Lack of communication from Iran’s senior leadership also played a role in Trump’s decision to grant an indefinite extension to the ceasefire.
Iran seized two cargo ships on Wednesday morning after attacking them and a third in the Strait of Hormuz, accusing the vessels of being ‘non-compliant’ with the regime’s demands
Trump’s naval blockade of Iran remains in effect despite the ongoing ceasefire
Iran’s Wednesday attack on oil tankers trying to move through the strait comes in response to Trump’s seizure of a Tehran-linked vessel earlier this week.
Trump announced on Sunday that the US Navy fired on, disabled and seized the Iranian-flagged cargo ship Touska in the Gulf of Oman.
The President claimed the ship ignored several warnings while attempting to breach the naval blockade. After disabling its engine, US Marines took control of the vessel.
Trump later bragged about the cargo seized by the US aboard the ship, calling it a ‘gift from China.’
China, the largest buyer of Iranian oil, has been permitted by Tehran to continue transiting vessels through the strait since the start of the war, alongside select tankers bound for Pakistan and India.
