Trump directs the U.S. Navy to fire on any vessel planting mines in the Strait of Hormuz

(SeaPRwire) –   U.S. President Donald Trump has directed the Navy to “shoot and kill” any Iranian vessel deploying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway connecting the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, responsible for approximately one-fifth of worldwide oil transit.

“There should be no hesitation,” he stated on Thursday, noting that American minesweepers are still working to clear the passage, an operation potentially lasting up to half a year.

Rejecting Iran’s historical dominance over the critical trade route, Trump asserted that the United States maintains “total control” of the strait.

He declared, “No vessel can enter or exit without the U.S. Navy’s authorization. It is ‘sealed up tight’ until Iran reaches an agreement.”

This order comes after Trump’s recent extension of the delicate U.S.-Iran cease-fire, which faced a challenge on Wednesday when Iranian forces targeted three ships in the Strait, subsequently capturing two.

State media in Iran identified the two ships taken by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy as the MSC Francesca, flying a Panamanian flag, and the Epaminondas, flying a Liberian flag. A third vessel, Euphoria, reportedly evaded capture.

Technomar Shipping Inc., the Greek company operating the Epaminondas, verified to TIME that Iranian authorities had seized the ship and that they were collaborating with regional allies to address the situation.

Iranian state television subsequently broadcasted video it claimed showed armed, masked members of the IRGC boarding the captured ships.

The Iranian government has consistently asserted its control over the Strait of Hormuz, attempting to levy tolls on ships seeking safe transit—a measure Trump pledged to halt with the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait.

U.S. Central Command reported having instructed 31 ships to reverse course or go back to port since the blockade began on April 13.

During the night, American forces boarded a sanctioned vessel in the Indian Ocean that was carrying oil from Iran, the military announced Thursday morning.

The statement read, “We will persist with global maritime enforcement to disrupt illegal networks and intercept vessels offering material support to Iran, regardless of their location. International waters cannot serve as a sanctuary for sanctioned entities. The Department of War will continue to prevent illicit actors and their ships from operating freely in the maritime domain.”

This conflict in international waters is unfolding amidst stalled peace negotiations between the United States and Iran.

Vice President J.D. Vance, slated to again head the U.S. delegation, was anticipated to travel to Islamabad, Pakistan, this week for a second round of talks. However, he remains in place as Tehran has not yet confirmed its return to negotiations, even with Pakistan, the mediator, pressing both parties to participate.

Esmail Baghaei, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, informed state television this week that the ambiguity stemmed not from Iran’s indecisiveness, but rather from “contradictory messages” emanating from Washington.

He contended, “The cause for this is not indecision; it is the conflicting messages, inconsistent behaviors, and unacceptable actions from the American side.”