President Trump said Thursday he has ordered the US Navy to take lethal action against any Iranian vessels attempting to lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz — escalating tensions despite a fragile cease-fire with Tehran.
“I have ordered the United States Navy to shoot and kill any boat — small boats though they may be — that is putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “There is to be no hesitation.”
“Additionally, our mine ‘sweepers’ are clearing the Strait right now,” he added. “I am hereby ordering that activity to continue, but at a tripled-up level!”
President Trump ordered the US Navy to take lethal action against Iranian vessels laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz. AP
An IRGC boat allegedly taking part in an operation to seize ships attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz. IRIB TV/AFP via Getty ImagesThe directive came just hours after the War Department confirmed the seizure of a sanctioned tanker carrying Iranian oil in the Indian Ocean — the second such interception this week.
The developments mark another strain on a repeatedly extended cease-fire meant to halt weeks of clashes between Washington and Tehran, including strikes on military targets and disruptions to global shipping lanes.
Footage released by the US Central Command on March 10, 2026, shows what it says is an Iranian naval vessel just before it is struck by a projectile “near the Strait of Hormuz.” US Central Command (CENTCOM)/AFP via Getty ImagesTrump most recently extended the truce Tuesday, saying it would remain in place while Iran works to produce a “unified” proposal ahead of a second round of peace talks in Islamabad, Pakistan.
But tensions have continued to simmer.
Iranian-linked vessels and proxy forces have repeatedly threatened commercial traffic in the Strait of Hormuz — a vital artery for global oil shipments — using naval mines and fast-moving boats to harass and damage tankers.
IRGC naval forces allegedly board a ship attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz in footage released on April 23. IRIB TV/AFP via Getty ImagesMeanwhile, Politico reported Thursday that British military divers are preparing to carry out mine-clearing operations in the strait as part of a potentially multinational effort, with Royal Navy specialists trained in explosive ordnance disposal ready to deploy alongside autonomous mine-hunting systems, according to the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defense.
The UK and other European nations have spent weeks talking about a broader coalition mission to secure the waterway and restore safe navigation.
But so far, those efforts have largely remained in the planning stages.
US forces board a helicopter on an aircraft carrier. @DeptofWar/XThe US has stepped up maritime enforcement in response, intercepting ships suspected of helping Tehran skirt sanctions as part of a broader campaign to choke off funding for its military operations.
Diplomatic efforts, meanwhile, remain uncertain. Talks aimed at de-escalation have faltered, with Iranian officials at times declining to engage even as US envoys push for renewed negotiations.
Trump’s latest order signals a more aggressive posture at sea — one that could either force Tehran back to the table or further destabilize an already fragile cease-fire.
The president told The Post on Wednesday that “it’s possible” fresh developments on renewed talks with Iran could come as soon as Friday.






