President Donald Trump has ordered the U.S. Navy to expand mine-clearing operations in the Strait of Hormuz and to “shoot and kill any boat” laying mines in the strategic waterway.
“I have ordered the United States Navy to shoot and kill any boat, small boats though they may be (their naval ships are all 159 of them, at the bottom of the sea!), that is putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Thursday.
“There is to be no hesitation,” he added.
In March, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said U.S. forces destroyed 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels near the Strait of Hormuz after intelligence showed Tehran had started placing mines in the route.
U.S. forces eliminated multiple Iranian naval vessels, March 10, including 16 minelayers near the Strait of Hormuz. pic.twitter.com/371unKYiJs
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 10, 2026
Trump’s new directive comes as the U.S. continues enforcing a naval blockade on Iranian-linked shipping, a move Washington says is aimed at disrupting maritime mine-laying operations and oil smuggling networks.
Despite U.S. and Iranian naval blockades in the strait, Trump insisted that the U.S., not Iran, is in control of the strategic waterway.
“We have total control over the Strait of Hormuz. No ship can enter or leave without the approval of the United States Navy. It is “sealed up tight,” until such time as Iran is able to make a deal!,” he wrote in another Truth Social post.
CENTCOM said 33 vessels have been ordered to turn around or return to port since the blockade began April 13.
U.S. forces have now redirected 33 vessels since the start of the blockade against Iran. pic.twitter.com/m8v95FYabB
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 23, 2026
Overnight operations also included the boarding of a sanctioned vessel in the Indian Ocean transporting oil from Iran, according to the Department of War.
Overnight, U.S. forces carried out a maritime interdiction and right-of-visit boarding of the sanctioned stateless vessel M/T Majestic X transporting oil from Iran, in the Indian Ocean within the INDOPACOM area of responsibility.
We will continue global maritime enforcement to… pic.twitter.com/SWF6Jt9Ci4
— Department of War 🇺🇸 (@DeptofWar) April 23, 2026
“We will continue global maritime enforcement to disrupt illicit networks and interdict vessels providing material support to Iran, wherever they operate,” the department wrote on X. “International waters cannot be used as a shield by sanctioned actors. The Department of War will continue to deny illicit actors and their vessels freedom of maneuver in the maritime domain.”
Amid the escalating naval operations, Navy Secretary John Phelan was removed from his position this week, according to officials familiar with the matter. No formal reason was immediately provided.
