The move follows Iranian naval forces firing on ships passing through the strait “without the required authorization” after Trump agreed to extend the ceasefire in order to schedule new peace talks mediated by Pakistan. Iran has yet to acknowledge the ceasefire extension.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said that despite Iran’s navy lying “at the bottom of the sea,” it retains a few small boats that could lay underwater explosives.
“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,” the president said.
“There is to be no hesitation,” Trump added. “Additionally, our mine ‘sweepers’ are clearing the Strait right now. I am hereby ordering that activity to continue, but at a tripled up level!”
As Iran continues to reaffirm its hold on the strait, its leadership is in disarray. Maj. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, has taken the lead in determining how Iran exercises its military power.
Vahidi’s calling the shots by using military force has been a means to “flex power” over internal rivals like Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who has been Iran’s representative in peace talks, according to an Institute for the Study of War analysis.
Trump called out the internal leadership scramble in a subsequent Truth Social post, adding that the U.S. has “total control” over the strait.
“Iran is having a very hard time figuring out who their leader is!” the president said. “They just don’t know! The infighting is between the “Hardliners,” who have been losing BADLY on the battlefield, and the “Moderates,” who are not very moderate at all (but gaining respect!), is CRAZY! We have total control over the Strait of Hormuz. No ship can enter or leave without the approval of the United States Navy.”
He added that the strait is “sealed up tight” until Iran is ready to make a deal.
U.S. forces could soon be getting help from European nations. The United Kingdom is reportedly preparing plans to send divers to carry out mine-clearing operations in the Strait of Hormuz. Additionally, the U.K. and France have convened a meeting of over 40 nations in order to discuss plans to reopen the vital trade artery.
Trump has been highly critical of European and NATO nations, particularly the U.K., as they have chosen to stay out of the conflict and even criticize U.S. actions in the war.
$1.5 TRILLION NATIONAL DEFENSE BUDGET DOES NOT INCLUDE IRAN WAR COSTS
Iran agreed to open the strait as part of a ceasefire agreement, but promptly closed it in response to a U.S. counterblockade. Iranian officials have repeatedly called the U.S. blockade an act of war, violating the ceasefire.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted that Trump “maintains control over the situation,” adding that the president extended the ceasefire for “flexibility” and to allow Iran to craft a proposal to end the war.
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