President Trump announced on Truth Social his order to the U.S. Navy to “shoot and kill any boat” placing mines along the Strait of Hormuz.
“There is to be no hesitation,” President Trump affirmed in his post, additionally referencing the U.S.’s previous takedowns of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Navy (IRGC) vessels. “(Their naval ships are ALL, 159 of them, at the bottom of the sea!)” he noted.
“Additionally, our mine “sweepers” are clearing the Strait right now. I am hereby ordering that activity to continue, but at a tripled up level!” the president added.
U.S. Captures Another Vessel Linked to Iran
President Trump’s order comes after the U.S. military confirmed the seizure of another “stateless” oil tanker linked to the Islamic Republic.
"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," the Department of Defense wrote on X.
"We will continue global maritime enforcement to disrupt illicit networks and interdict vessels providing material support to Iran, wherever they operate," the military added.
Iran Seizes Vessels Along Strait of Hormuz
According to NPR, Iran has also conducted its own fair share of captures. Following President Trump’s announcement of an indefinite extension of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire, the IRGC attacked three commercial ships within the maritime chokepoint, seizing two of them in the process.
Despite Iran’s recognition of President Trump’s ceasefire extension, NPR reports that the Islamic Republic has dismissed the approach, citing the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports as a violation of the truce. Iran has affirmed that negotiations will not resume until the impasse is lifted.
U.S. Navy Secretary Dismissed
Amid the 54-day conflict, The Pentagon announced the dismissal of Navy Secretary John Phelan.
The Pentagon stated that Phelan was "departing the administration, effective immediately," adding that Undersecretary Hung Cao would serve as acting Navy secretary.
NPR reported that Phelan is among a list of more than 30 Pentagon officials – many of them generals and admirals – who have been let go since Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s appointment.
