Trump orders Navy to sink mine-laying vessels in Hormuz

President Donald Trump has ordered the United States Navy to shoot and destroy any vessel found laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, according to posts on his Truth Social platform. The president specified there should be "no hesitation" in carrying out this action and stated that U.S. minesweepers are currently clearing the strait under his directive to triple the operational level of these activities. Trump's announcement comes amid reports that the Pentagon estimates the mine-clearing operation in the Strait of Hormuz could take up to six months to complete. The strait is a critical maritime chokepoint through which a significant portion of the world's oil supply passes. The president referenced Iranian naval capabilities, noting that Iranian naval ships are numerous and suggesting the severity of the threat posed by mining activity in the waterway. The Strait of Hormuz has been a focal point of tension between the United States and Iran, with both nations engaging in saber-rattling regarding the strategic waterway. Trump's order represents a significant escalation in the U.S. stance, as it authorizes the use of lethal force against vessels engaged in what the administration characterizes as threatening behavior in international waters. The ongoing mine-clearing operation and the increased operational tempo reflect the administration's zero-tolerance approach to any activity it deems a threat to freedom of navigation in the region.