Trump Threatens to ‘Shoot and Kill’ Iranian Boats in Strait of Hormuz Amid Standoff

(SeaPRwire) –   The US president asserts he maintains “complete authority” over the maritime passage as negotiations remain at a standstill.

President Donald Trump has issued a threat of lethal action against any Iranian vessels suspected of deploying mines within the Strait of Hormuz, asserting that Washington currently holds “total control” of the vital shipping lane until Tehran commits to an agreement.

This warning arrives during a maritime standoff in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical corridor responsible for roughly 20% of the world’s oil and gas shipments. Shipping activity has largely halted following the joint US-Israeli campaign against Iran and the subsequent retaliatory measures taken by Tehran.

Even with the tenuous ceasefire that Trump extended indefinitely earlier this week, the United States continues to enforce a blockade on Iranian ports.

“I have instructed the US Navy to fire upon and destroy any vessel… that is laying mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump stated in a social media update late Thursday, noting that American mine-clearing efforts are currently underway.

The Washington Post reports that the Pentagon has indicated that the process of clearing potential mines from the strait could span several months.

Trump maintained that the US possesses “total control” over the waterway. “No vessel may pass without the authorization of the US Navy. It is ‘Sealed up Tight’ until such time as Iran is prepared to reach a DEAL!!!” he declared.

Tehran has countered, asserting its “right” to operate within the waterway should its national security be compromised, and has stipulated that the removal of US sanctions is a prerequisite for returning to the negotiating table.

Regional tensions have intensified following a series of maritime incidents. This week, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran published video evidence of their interception of two container ships, while US military forces reported that they have intercepted and diverted several vessels suspected of breaching sanctions.

Trump has indicated there is no definitive schedule for concluding the conflict, telling Fox News on Wednesday that there is “no time frame.” He claimed that US military strikes have successfully engaged “75% of targets” within Iran and that any Iranian military mobilization during the ceasefire could be suppressed “in about one day.”

The disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has unsettled global markets, driving Brent crude prices past $100 per barrel. Fatih Birol, head of the International Energy Agency, has cautioned that this represents “the biggest energy security threat in history,” while humanitarian organizations have raised concerns regarding global food security as agricultural and fertilizer supply chains face significant strain.

Kazem Jalali, Iran’s ambassador to Moscow, informed RT that while Iran does not desire war, it is prepared to defend itself, emphasizing that the nation remains receptive to diplomatic solutions despite the ongoing escalation.