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By Ayo Kehinde
US President Donald Trump has ordered US forces to take immediate lethal action against any vessel suspected of laying naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, dramatically increasing tensions with Iran and raising fresh fears of a direct military confrontation in one of the world’s most critical energy corridors.
In a directive issued Thursday via social media, Trump said he had authorized the U.S. Navy to “shoot and kill” any vessel found placing mines in the narrow waterway that connects the Persian Gulf to global shipping lanes.
“There must be no hesitation,” Trump said, signaling a change in the rules of engagement that lowers the threshold for direct military engagement in a region already on edge.
At least 17 American warships had previously been positioned in the adjacent Gulf of Oman, placing them within rapid response range.
But as U.S. naval mine countermeasures operations intensify, Trump confirmed that American “minesweepers” are actively clearing the strait and that those efforts are being stepped up “to a threefold level.”
Iranian officials simultaneously signaled a hardened stance. Tehran’s chief negotiator revealed that the country has begun collecting revenue from tolls imposed on ships transiting the strait, an unprecedented move that challenges long-standing free navigation rules under international maritime law.
The Strait of Hormuz handles a substantial share of the world’s seaborne crude oil exports, making it one of the most sensitive geopolitical flashpoints in global trade.
Any disruption – whether through mining, military confrontation or regulatory restrictions – has immediate and far-reaching implications for energy markets.
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