War-crazy Donald Trump says he has told his Navy to ‘shoot and kill’ any Iranian boat that is laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz – and to do so ‘without hesitation’
Donald Trump has told the US Navy to “shoot and kill” any Iranian boat that is laying the Strait of Hormuz with mines – and to do it “without hesitation”.
The US president added that he is also ordering minesweepers to continue clearing the strait “at a tripled up level!”. He wrote on Truth Social: “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. There is to be no hesitation.
“Additionally, our mine “sweepers” are clearing the Strait right now. I am hereby ordering that activity to continue, but at a tripled up level! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP”.
It comes as concerns grow over the threat of mines on the key waterway. The constant opening and closing of the route amid talks between the US and Iran could mean the Strait could be blocked for some time.
If Iran has places mines within the waterway if would threaten to stop traffic through the Strait which is usually responsible for a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas. This could further damage the economy in the long-term.
It comes after Iran launched attacks on three vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, highlighting the continuing danger to global energy supplies. It also hampered attempts to bring the US and Iran to the negotiating table to conclude the conflict.
The assaults, which Iranian media reported were executed by Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, occurred after President Donald Trump announced the US would indefinitely prolong the ceasefire with Iran, scheduled to lapse on Wednesday.
However, Mr Trump stated the US would maintain its blockade of Iranian ports, and the strikes emphasised the perils to shipping in the strait, through which 20% of the world’s oil and natural gas pass during peacetime.
This means that even if the ceasefire largely endures – and Iran and the US do not restart major offensives – the conflict will continue to burden the global economy heavily.
The war has already caused petrol prices to rocket far beyond the region and increased the cost of food and a vast range of other goods.
The longer the strait stays shut, the more serious and far-reaching the consequences will be – and the longer it will take the economy to recover.
Iran has provided no official recognition of Mr Trump’s extension, but an Iranian diplomat stated negotiations would not restart until the blockade is removed.
Iran opened fire on a container vessel in the strait on Wednesday morning, and a second was targeted shortly afterwards, according to the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre. Iranian state television later reported that the ships were in the Revolutionary Guard’s custody and being transported to Iran.
The vessels were identified as the MSC Francesca and the Epaminondas. Attempts to reach the ship’s owners for comment were unsuccessful.