Trump orders US military to ‘shoot and kill’ Iranian boats in Hormuz
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Washington: US President Donald Trump has ordered the US military to “shoot and kill” Iranian small boats operating in the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions in the region and deepening the US–Iran standoff.
In a social media post on Thursday morning, Trump said the military is intensifying mine-clearing operations in the critical waterway. The move comes as the confrontation in the Persian Gulf intensifies, raising fresh questions over efforts to de-escalate the conflict.
Meanwhile, the US military said it seized another tanker linked to Iranian oil smuggling on Thursday. The vessel, identified as Majestic X, was intercepted in the Indian Ocean, further complicating already strained relations. Tracking data showed the tanker operating between Sri Lanka and Indonesia.
The seizure follows reports that Iran attacked three cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz a day earlier, capturing two of them. The escalating maritime confrontations have effectively disrupted traffic through the Strait, through which nearly 20 per cent of global oil trade passes in peacetime.
The developments have also impacted global markets, with US stocks slipping from record highs amid uncertainty. The S&P 500 fell 0.3 per cent, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 193 points, and the Nasdaq declined 0.4 per cent. Oil prices remained volatile, with Brent crude rising 0.5 per cent to USD 102.43 a barrel.
Trump also claimed in a separate post that internal divisions within Iran were weakening its leadership, stating there was confusion over who is in control. He said his administration was dealing with Iranian officials seeking a deal while acknowledging complications following the killing of several top Iranian leaders.
Earlier this week, Trump said he had extended a fragile ceasefire to allow Iran’s leadership more time to present a “unified proposal” to end the conflict.
The wider regional situation remains volatile. In southern Lebanon, Hezbollah said it targeted Israeli positions and downed a drone, while Israel reported intercepting an aerial threat. The group said its actions were in response to Israeli ceasefire violations, while Israel has accused Hezbollah of repeated breaches since the truce began.
In Gaza, an Israeli drone strike killed three people in central areas, according to health officials. The Israeli military has not commented on the incident. Gaza’s health ministry said 791 people have been killed and 2,235 wounded since renewed strikes began, though it does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
Meanwhile, United Nations peacekeeping operations in southern Lebanon face uncertainty, with officials indicating that any future force may be smaller due to funding pressures and shifting mandates.
Experts warn that the ongoing naval tensions in the Strait of Hormuz could have far-reaching global economic consequences, given its strategic role in energy transport, with some noting that the crisis now hinges on whether Washington or Tehran can endure the greater economic pressure.
With PTI inputs