Trump orders US military to ‘shoot and kill’ Iranian small boats choking Strait of Hormuz

Key Points:

• U.S. President Trump ordered the Navy to shoot any small boats placing mines in the Strait of Hormuz and announced an intensification of mine-clearing operations amid heightened tensions with Iran following the seizure of an Iranian oil smuggling tanker.
• The U.S. military seized the Guinea-flagged tanker Majestic X in the Indian Ocean, linked to Iranian oil smuggling and previously sanctioned by the U.S., as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt Iran’s illicit maritime activities.
• Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guards recently attacked three cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz, capturing two, escalating the standoff that has severely restricted shipping through this vital oil transit route.
• Diplomatic efforts remain fragile, with ceasefire talks between Israel and Hezbollah ongoing and uncertainty about the resumption of peace talks between the U.S. and Iran, while internal divisions within Iran’s leadership complicate negotiations.
• The conflict and resulting disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have caused significant global economic impacts, including soaring gas prices and increased costs for goods, with no clear resolution in sight.