President Donald Trump has directed the US Navy to immediately engage and destroy Iranian vessels involved in mining operations within the Strait of Hormuz, as Tehran continues to assert control over the crucial waterway by seizing commercial ships.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump declared that the military had been instructed to open fire on any boat, regardless of size, that is deploying mines in the strait's waters. This directive comes after the US military reported boarding another tanker, the Majestic, in the Indian Ocean.
Trump further stated that he had ordered US minesweepers to intensify their de-mining efforts in the area, tripling their operational level. However, he did not address other methods Iran has employed to disrupt shipping, such as speedboats, missiles, and drones.
Despite US efforts to pressure Iran into relinquishing its hold on the Strait through a blockade of ports and vessels, Iran continues to demonstrate its dominance over the waterway. State television broadcast footage of masked commandos boarding the MSC Francesca, climbing a rope ladder and entering the ship with rifles.
Iran also claimed to have captured another vessel, the Epaminondas, on Wednesday, accusing both ships of attempting to cross the Strait without permits. Judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei stated that the vessels had "faced the law," and that Iranian boats and drones were preventing the US Navy from approaching.
The Pentagon refuted reports in the Washington Post that House Armed Services Committee members had been briefed that clearing the Strait of Hormuz of mines would take approximately six months to restore free traffic. Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell dismissed these claims as selectively chosen, telling AFP that a six-month closure is impossible and unacceptable to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
In another post, Trump asserted that the US has "total control" over the Strait and criticized the Iranian regime, which insists on US Navy withdrawal before engaging in talks. He wrote, "Iran is having a very hard time figuring out who their leader is! The infighting between the 'Hardliners,' who have been losing badly on the battlefield, and the 'Moderates,' who are not very moderate at all, is crazy!"
Trump added, "We have total control over the Strait of Hormuz. No ship can enter or leave without the approval of the United States Navy. It is 'Sealed up Tight,' until such time as Iran is able to make a deal!!!"
Hopes for a swift resolution to the conflict are fading, with no plans to resume mediated talks in Pakistan. A senior Iranian source told Reuters that Iran might consider attending a meeting in Pakistan, but only if the US lifts its blockade and releases seized Iranian ships. The US military appeared unmoved, announcing on Thursday that troops had interdicted a sanctioned vessel transporting oil from Iran in the Indian Ocean, boarding the stateless vessel Majestic X overnight.
The stalemate in the strait has caused volatile market reactions. The lack of a clear path to resolving the worst energy disruption in history has driven oil prices higher, but with fighting on hold, Wall Street share prices have reached record highs. On Thursday, shares fell in Japan, Hong Kong, Britain, and Germany, but rose in South Korea and France. Futures markets suggested a slight easing on Wall Street after Wednesday's record close. Brent crude increased by 0.5% to $102.40 per barrel.
The US was also set to host a second round of talks between Israel and Lebanon on Thursday, with Lebanon seeking an extension of a ceasefire reached last week in a parallel conflict. Israeli strikes killed five people, including journalist Amal Khalil, 43, in Lebanon on Wednesday, marking the deadliest day since the US-brokered truce took effect. Khalil and freelance photographer Zeinab Faraj were covering developments near al-Tayri when an Israeli strike hit a vehicle in front of them. They sought refuge in a nearby house, which was subsequently targeted by another Israeli strike, according to Lebanon's health ministry, a senior Lebanese military official, and press advocates.
