US Claims to have “Total Control of Strait of Hormuz,” Orders Shooting any Ship Putting Mines

NEW DELHI, Apr 23: The United States President Donald Trump said he has ordered his navy to shoot any boat which is found putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz. He said there has to be “no hesitation” in carrying out such an action.

He added that the United States’ navy was clearing out the Strait of Hormuz and that he has ordered the activity to continue at a tripled-up level.

“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,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. “Additionally, our mine “sweepers” are clearing the Strait right now. I am herein ordering that activity to continue, but at a tripled up level!” he added.

Trump’s fresh remarks come as a second round of talks between the United States and Iran is anticipated, with Pakistan attempting to bring both sides to the negotiating table. On Wednesday, Trump hinted that a fresh round of talks with Iran could happen “within 48 to 72 hours”, reported the New York post.

Earlier on Thursday, the United States military seized another tanker allegedly linked with smuggling of Iranian oil. Trump’s “shoot and kill” order for ships putting mines in the Strait of Hormuz comes after the Pentagon informed the US Congress that clearing mines from the key trade waterway, which is effectively closed and is under a naval blockade by the US, could take as much time as six months, reported the Washington Post. The Pentagon also reportedly added that the process to clear mines was unlikely to be kickstarted unless the war ended.

However, just days after the two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran was announced, which has now been extended, the US forces had said that the process of clearing mines in the Strait of Hormuz had begun and that the US Navy guided-missile destroyers were conducting the ops.

In another follow-up post, Trump claimed that Iran was confused about “who their leader is” and that there was “infighting” between “hardliners” and “moderates.” “Iran is having a very hard time figuring out who their leader is! They just don’t know! The infighting is between the “Hardliners,” who have been losing BADLY on the battlefield, and the “Moderates,” who are not very moderate at all (but gaining respect!), is CRAZY!” he wrote.

The US President added that they have “total control” of the Strait of Hormuz and that no ship and enter or exit without their approval, which was also the claim that Iran makes regarding the key trade waterway. “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!!!” he wrote.

(Rohit Kumar)