Washington:<Text>

U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a directive to the United States Navy to "shoot and kill" any vessel deploying mines in the Strait of Hormuz. This move is seen as a stern warning to Iran, amid rising tensions over control of the essential maritime route.

According to Yonhap News Agency, President Trump communicated this order through a social media platform, emphasizing the U.S. military's intensified efforts to counter Iranian influence in the region. The U.S. has reportedly intercepted a vessel carrying Iranian oil in the Indian Ocean and is escorting another Iranian tanker, reflecting heightened vigilance.

In his post on Truth Social, Trump stated, "I have ordered the United States Navy to shoot and kill any boat, small boats though they may be, that is putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz." He further stressed the urgency by instructing the Navy to act without hesitation and announced that mine-sweeping operations i n the Strait would continue at an increased rate.

This directive follows Trump's recent announcement of extending a ceasefire with Iran, conditioned on Tehran presenting a "unified" peace proposal. The situation underscores the ongoing geopolitical tensions and the critical role of the Strait of Hormuz in global oil transportation.