President Donald Trump dramatically announced that he has ordered the US Navy to 'shoot and kill' any boats possibly planting mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
In recent weeks, American forces have been feverishly trying to track down the devices which reportedly use magnetic and acoustic sensors to detect passing vessels.
The threat of these detonating while ships are passing through the crucial waterway has offered Iran some critical leverage amid the ongoing conflict with the US.
Experts say the motivations behind installing naval mines in the Strait include halting traffic, which will subsequently make oil prices skyrocket, as well as forcing the US to carry out an arduous clean-up mission.
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Trump is now taking a terrifyingly hard line in a bid to stop Iranian boats burying any more, which he announced in a Truth Social post shared on Thursday (23 April).
"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," the commander-in-chief wrote on the social media site.
"There is to be no hesitation."
Trump went on to explain that US minesweepers are 'clearing the Strait right now' - and he's ordered them to kick their efforts up a notch.
He added: "I am hereby ordering that activity to continue, but at a tripled up level!"
The Pentagon dismissed reports that it could take up to six months to clear the Strait of Hormuz of possible mines, with spokesman Sean Parnell telling the BBC that scenario is 'an impossibility and completely unacceptable'.
Trump says Strait of Hormuz is 'sealed up tight'
In another post shared shortly afterwards his 'shoot and kill' announcement, Trump bragged that the States has 'total control over the Strait of Hormuz'.
"No ship can enter or leave without the approval of the United States Navy," the president said. "It is 'Sealed up Tight' until such time as Iran is able to make a DEAL!!!"
The vital shipping route has effectively been closed amid the war between the US and Iran, which still has no end in sight.
The current impasse has plunged into doubt the prospect of further talks aimed at securing a lasting end to hostilities.
Iranian officials have said that they won't be 'bullied' into anything by Trump.
The nation's chief negotiator and parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, fumed: "You did not achieve your goals through military aggression and you will not achieve them by bullying either.
"The only way is recognising the Iranian people’s rights," Qalibaf said.
However, Trump appears to think that his refusal to compromise is 'working very well'. According to the BBC, he reckons his current tactics are paying off.
When asked if his previous warning that 'a whole civilisation' would be wiped out was a veiled threat at deploying nuclear weapons against Iran, he responded: "The other side is dying to make a deal.
"So whatever I’m saying or whatever I’m doing, it seems to be working very well. Thank you very much."
He went on to say that he 'doesn't need' any help from NATO - but added that member states 'should've been there', saying: "I wanted to see whether or not they would be involved."
He slammed UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for not offering 'at least a minimal effort and at least nicer words', and he reckons that a lot of Brits believe it was an 'incredibly bad decision' to not back up the US in the war.
Topics: Iran, US News, Politics, Donald Trump
Olivia Burke