US-Iran War Live Updates: Trump Orders Navy to ‘Shoot and Kill’ Minelayers in Strait of Hormuz, US Forces Board Oil Tanker, Lebanon-Israel Truce Extended at White House
- Military to "shoot and kill" any Iranian boats laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, intensifying the maritime standoff between the United States and Iran over the critical...
- The order, announced in a social media post Thursday morning, comes as the U.S.
- Iran has responded by seizing several cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz, attacking three commercial vessels and capturing two of them.
President Donald Trump has ordered the U.S. Military to “shoot and kill” any Iranian boats laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, intensifying the maritime standoff between the United States and Iran over the critical global shipping route.
The order, announced in a social media post Thursday morning, comes as the U.S. Military reported boarding another oil tanker suspected of smuggling Iranian oil in the Indian Ocean. The vessel, identified as the Guinea-flagged Majestic X, was seized after being found transporting oil from Iran, according to Pentagon statements.
Iran has responded by seizing several cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz, attacking three commercial vessels and capturing two of them. Iranian officials stated that the U.S. Naval blockade is a “main obstacle” to new peace talks, with Tehran’s forensics chief reporting nearly 3,400 deaths in Iran since U.S.-Israeli strikes began on February 28, 2026.
Despite the escalating tensions, President Trump said there is “no time pressure” in negotiations with Iran and “no time frame” for ending the conflict, even as he extended the existing ceasefire. He contrasted the current situation with past U.S. Military engagements, noting, “We were in Vietnam for 18 years, we were in Iraq for many, many years… I’ve been doing this for six weeks.”
In related developments, Trump announced that the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon will be extended by three weeks following talks at the White House. The initial 10-day ceasefire, which took effect the previous Friday, was set to expire Monday before the extension. Shortly before the announcement, Hezbollah launched rockets at northern Israel, which the Israel Defense Forces said they intercepted.
Iranian leadership has dismissed U.S. Claims of internal disarray, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei calling such reports “the enemy’s media operations” aimed at undermining Iranian unity. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf similarly rejected Trump’s remarks about leadership confusion, asserting that Iran “will make the aggressor regret” its actions.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a vital artery for global oil shipments, and the ongoing mine-laying and countermeasures have effectively disrupted shipping in the region. U.S. Forces continue mine-clearing operations while maintaining a naval presence to enforce the blockade on Iranian oil exports.