Trump orders Navy to shoot, kill Iranian boats in Hormuz
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- Trump ordered the U.S. Navy to "shoot and kill" any small Iranian boats laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, saying "there is to be no hesitation" and ordering mine-sweeping operations at a tripled level
- The U.S. military seized the oil tanker Majestic X in the Indian Ocean between Sri Lanka and Indonesia, previously sanctioned in 2024 for smuggling Iranian crude oil and bound for Zhoushan, China
- Israel's defense minister Israel Katz said Israel is prepared to resume war with Iran and is awaiting a "green light" from the United States, with "targets marked" for both defensive and offensive operations
- The Strait of Hormuz carries 20% of all crude oil and natural gas traded globally; since the Feb. 28 start of the war, over 30 ships have come under attack in the Persian Gulf, strait, and Gulf of Oman
- Trump extended the ceasefire to give Iran's "battered leadership" time for a "unified proposal" while maintaining the American blockade of Iranian ports, then told reporters "Don't rush me" when pressed on his own 4-to-6 week timeline
- Israel and Lebanon agreed to extend their ceasefire by three weeks after White House talks, though both sides have committed multiple violations since the initial 10-day truce took effect last Friday
Why it matters: The blockade and mine threat in a strait carrying 20% of global crude and gas trade have halted nearly all traffic, with over 30 ships attacked and insurance premiums spiking since the Feb. 28 war. Trump's shoot-to-kill authorization escalates from interdiction to lethal force, and Israel's 'green light' posture means the standoff could pivot to a renewed Israeli offensive.
