Fresh tension has erupted between the United States and Iran despite the extension of the ceasefire, as President Donald Trump on Thursday ordered the US military to “shoot and kill” any Iranian small boats suspected of laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump, in a post on social media, said the U.S. Navy had been directed to open fire without hesitation on any boat attempting to block the critical waterway, adding that mine-clearing operations in the area had also been intensified.
The development comes barely 24 hours after Iran reportedly attacked three cargo vessels in the strait and seized two of them, in what Tehran described as retaliation for the American naval blockade of its ports and coastline.
In a related development, the U.S. military announced the seizure of another tanker allegedly linked to the smuggling of Iranian crude oil.
According to the U.S. Defense Department, the vessel, identified as Majestic X, was intercepted in the Indian Ocean between Sri Lanka and Indonesia.
The latest actions have further heightened concerns over the already fragile ceasefire between both countries, which was recently extended to create room for diplomatic engagement.
However, uncertainty continues to surround the proposed talks in Islamabad, as both Washington and Tehran have continued to accuse each other of violating the truce.
The renewed tension has also raised fears over global energy supply, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining one of the world’s most critical oil routes, through which nearly 20 per cent of global crude shipments pass.
Analysts warn that any prolonged disruption in the waterway could worsen pressure on international oil prices and deepen concerns over the global economy.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to restore calm in the region are still ongoing, even as hostilities continue to be reported in parts of the Middle East.
