
US President Donald Trump has said he has ordered the US Navy to shoot down any ship that lays mines in the Strait of Hormuz, amid heightened tensions in the strategic area.
In a post on the Truth Social platform, Trump said that "there should be no hesitation," emphasizing that any ship involved in laying mines should be neutralized.
"I have ordered the United States Navy to shoot down and kill any ship, even small vessels, that is laying mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz. There should be no hesitation," Trump wrote.
He also added that US forces are operating on the ground, noting that "mine-sweeping" ships are currently in operation to ensure passage through the strait.
Meanwhile, the US Central Command announced that it has ordered 31 ships to return to port since the beginning of the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
On Sunday, the US announced that it had detained the Iranian-flagged cargo ship "Touska", which it said did not respond to calls for a stop, while Iran described the intervention as an "act of armed piracy".