Trump says US to attack any boats laying mines in Strait of Hormuz

United States President Donald Trump on Thursday said he had ordered the US Navy "to shoot and kill any boat" that is laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, and that US minesweepers were working "at a tripled up level" to clear any mines from the waters.

In a post on his official Truth Social account, President Trump wrote: "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.

"There is to be no hesitation. Additionally, our mine “sweepers” are clearing the Strait right now. I am hereby ordering that activity to continue, but at a tripled up level! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP".

President Trump also posted that the US have "total control over the Strait of Hormuz. No ship can enter or leave without the approval of the United States Navy. It is “Sealed up Tight,” until such time as Iran is able to make a DEAL!!!"

President Donald Trump added that a deal with Iran will only be made when it is "appropriate and good" for the United States.

This comes after Trump said on Wednesday in a statement on social media the US had agreed to a request by Pakistani mediators "to hold our attack on... Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal ... and discussions are concluded, one way or the other".

Pakistan's leaders have hosted peace talks in Islamabad to end a war that has killed thousands of people and shaken the global economy.

But even as he announced what appeared to be a unilateral ceasefire extension, Trump also said he would continue the US Navy's blockade of Iran's trade by sea, considered an act of war by Iran.

There was no response early on Wednesday to Trump's announcement from senior Iranian officials, although some initial reactions from Tehran suggested Trump's comments were being treated skeptically.

IRANIAN UNITY

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei on Thursday rejected Trump's claim of disarray in the leadership, describing it as "the enemy's media operations" to maliciously undermine Iranian unity and security.

"Unity will become stronger and more solid, and enemies will become weaker and more humiliated," he said in a post on X, as he remained out of the public eye since taking over from his father, the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed by US strikes in the early days of the war that began on February 28.

Trump said this week he would indefinitely extend what had been a two-week ceasefire with Iran to allow for further peace talks, which have yet to be scheduled.

"Don't rush me," he said when asked how long he was willing to wait for a long-term peace deal. "I want to make the best deal ... I want to have it everlasting."

He ruled out the use of nuclear weapons, telling reporters they were unnecessary because the US had "decimated" Iran with conventional arms.

"No, I wouldn't use it. A nuclear weapon should never be allowed to be used by anybody," Trump said when asked by a reporter at the White House.