WASHINGTON D.C April 24, 2026 – Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced today that President Donald Trump has authorized the United States Navy to destroy any Iranian fast boats attempting to lay mines or disrupt passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
“President Trump has authorized the United States Navy to destroy any Iranian fast boats that attempt to put mines in the water or disrupt passage through the Strait of Hormuz — to shoot and kill,” Hegseth stated during a Pentagon briefing. “Our commanders have clear rules of engagement. If Iran is putting mines in the water or otherwise threatening American commercial shipping or American forces, we will shoot to destroy.”
The directive comes as the U.S. continues to enforce a tightening maritime blockade of Iranian ports amid the ongoing 2026 Hormuz crisis. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has been accused of deploying additional sea mines and using swarms of fast attack boats to harass commercial vessels in the narrow waterway.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical chokepoints, handling roughly 20% of global oil trade.
Background and Context
The announcement follows collapsed diplomatic talks and repeated Iranian actions against international shipping. Hegseth compared the new rules of engagement to U.S. operations against drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean, emphasizing “no hesitation.”
The U.S. maintains a strong naval presence in the region, including multiple carrier strike groups, to protect freedom of navigation.
Iranian fast boats, often operated by the IRGC, have long been a key element of Tehran’s asymmetric naval strategy in the Gulf.
This is a developing story. No immediate official reaction from Tehran has been reported. Life News Agency will continue to monitor the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and provide updates as they emerge.
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