- Donald Trump ordered the US Navy to "shoot and kill" any boats deploying mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
- Trump also commanded that mine-sweeping operations in the Strait of Hormuz be tripled.
- These directives were issued amid an uncertain ceasefire with Iran, following Iran's seizure of two ships and firing upon a third in the Strait.
- The US military had previously announced a blockade of shipping traffic to and from Iranian ports, a move critics argue raises oil prices and escalates tensions.
- International bodies, including the UN's maritime agency, maintain that no country has the legal right to block shipping in international straits.
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