The West Asian military crisis deepened on Thursday (April 23, 2026) with US President Donald Trump ordering the Navy to “shoot and kill any boat” laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, without naming Iran, which has enforced a blockade of the narrow maritime waterway since February 28.
Iran, hardening its stance against the US, retorted that it wouldn’t consider opening the Hormuz till Washington lifted its blockade of the Gulf region, enforced since April 8, calling it a violation of the ceasefire agreement of April 6.
“I have ordered the US Navy to shoot and kill any boat, small boats through 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,” Trump said in a social media post.
“There is to be no hesitation (to shoot and kill),” Trump said on Truth Social, adding that “additionally, our mine ‘sweepers’ are clearing the Strait right now. I am hereby ordering that activity to continue, but at a tripled-up level,” he said.
In another post, the US President said ships could not enter or leave Hormuz without the approval of the US Navy. “It is ‘Sealed up Tight’, until such time as Iran is able to make a deal.”
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met with US Charge d’Affaires to Pakistan, Natalie Baker, to discuss the ongoing diplomatic efforts to hold the second round of US-Iran talks in Islamabad.
The meeting came amid stepped-up diplomatic engagements aimed at bringing Tehran and Washington to the negotiating table, possibly by this weekend.
An official statement said Naqvi and Baker held an “important meeting” during which they exchanged detailed views on the latest regional situation and discussed diplomatic efforts related to the proposed second round of peace talks.
Naqvi welcomed Trump’s initiative to extend the ceasefire indefinitely to allow for diplomatic efforts to find a solution to the West Asian war, calling it a “welcome development” that made significant progress towards reducing tensions. “We also hope for positive progress from Iran’s side,” Naqvi said.
Naqvi and Baker, during their discussions, emphasised the need to maintain diplomatic channels open for finding a lasting solution to the water.
The statement of Pakistan’s Interior Ministry said Naqvi told Baker that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces Asim Munir were making “all-out efforts at every level” to facilitate peace.
“It is hoped that both parties will give a chance to a diplomatic and peaceful solution,” the Pakistani minister said. Naqvi had, earlier this week, met Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghadam to discuss arrangements for the second round of Islamabad talks.