Trump Orders Destruction of Ships in Hormuz: What Does This Mean for US-Iran Relations?

Lee Chae-yeon | 2026.04.24

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President Trump[AFP=Yonhap News file photo. Reproduction and DB prohibited][AFP=Yonhap News file photo. Reproduction and DB prohibited]
President Trump wrote on his social media account on the 23rd (local time) that he had ordered the sinking of any vessel that deploys mines in the Strait of Hormuz. He said he had also ordered U.S. forces to continue minesweeping operations in the strait and to triple their scale. He went on to claim, "All 159 of Iran's warships lie on the seabed," asserting that Iran's naval power had been wiped out. However, reporters have not been able to confirm whether U.S. forces have actually carried out the minesweeping operation Trump described. Yonhap News TV - For inquiries and tips: KakaoTalk/LINE jebo23; Chaeyeon Lee (touche@yna.co.kr)