Pentagon Drafts New Strike Options Targeting Strait of Hormuz as Trump Threatens Lethal Response to Naval Mines

Pentagon develops plans to target IRGC naval assets as Trump issues "shoot and kill" orders for mine-laying boats in the Strait of Hormuz.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 24, 2026, 2:54 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Times of Israel

A Strategic Pivot to Maritime Chokepoints

The U.S. Department of War is drafting high-stakes military options designed to break Iran's persistent influence over the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman. According to reports from CNN, the Pentagon is focusing on dynamic targeting of the assets that allow Tehran to maintain a naval blockade, specifically targeting the fleet of fast attack boats that have largely survived previous bombing campaigns. These plans signal a shift in U.S. strategy toward securing critical energy corridors, as the disruption of nearly 20% of the world’s oil trade continues to fuel global inflation and economic volatility during the ongoing conflict.

Lethal Force Authorized for Mining Operations

President Donald Trump significantly escalated the maritime rules of engagement on Thursday, issuing a directive to the U.S. Navy to use lethal force against any vessel involved in mining operations. In a public statement, Trump ordered commanders to "shoot and kill" any boat, including small paramilitary craft, suspected of deploying naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz. While the administration has yet to provide public confirmation of active mining by Iranian forces, the President emphasized that there would be no hesitation in responding to such threats, while simultaneously ordering a tripling of U.S. mine-sweeping efforts in the region.

Resilience of the Revolutionary Guard’s Naval Wing

Intelligence assessments suggest that the IRGC's asymmetric naval capabilities remain a potent threat despite months of intensive U.S. and Israeli air strikes. Approximately 60% of the IRGC's naval arm, characterized by highly mobile and easily hidden fast-attack speedboats, is believed to be operational. These vessels, which typically carry machine guns and mine-laying equipment, have proven more difficult to eliminate than the traditional Iranian navy, much of which was neutralized in the early stages of the war. This resilience has allowed Tehran to continue seizing commercial ships, such as the recently captured MSC Francesca, even during the current ceasefire window.