Donald Trump threatened that the U.S. Navy would shoot and destroy any small boat found attempting to lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz. The remarks focus specifically on disrupting Iranian maritime activities.

In the latest cycle of threats and concessions that have marked US President Donald Trump’s approach to the war that he and his Israeli counterpart started against Iran, the mercurial president said on Thursday he would destroy any undersized boat attempting to lay mines in the blocked Strait of Hormuz. His focus on diminutive vessels followed his oft-repeated messaging that Iran’s larger naval vessels are no more as he renews his effort to muscle Tehran’s frustratingly resilient regime to...