, April 24 -- Donald Trump has said he ordered the United States Navy to "shoot and kill" any Iranian boats laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns over the fragile ceasefire between the two countries.

In a social media post on Thursday, Trump said there should be "no hesitation" in targeting any vessel involved in mining the vital shipping route, reports Al Jazeera.

He also announced intensified efforts to clear explosives from the waterway, saying US mine-sweeping operations would continue at a "tripled-up level".

The Strait of Hormuz, a crucial corridor linking the Gulf to the Indian Ocean, has become a focal point of tensions during the ongoing conflict. Before the war, about 20 percent of the world's oil and gas shi...