US President Donald Trump declared that he ordered American Navy to immediately “destroy on sight” any small vessel suspected of laying mines in strategic Strait of Hormuz, warning that no hesitation will be tolerated in carrying out the directive.

Trump escalated tensions, saying 159 Iranian naval vessels have already been destroyed and insisted and that U.S. mine-sweeping operations are actively underway in one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints.

He also announced that he has ordered a threefold increase in the scale of ongoing naval operations in the region.