According to a report by Fox News, on Friday April 24, 2026, as tensions continue to mount in the Middle East, the United States has adopted an aggressive new posture in the Strait of Hormuz, with President Trump authorizing lethal force against any vessels attempting to mine the critical waterway.
The directive marks a significant escalation in “Operation Epic Fury,” as the U.S. moves to secure one of the world’s most vital maritime chokepoints.
National security and military analyst Rebecca Grant praised the administration’s firm approach during an interview on Fox News.
“Lethal force is absolutely appropriate and notice President Trump really focused on any attempt by Iran’s fastboats to put mines out in the strait,” Grant stated.
Describing the current security environment, she added, “Right now we have a couple clear shipping channels that our U.S. Navy destroyers have ready to go, so we don’t want to see more activity”.
Addressing the challenges posed by Iranian forces in the region, Grant characterized the behavior of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as unprofessional and obstructive. “Iran’s IRGC Navy remnants are acting like pirates,” she remarked.
However, she insisted that Tehran is significantly underestimating American military capabilities. “They’ve only seen a glimpse of what the U.S. Navy could do,” Grant noted. “U.S. is in control of that strait and the U.S. needs to keep that control of the strait”.