Trump tweets order to destroy harassing Iranian gunboats

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he has ordered the Navy to shoot down and destroy any Iranian gunboats that harass U.S. ships, a directive that comes a week after the Navy reported a group of Iranian boats made dangerous and harassing approaches to American vessels in the Persian Gulf.

Trump did not cite a specific Iranian provocation in his tweet or provide details. Senior Pentagon officials gave no indication that Trump had directed a fundamental change in military policy on Iran.

The president issued an important warning to the Iranians, David Norquist, the deputy secretary of defense, said at a Pentagon news conference when asked about the tweet. What he was emphasizing is, all of our ships retain the right of self defense. He called the tweet a very useful thing.

Air Force Gen. John Hyten, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he thinks the Iranians understand what Trump meant. He said the Navy also understands that if an Iranian on a gunboat has a gun and you point it at me, that can be interpreted as an expression of hostile intent that may be answered with U.S. force.

In the tweet, Trump said: I have instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea."
Shortly before Trump's tweet, Iran's Revolutionary Guard said it had put the Islamic Republic's first military satellite into orbit, dramatically unveiling what experts described as a secret space program. That launch raised concerns among experts about whether the technology could be used to help
During last Wednesday's incident in the Gulf, the U.S. Navy said the 11 Iranian gunboats' dangerous and provocative actions increased the risk of miscalculation and collision ... and were not in accordance with the obligation under international law to act with due regard for the safety of other vessels in the area."