On Wednesday the President announced that he has instructed the U.S. Navy to shoot down and destroy Iranian gunboats that harass them.
This announcement comes after an encounter last week in which American Apache attack helicopters conducting drills in international waters were harassed by Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Navy vessels. The ships crossed in front and behind American vessels at very close range and high speed, with the closest point being 50 yards.
American crews issued several warnings but received no response from the vessels.