US President Donald Trump has warned that Iran would be “blown off the face of the Earth” if it attacks United States ships as tensions around the Strait of Hormuz push the truce between the two countries to the brink.
Hostilities were renewed in the region on Monday as Iran attacked the United Arab Emirates, and Trump said the US military shot down seven small Iranian boats near Hormuz.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump underscored Washington’s military power, and he renewed his threats to Iran.
“We have more weapons and ammunition at a much higher grade than we had before,” he said.
“We have the best equipment. We have stuff all over the world. We have these bases worldwide. They’re all stocked up with equipment. We can use all of that stuff, and we will, if we need it.”
The US military began implementing on Monday a Trump plan – dubbed Project Freedom – to guide ships through Hormuz and break the Iranian blockade on the strategic shipping lanes.
Washington said it helped two US merchant vessels through the strait, but ship-tracking websites show traffic through the waterway remains largely suspended.
Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), said vessels stranded in the area belong to 87 countries that are “innocent bystanders” in the conflict.
“Over the last 12 hours, we’ve reached out to dozens of ships and shipping companies to encourage traffic flow through the [Strait of Hormuz], consistent with the president’s intent to help guide ships safely through a narrow trade corridor,” Cooper said in a statement.–Al Jazeera
