United States President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of American marines to the Middle East to help reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz as tensions with Iran escalate.
The move follows threats from Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who vowed to keep the vital oil shipping route closed until attacks on his country stop.
US officials said the warship USS Tripoli (LHA-7) has departed from Okinawa in Japan carrying about 5,000 sailors and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.
The amphibious force is capable of conducting air and sea operations and could deploy troops on the ground if required. However, officials said the unit may take up to two weeks to reach the region.
The deployment comes as global oil markets react to the disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route through which a large share of the world’s oil supply normally passes.
Speaking earlier, Trump warned that US forces would strike Iran “very hard” in the coming days and suggested the conflict would end only when he judged that the pressure had achieved its aim.
More oil tankers were reportedly attacked on Friday as the conflict intensified. The incidents followed Khamenei’s pledge to maintain the blockade of the strait despite international pressure.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters the United States was addressing the situation and downplayed concerns about the disruption.
“It’s something we are dealing with,” he said, adding that the public should not worry about the strait remaining closed.
The Strait of Hormuz lies between Iran and Oman and is one of the world’s most important shipping corridors for oil and energy supplies.
Analysts warn that a prolonged disruption could drive energy prices higher and increase the risk of a global economic slowdown.
