Donald Trump has warned that Iran would be “blown off the face of the Earth” should it target United States vessels, as mounting tensions around the Strait of Hormuz push the truce between the two nations to the breaking point.

Hostilities flared in the region on Monday following an Iranian attack on the United Arab Emirates.

During the surge in tensions, the US military intercepted and destroyed seven small Iranian boats near the strategic waterway, according to the president.

In an interview with Fox News, Trump highlighted the scale of Washington’s military capabilities and intensified his rhetoric against Tehran, reports Reuters.

“We have more weapons and ammunition at a much higher grade than we had before,” the US broadcaster quoted him as saying.

“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,” he told the US outlet.

The military has already begun executing Project Freedom, a White House initiative designed to escort ships through Hormuz and dismantle the Iranian blockade on the vital trade route.

While Washington confirmed it has assisted two US merchant vessels through the passage, ship-tracking data indicates that general traffic remains largely at a standstill.

Admiral Brad Cooper, head of the US Central Command, described the stranded vessels as “innocent bystanders” representing 87 different nations.

Cooper noted that over a 12-hour window, the military reached out to dozens of shipping companies to encourage movement through the trade corridor, in line with the president’s directive to ensure safe passage.