Donald Trump has deployed thousands of US Marines and more warships into the Middle East as Iran ramps up its attacks in the Strait of Hormuz. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth will send the USS Triplo, an amphibious assault ship, and its Marine expeditionary unit, a senior official confirmed to Axios.

Mr Hegseth said: "We're on plan to defeat, destroy, disable all of their meaningful military capabilities at a pace the world has never seen before. But it's not just that Iran doesn't have a functioning Air Force, or that their entire Navy is at the bottom of the Persian Gulf, or their missile force is shrinking daily.

"They also don't have the ability to build more. That's the most important component I'd like to emphasise today."

The move will send thousands of Marines, multiple warships, and F-35 fighter jets to the region, the official said.

They added that US Central Command asked for the new deployment so it has more options for military operations against Iran.

However, they declined to comment on whether the Marine expeditionary unit will be able to conduct ground operations if ordered to do so.

This comes amid ongoing tensions over the Strait of Hormuz - a vital chokepoint through which a fifth of the world's oil supplies must pass.

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Iran cut off access to the strait at the beginning of the war, sending global oil, shipping, and insurance prices skyrocketing.

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