Iran would be "blown off the face of the Earth" if it attacks the US vessels operating in the Strait of Hormuz of the Gulf under "Project Freedom," US President Donald Trump has said, while urging South Korea to join US mission in the crucial waterway.
"I spoke with President Trump for 20 minutes about the situation with Iran. He talked about Project Freedom and the US efforts to guide vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, issuing a new warning to the Iranian regime, saying, if the Iranians try to target US ships in this area, they will be, quote, blown off the face of the Earth," Fox News' Trey Yingst said on Monday.
Earlier, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its guided-missile destroyers are currently operating in the Gulf after transiting the Strait of Hormuz to restore freedom of navigation for commercial shipping through the Strait.
Trump also told said the Iranians are being "more malleable" than they were in the past.
The president also told Fox News that the US military buildup in the region is continuing.
"We have more weapons and ammunition at a much higher grade than we had before," Trump was quoted as saying.
"We have the best equipment. We have stuff all over the world. We have these bases all over the world. They’re all stocked up with equipment. We can use all of that stuff, and we will, if we need it."
South Korea should join mission — Trump
Call for South Korean involvement in a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump noted that Iran has targeted vessels from "unrelated nations" involved in maritime traffic, specifically highlighting an incident involving a South Korean cargo ship.
"Perhaps it’s time for South Korea to come and join the mission," he said, adding that besides this vessel, no other damage has been reported in the strait.
Trump added that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth would hold a news conference on Tuesday with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine.
South Korea’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that an explosion and subsequent fire damaged the Panama-flagged HMM Namu while it was anchored off the United Arab Emirates at 1140GMT.
Earlier, CENTCOM said US Navy guided-missile destroyers are currently operating in the Gulf after transiting the Strait of Hormuz to restore freedom of navigation for commercial shipping through the Strait.
US and Israel launched the war against Iran on February 28, prompting Tehran to retaliate against US forces and its bases in the Gulf countries while effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz — a vital route for oil and gas exports — while American forces later launched a blockade of Iranian ports.
Iranian state television said earlier on Monday that the country's navy had fired cruise missiles, rockets and combat drones near US destroyers moving through the strait in what it described as a "warning shot."
The US claimed it shot down multiple Iranian missiles and drones fired at US Navy and commercial vessels and destroyed six of Tehran's small boats.
