US President Donald Trump has threatened to 'eliminate' Iranian navy ships approaching the Strait of Hormuz blockade, saying they will be dealt with using the same system as drug dealer boats.
Trump claimed that Iran's navy had been 'completely obliterated' and was 'laying at the bottom of the sea', although this has not been independently verified.
The US military has vowed to blockade all Iranian ports as part of efforts to force Tehran into agreeing to open the Strait of Hormuz and accept a peace deal.
The blockade has raised the spectre of a resumption of war and poses serious risks to the global economy, with oil prices skyrocketing and the cost of basic goods increasing.
Tehran has allowed some ships to pass while charging fees, leading to accusations that it is holding the global economy hostage.
