US President Donald Trump will deploy 5000 US Marines to the Middle East in order to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, according to reports in the Wall Street Journal.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has approved the request made by US Central Command to send the 31st Marine Division to the region.

Iran had warned that it would close the Strait of Hormuz immediately after the US and Israeli attacks on February 28. According to reports, Iran has hit several ships in the area, including oil tankers.

Yesterday, US officials reported that Iran has begun placing mines in the Gulf canal, which serves as a route for about 20 percent of the world's oil products.