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.

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

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

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the disruptions have already cost the country $11 billion (£8 billion), but maintained that Nevy escorts for commercial ships could begin “soon”.

Other sources told Axios that the US military is planning potential operations for taking out land-based anti-ship missiles in the Strait before any escorts could begin.