A team of British military officers have been dispatched to the US to assist Donald Trump in reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
The small group of planners have been sent to US Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base, in Tampa, Florida.
It is believed the experts have been posted to the base to assist in drawing up plans and develop different courses of action for ships to pass through the waterway after it was blockaded by the Iranian regime.
The Government has been presented with different courses of action by senior military officials, including General Sir Gwyn Jenkins.
TRENDING
Stories
Videos
Your Say
But it is understood the Royal Navy is unwilling to deploy warships to the region due to the threat posed by the Islamic Republic regime.
It is feared that Iran could look to sink British warships using drones, ballistic and anti-ship cruise missiles.
A senior UK defence source described the situation at present as "incredibly fluid".
They added: "I don’t see many nations being willing to put warships into the middle of that threat right now.”
The small group of planners have been sent to US Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base
|GETTY
The Islamic Republic struck the world's largest liquefied natural gas export facility in Qatar on Wednesday night, triggering a surge in Brent crude oil by more than per cent to over $111 a barrel.
Qatari authorities confirmed Ras Laffan Industrial City had suffered "extensive damage" in the missile attack.
The strike was slammed by Qatar's Foreign Ministry as a “dangerous escalation" and a "flagrant violation of state sovereignty, and a direct threat to its national security and regional stability".
That came in response to an attack by Israel on Iran's South Pars Gas Field - which Donald Trump attacked the Israelis for overnight.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had threatened to target energy facilities in the Gulf region in recent days after Israeli forces struck a natural gas processing facility in Iran.
IRAN - READ THE LATEST:
It is understood the Royal Navy is unwilling to deploy warships to the region
| REUTERSThe US President has launched several scathing attacks on Sir Keir Starmer since the conflict erupted almost three weeks ago.
Mr Trump slammed the Prime Minister for refusing to deploy aircraft carriers or warships to the Middle East.
He fumed: "This doesn't sound like a great country. This doesn't sound like a friendly country."
The American leader added Sir Keir would only offer up a British aircraft carrier "after we essentially won".
PICTURED: Iran missile strike hits Qatar Ras Laffan gas facility as oil prices surge
|ARIELOSERAN/X
MAPPED: Where is the Strait of Hormuz?
|GB NEWS
The Trump administration is now said to be weighing up deploying thousands of troops to the region as the US prepares for next steps in its campaign against the Islamic Republic.
The personnel could give American forces more options to expand operations against Iran, as well as securing safe passage for oil tankers through the Straight of Hormuz.
The White House has also allegedly discussed options to send ground forces to Kharg Island - which sees around 90 per cent of Iran's crude shipments flowing through its terminals.
Last week, the US unleashed "one of the most powerful bombing raids" in Middle East history on the island.
Mr Trump said the strikes had said military installations had been "totally obliterated" on the Persian Gulf island.
Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter
More From GB News