US PRESIDENT Donald Trump struck a hard line today in a social media post, demanding that Iran stop blocking the Strait of Hormuz, or the US would bomb the Iranians “back to the Stone Ages.”

A day earlier, President Trump had said the US “will not have anything to do with” ensuring the security of ships passing through Hormuz; that was itself an apparent backtrack from an earlier threat to attack Iran’s power grid and other infrastructure if it didn’t open the strait by April 6.

Mr Trump had previously said he could walk away from the war in two to three weeks once he felt confident Iran would not be able to build a nuclear weapon – even if Tehran does not agree to a ceasefire.

His latest social media post struck a more belligerent tone as more US troops moved into the region for a possible ground offensive, after weeks of air strikes targeting Iran.

President Trump also claimed on Wednesday that “Iran’s New Regime President” wanted a ceasefire. It wasn’t clear to whom the US president was referring, since Iran still has the same president. Iran did not immediately respond.

Mr Trump has continued to insist that negotiations between the US and Iran are progressing well and claims Iran is “begging to make a deal.”

The Iranians have said that while messages have been sent between Tehran and Washington, there have been no formal negotiations.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said today his country has the “necessary will” to end the war with the US and Israel.

Talking to Al Jazeera, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said: “You cannot speak to the people of Iran in the language of threats and deadlines. 

“We do not set any deadline for defending ourselves.”

Fighting has continued throughout.

An Iranian cruise missile slammed into an oil tanker off Qatar’s coast on Wednesday, the Defence Ministry said. The 21-member crew of the tanker was evacuated and no casualties were reported.

Jordan’s military said it intercepted a ballistic missile and two drones fired from Iran. No casualties were reported. Two drones were also intercepted in Saudi Arabia and air raid sirens sounded in Israel though there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

Israel said it hit a plant in Iran producing fentanyl, a synthetic opioid. Israel and the US have alleged in recent years that Iran was experimenting with fentanyl to create a chemical weapon.