The US President said the drone was "destroyed" after becoming a threat to the USS Boxer, an amphibious assault ship which was sailing near the Strait of Hormuz, in what marks the latest sign of escalating military tensions in the Middle East between Washington and Tehran. Mr Trump said the drone had received "multiple calls" to move away before being shot down, and believes this is the latest "hostile" action by the Iranian Government.

He said: "The Boxer took defensive action against an Iranian drone which had closed into a very, very near distance -- approximately 1,000 yards, ignoring multiple calls to stand down and was threatening the safety of the ship and the ship’s crew.

"This is the latest of many provocative and hostile actions by Iran against vessels operating in international waters.

"The United States reserves the right to defend our personnel, facilities and interests."

The US President also called on "other nations to protect their ships as they go through the Strait".

Jonathan Hoffman, a Pentagon spokesman, said in a statement that the Boxer “was in international waters conducting a planned inbound transit of the Strait of Hormuz” at the time of the attack.

At approximately 10am local time, a drone “closed within a threatening range”, which forced “the ship took defensive action.”

The spokesman didn't confirm whether the drone was Iranian or not.