Republicans in the US Senate have signaled their support for President Donald Trump's tough rhetoric towards Iran, just hours before a deadline he has set for opening the Strait of Hormuz.
In a social media post, an official account for Senate Republicans declared: "Iran would be wise to take President Trump's word seriously. They can choose the easy way or the hard way."
Earlier in the day, Trump had threatened on social media to destroy Iran's "entire civilization" with bombings if Iranian leaders did not allow ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, a growing number of Democrats have called for Trump to be removed from office over these threats. Some have called for impeachment proceedings, while others have cited the 25th Amendment to the US Constitution, which provides for the removal of the president's powers if he is deemed unfit to exercise his office.
Calls for Trump's removal were also joined by Marjorie Taylor Greene, a former Republican representative who was previously one of his strongest allies, but who has recently become one of his most vocal critics.
Democrats had avoided such demands early in Trump's second term, but many lawmakers appear to see the ongoing war as a turning point in their stance.
