Iran has issued a bold threat to target American ships patrolling the Strait of Hormuz, amidst ongoing tensions, and has audaciously suggested that a US ground invasion would be an economic boon for Tehran through hostage-taking.

In a provocative appearance on state television, Mohsen Rezaee, the former commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, ridiculed US President Donald Trump, referring to him as a self-appointed “policeman” of the strategic waterway. Rezaee boasted that Iranian missiles are capable of destroying American naval forces, according to a report by Agence France-Presse.

“Is this truly your responsibility? Is this befitting of a mighty military like the US?” Rezaee taunted, clad in a military uniform, directly addressing President Trump.

He warned, “Your ships will be sunk with our initial missile strikes, posing a significant threat to US military forces. They are vulnerable to our attacks, and we can annihilate them.”

As a top adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, Rezaee dismissed claims of Iran’s naval forces being “completely obliterated,” questioning, “Why does the United States avoid crossing the Strait of Hormuz?”

Rezaee insisted that Iran would not vacate the strait until its demands were fully met, emphasizing that it is Tehran setting the conditions, not Washington.

“Based on past negotiations, agreements must be drafted more carefully, with a stronger focus on economic issues,” he said.  

“Unlike the US, which fears prolonged war, Iran is fully prepared and experienced in long-term war. 

“Unlike previous talks where the other side set the terms, Iran is now setting the preconditions.”

Rezaee vowed he wasn’t in favor of extending the fragile cease-fire — before wildly claiming a ground invasion would be good for Tehran.

The hardliner claimed Iran “would take thousands of hostages and for each hostage we would get a billion dollars.”

Meanwhile, the Pentagon is sending more than 10,000 extra troops to the Middle East, the Washington Post reported. 

Around 6,000 troops are onboard the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier and its escorting warships and around 4,200 others are set to arrive by the end of the month.

The George H.W. Bush will join the USS Abraham Lincoln and the USS Gerald Ford, which are already in the Middle East. 

Last month, the US was mulling plans to deploy thousands of troops who could potentially be used on the ground — either to secure the Strait of Hormuz, Kharg Island, or safeguard Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

The mass troop deployment comes as reports surface claiming a second round of peace talks in Pakistan is on the horizon.

Talks, which included 21 hours of negotiation, ended last weekend without an agreement. 

The White House said the Trump administration was optimistic about the prospect of reaching a deal that would end the seven-week war.

Trump insisted Wednesday the war is “very close to being over.”