New Delhi, March 10 -- President Donald Trump declared a stark red line on Monday, warning that the United States would unleash overwhelming military force if Iran attempted to halt oil shipments through the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

The warning came as the United States-Israel war against Iran entered its tenth day, sending oil prices and global markets into volatile swings and deepening fears that the conflict could disrupt a major artery of the world's energy supply.

"If Iran does anything that stops the flow of Oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States of America TWENTY TIMES HARDER than they have been hit thus far," Trump wrote on social media.

He added a stark threat of escalation: "Additionally, we...