As the United States maintains its "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran, tension is on the rise in the Gulf, raising concerns over a full-blown military escalation.

While the US has beefed up its military presence in the region, the administration of President Donald Trump has been seeking allies for an international naval coalition to "combat Iranian aggression" in the Strait of Hormuz - one of the world's busiest and most important shipping routes.

Iran's government meanwhile says the naval build-up could destabilise the entire region and has called for US vessels to leave the area.

"We believe that the best the US can do for the protection of maritime navigation is to just leave people alone; don't interfere," Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tells Al Jazeera.

"This is basically a hostile act against Iran and I do not believe it will have any impact other than insecurity."