The United States has warned that it will thwart any Iranian attempt to block the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important oil shipping routes.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated at a press conference that the US military is dealing with the situation and that Iran will not be allowed to obstruct traffic in this strategic corridor, although he did not provide details on how it will be acted upon.
For his part, General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the US military is aiming to strike Iran's ability to place naval mines in the strait.
About 20 percent of the world's traded oil typically passes through the Strait of Hormuz, making any threat to it a major factor in global energy markets.
Meanwhile, oil prices have remained high, even after President Donald Trump's administration eased some restrictions on Russian oil shipments in an effort to avert an energy crisis linked to the war in the Middle East.
