The U.S. is beefing up its military presence in the Persian Gulf with thousands of Marines, fighter jets and warships. This is in response to Iran’s nuclear program and its recent aggressive actions in the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil shipping route.

Iran has been seizing ships and harassing others in the strait, which has rattled the U.S. and other nations. The U.S. wants to keep the strait open to prevent a spike in global energy prices, especially with the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

But Iran’s actions are also a show of power and a warning to the U.S. and its allies. The U.S. has been trying to shift its focus to China and Russia, but the Middle East keeps pulling it back in. The situation is tense and there’s no sign of a diplomatic solution anytime soon.

Read more at AP News.