Tensions have sharply escalated between Iran and the United States following a series of aggressive maritime attacks. Iran has launched strikes against U.S. vessels and a military base in Jordan after the U.S. reportedly sank five Iranian oil tankers in retaliation for earlier missile attacks on American warships. The U.S. military confirmed the destruction of multiple Iranian tankers and has warned of continued strikes should Iran persist in its aggression. Meanwhile, both nations are engaged in a tit-for-tat exchange, leading to fears of a broader conflict in the region, as Iran threatens to target U.S. energy assets in the Gulf if further attacks occur. Oil prices are rising amid growing fears of sustained conflict in the Strait of Hormuz.