The United States is sending 2,500 Marines aboard three warships to the Middle East as Iran's attacks on the Strait of Hormuz disrupt global oil supplies. The deployment comes after Iran proved more resilient than expected to recent U.S. and Israeli strikes, according to administration officials.

Iran's military actions have choked maritime traffic through the vital waterway, where a fifth of the world's oil transits daily. The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea, with Iran's southern coastline running along this strategic chokepoint. Iranian authorities routinely question vessels via maritime radio.

The deployment adds to the 50,000 American troops already stationed in the region. Oil prices have spiked since the February 28 strikes, driving up gas prices for U.S. consumers. President Trump suggested Navy warships might escort merchant vessels through the crucial route, similar to operations during late 1980s tensions.