Recent incidents in the Strait of Hormuz have heightened tensions between the United States and Iran. Iranian gunboats have been reported approaching and attempting to board U.S.-flagged oil tankers, including the Stena Imperative, prompting responses from naval authorities. Security firms and maritime sources indicate that U.S. warships are involved in protecting these vessels, as multiple reports detail attempted intercepts by armed Iranian small vessels. This escalation occurs amidst a broader backdrop of military posturing and rising conflict rhetoric between the two nations.