U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that no one will control the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route, as tensions between the United States and Iran continue to escalate. According to reports. The U.S. has launched attacks on missile sites and boats in southern Iran, while Iran has rejected American proposals for a ceasefire; Trump’s administration has also considered resuming limited military strikes to push forward stalled negotiations.

U.S. Conducts Self-Defense Strikes in Southern Iran

According to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), U.S. forces conducted self-defense strikes in southern Iran on Monday to protect troops from threats posed by Iranian forces, and the attacks targeted missile launch sites and boats attempting to emplace mines, according to a statement by Tim Hawkins, a CENTCOM spokesman. The U.S. gave no further details about the attacks.

Iranian state broadcaster IRIB reported hearing several loud explosions in the vicinity of Bandar Abbas at around midnight local time. However, there was no immediate official response from Iran to the U.S. claims, according to Al Jazeera’s Resul Serdar, reporting from Tehran.

Trump’s Stance and Criticism from Hardline Republicans

Trump has expressed frustration with the current stalemate, stating that Iran’s response to the U.S.-proposed end-of-war plan was “completely unacceptable.” He warned that he could launch additional strikes against Iran at any time. Iran, in turn, has rejected what it calls “excessive demands” from the U.S., vowing it will not yield to pressure.

Trump’s plan to seal a deal before the U.S.-China summit ultimately failed as both sides refused to back down. Hardline Republicans criticized the administration’s approach, comparing it to the Obama nuclear deal and questioning whether it sets a bad precedent. Meanwhile, Democrats expressed concern that the current situation could worsen if a deal is not reached.

Iran Warns Against Blockade, Oil Prices Rise

Iran has dismissed the U.S. announcement of a maritime blockade of the Strait of Hormuz as a bluff. Ebrahim Rezaei, a spokesperson for the Iranian Parliament’s Security Committee, stated that the U.S. threats are a sign of helplessness, according to the Iranian news agency Tasnim. Iran’s parliamentary president, Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf, mocked U.S. citizens on social media, saying, “Have fun with the current fuel prices.”

The announcement of a potential blockade sent oil prices rising. The price for a barrel of North Sea Brent crude oil for delivery in June opened at $102.50, up from $95.20 before the negotiations began, according to reports from the “Wall Street Journal.”

Trump aims to prevent Iran from charging shipping companies fees for passage through the strait and to cut off the country’s oil revenues. The Strait of Hormuz is major for Iran’s ability to export oil to international markets, as the country is one of the world’s largest oil producers.