U.S. naval and air forces are moving toward the Middle East as tensions with Iran rise, highlighting deterrence efforts, escalation risks, and what the buildup means for servicemembers operating in the region.

The blast happened a day before a planned naval drill by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which a fifth of all oil traded passes.

There are currently around 35,000 U.S. troops in the Middle East.

The United States is ratcheting up pressure on Iran with sanctions as the threat of an American attack against the regime looms large on the world stage.

Iran vowed Thursday to conduct live-fire military drills in one of the world’s most vital sea passages — which sees 20% of the globe’s oil transports — next week, just two

U.S. President Donald Trump issued another ultimatum to Iran on Jan. 28, threatening to strike the regime if it does not agree to a deal on limiting its nuclear weapons program. Earlier in January, Iran was rocked by nationwide protests fueled by high inflation and the sharp depreciation of the Iranian rial.

President Trump has not authorized military action in Iran, but the U.S. has built up its presence in the region in recent days.

Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, proposed a video conference between US president Donald Trump and his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian – the kind of high-wire diplomacy that may appeal to the US leader, but would be anathema to circumspect Iranian diplomats.