Tensions in the Middle East have surged as Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards warned they would block oil shipments from the region if attacks from the United States and Israel continue. President Donald Trump responded with a stern warning, saying the U.S. would strike Iran with unprecedented force if it attempted to stop tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which carries about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply.

The conflict, ongoing since late February, has already killed over 1,300 Iranian civilians and left thousands injured. Israel says its goal is to dismantle Iran’s clerical system, while the U.S. aims to neutralize Iran’s missile and nuclear programs. The recent appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s new supreme leader has made a quick resolution appear unlikely.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi indicated that further negotiations with the U.S. are improbable, citing previous talks that ended with attacks despite progress. Meanwhile, the war has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, forcing some oil producers to halt output and sending global oil prices on a volatile path.

Domestically, rising fuel costs are politically sensitive in the U.S., with voters citing gas prices as a top concern ahead of the November midterm elections. Internationally, the attacks have also prompted humanitarian responses, including visas for Iranian women’s soccer players seeking asylum, and military support for neighboring countries worried about the conflict spreading.