The US military is deploying fighter jets and a warship to the Middle East to deter Iran's forces. Iranian boats have repeatedly harassed and tried to seize commercial ships transiting the region. AP Photo/Petros KaradjiasCENTCOM's area of responsibility encompasses several million square miles of land across or 21 countries in the Middle East and Central and South Asia. Tehran's naval ships tried to capture two oil tankers on July 5 as they were transiting through international waters and even opened fire on one of them. The US and Iran have maintained a contentious relationship throughout the Biden administration, and Washington has repeatedly accused Tehran of threatening regional security in the Middle East and even harming American service members.

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Persons: Defense Lloyd Austin, Thomas Hudner, Sabrina Singh, Singh, Elizabeth, Petros Karadjias, Biden Organizations: Pentagon, Service, Defense, US, AP, US Navy, US Air Force Locations: Wall, Silicon, Strait, Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, Petros Karadjias CENTCOM's, East, Central, South Asia, Iran, Iranian, US, Washington, Tehran, Syria, State, Yemen