Iran has threatened that any military operations by Israel against Hezbollah forces in Lebanon might violate the ceasefire that Iran declared against the US. Even though the US attempts to maintain two conflicts independently, it considers the ceasefire to be for both conflicts and aims to negotiate a lasting peace. Such tensions, in addition to recent military confrontations between the US and Iran within the Strait of Hormuz, have led to a sharp rise in the price of crude oil in international markets due to continued blockage of one of the major oil transportation routes.