Last week, Iran launched additional attacks at America and its Middle East allies despite the American navy working to escort trapped tankers out of the Strait of Hormuz. These tankers are filled with crews who are running out of resources, and they need to be evacuated—both for the very humanitarian cause of saving the lives of sailors as well as the broader strategic goal of protecting the freedom of navigation on the high seas.

President Donald Trump and the CENTCOM in the Middle East have said that they gave a few retaliatory “love taps” (as in, conducting self-defense measures against Iranian missiles and attack boats). Some political commentators are demanding that the American military abandon the ceasefire and resume full military strikes on Iran again.

However, this is not necessary, nor should we wish for a resumption of war. Iran is merely sending a few desperate potshots that can be defended against. The U.S. Navy should simply continue its project of escorting tankers out of Hormuz and let Iran eventually come to the diplomatic table.