(NewsNation) – After recent attacks in the Red Sea that led to the diversion of some commercial ships, former Ambassador John Bolton criticized the Biden administration for making no effort to stop Iran from putting American personnel in harm’s way.

Bolton explained that Iran was effectively manipulating events throughout the Middle East. “It’s not just that the government is failing at deterrence. I don’t even think they’re really trying,” Bolton said in one “In balance” Interview.

Iran’s attacks on merchant ships and the U.S. Navy diverted 10% of global trade traffic around the Horn of Africa, leading to higher shipping costs and higher prices for consumers.

Maersk and several other shipping and oil companies Rerouting their cargo ships around Africa and the Cape of Good Hope Avoid conflict in the Red Sea. That means more working hours and more fuel usage, which could also lead to higher prices for goods like gasoline.

The Houthi rebels vow to carry on attacking ships Traveling to and from Israel as a show Support for Palestine. Additionally, Iran deployed a naval destroyer to the region this week; its mission remains unclear.

According to US Central Command, a group of military helicopters sank three of the attack boats and killed 10 militants. The military added that the rebels fired on the helicopters but no soldiers were injured.

So far, US Central Command has reported 24 attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea since mid-November.

The United States and 12 allies issued something equivalent to one Final warning to the Houthi rebels on Wednesday to stop their attacks on ships in the Red Sea or face possible targeted military action. Yemen-based militants have carried out at least 23 attacks since December 19 in response to the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

The White House press stepped up criticism of White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, questioning the effectiveness of the Biden administration’s policy to deter Iran.

In response to journalists’ inquiries, Kirby reiterated President Joe Biden’s stance that the United States will not seek conflict in the Middle East but will defend its interests and the free flow of international trade.

Bolton highlighted the danger of inaction and warned that the United States could be at the mercy of Iran’s strategic decisions in the region. He questioned whether the US would continue to allow Iran to dictate the terms of the situation.

Bolton has consistently advocated for this more aggressive attitude towards the Iranian government. He has openly supported the idea of ​​regime change in Iran and has been a vocal critic of the Iran nuclear deal.

In June 2023 the USA Sanctions imposed An Iranian Revolutionary Guard official and others are said to have been involved in widespread plots to assassinate Bolton.

The alleged plot against Bolton in 2021, one of the most well-documented alleged assassination attempts, is part of what U.S. prosecutors and former government officials describe as an ongoing effort by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard to kill Trump-era officials behind a U.S. Airstrike in 2020 that killed the head of the Iranian Guard’s elite Quds Force, Qassem Soleimani.

NewsNation’s Tom Dempsey contributed to this report.