US-Iran strikes: Latest developments
The United States launched a third night of strikes on Iran as U.S. President Donald Trump reimposed a blockade on Iranian ports and proposed that all ships pay a fee to the United States to pass through the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Here are the latest developments:
- Iran says U.S. hit nuclear plant city -
U.S. strikes on Tuesday hit the port city of Bushehr, which hosts Iran's only civilian nuclear power plant, authorities said.
"Four points in the city of Bushehr were hit by enemy projectiles at noon (0830 GMT)", deputy provincial governor Ehsan Jahanian was quoted by official news agency IRNA as saying, blaming the attacks on the United States.
- Blasts heard in Iranian port city -
Iranian state television reported that five explosions were heard around the port city of Bandar Abbas, near the Strait of Hormuz, which has been at the center of renewed Iran-US fighting.
- India summons Iranian envoy over ship attacks -
India summoned Iran's senior diplomat in New Delhi to make a "strong protest" against attacks on two commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz that killed an Indian seafarer and wounded several others.
- Jordan, Bahrain intercept Iranian attacks -
Jordan's army said Tuesday it had shot down four missiles from Iran, as Tehran pressed attacks on U.S. allies in response to American strikes.
Bahrain said its air defenses intercepted several Iranian attacks. Earlier, explosions were heard in the Bahraini capital on Tuesday morning, an AFP journalist said, after sirens sounded for the third time since dawn.
- UAE says Iran attacked ships, tanker hit off Oman -
The United Arab Emirates said Tuesday that Iran attacked two ships in the Strait of Hormuz with missiles, killing one crew member and wounding eight. The oil-rich country is a top U.S. ally in the region and has reported multiple missile and drone strikes from Iran.
A missile also hit a tanker just off the Omani fishing port of Limah, the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency said on Tuesday.
- Oil prices rise again -
Oil prices jumped again Tuesday after the latest US strikes against Iran.
The key West Texas Intermediate and Brent North Sea Crude contracts both rose about 2.5 percent to $80.15 and $85.37 a barrel respectively.
China calls for Hormuz strait safe passage
China called on the United States and Iran on Tuesday to restore safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. "Restoring normal and safe passage through the strait as soon as possible is a shared aspiration of the international community," a foreign ministry spokesperson said.
- U.S. to reimpose blockade on Iranian ports -
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said that following President Donald Trump's orders, it would reimpose a blockade on Iranian ports beginning at 2000 GMT on Tuesday.
Washington had eased its blockade after the warring sides reached an interim agreement in June to end the conflict, but Trump vowed to snap it back after the fresh flare-up in fighting.
President Donald Trump said Monday the United States was "taking over" the Strait of Hormuz and would be "reimbursed, at the rate of 20% of all cargo shipped, for any and all costs necessary to do the job of providing safety and security" through the strait.
- Iran rejects U.S. takeover of strait -
Iran's military warned on Monday that it would not allow the United States to "interfere" in the management of the Strait of Hormuz.
A spokesman for the Khatam Al-Anbiya military command said in a video message that Tehran "under no circumstances will allow... the United States to interfere in the management" of the strategic waterway.
U.S. strikes kill two in Iranian oil city
U.S. strikes killed two people on Monday in southwestern Iran in an oil-producing region near Kuwait and Iraq, Iranian news agencies reported.
U.S. Central Command later confirmed it used one-way attack sea drones for the first time to strike the port.
