US Central Command releases video it says shows missiles being fired at IranKuwait's Army posted on X that its anti-air defence systems intercepted "hostile aerial targets".Kuwait said it had temporarily closed its airspace due to the Iranian attacks, before reopening it early on Thursday.In Iran, state media reported explosions around Tehran, the port city of Bandar Abbas and other southern areas near the Strait of Hormuz.The IRGC said it had hit two oil tankers passing through the crucial shipping channel shortly after state media reported it was "completely closed to all type of vessel" - although there was no immediate confirmation of a strike.Centcom, however, said "commercial ships are continuing to transit in and out of the Strait of Hormuz".Oil prices rose shortly after the closure of the shipping channel and the apparent attack on the ships was announced.Brent crude oil, seen as the global benchmark, climbed to around $95 a barrel after rising by about 2%.Three Indian sailors killed in US strike on oil tankerBowen: Trump and Netanyahu wanted to reshape the Middle East - now they risk a permacrisisHours before the US launched its latest attack, Trump had warned: "We hit them hard yesterday and we're going to hit them hard again today."Trump wrote on Truth Social that Iranian leaders had "taken too long to negotiate a deal" and threatened further attacks were a deal not reached.US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Iran had been given a chance to make a deal but had not taken it and said bombs would be "dropping on key facilities" in the country. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the country would "stand firm against any pressure or threat". The foreign ministry in Tehran has accused the US of damaging the diplomatic process through "contradictory messages".Separately, the US confirmed on Thursday it had struck a third tanker it accused of violating its blockade of Iran's ports in as many days - including one attack in which three Indian sailors were killed.The Palau-flagged MT Settebello came under attack in the Gulf of Oman on Wednesday, accused by the US military of "attempting to transport oil from Iran".
US Centcom said an aircraft fired "precision munitions" into the engine room of the tanker "after the crew repeatedly failed" to follow directions.It later confirmed it had also disabled the Guinea-Bissau flagged M/T Jalveer the same day. India's shipping ministry said there were 20 Indian sailors on board, all of whom were reportedly safe and being evacuated.The first vessel, the Palau-flagged MT Marivex, was hit on Monday.In April, the US and Iran agreed a ceasefire that was initially meant to last for two weeks. Both sides have since exchanged intermittent fire, without returning to full-scale hostilities.However, recent efforts to broker a peace agreement have stalled and attacks have grown more frequent.This week, a US helicopter was downed in an attack that the US blamed on Iran.
The IRGC in turn responded by targeting US bases across the Middle East.The US and Israel launched wide-ranging strikes on Iran on 28 February.Iran responded by attacking Israel and US-allied states in the Gulf, and effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz, through which around 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas travels.That oil comes not only from Iran, but also Gulf states such as Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.Shortly after a ceasefire was agreed in early April, the US established a blockade of Iranian ports, which Trump said would remain "in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed".IranIran warUnited StatesDonald Trump
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