Di United States don fire Hellfire missiles for one oil tanker wey no get cargo inside for Strait of Hormuz, as part of di blockade against Iranian ports. Di US say dem disable di tanker after e ignore many warnings, hitting di smokestack. Dis happen for di fifth day of strikes.
Earlier, US target coastal defences and missile sites for Iran, including cruise missile storage and launch sites for Greater Tunb Island. Di strikes also hit further north, with state media reporting attacks for di capital, Tehran, and air defences active for di city early Thursday.
Iran respond by attacking Bahrain and Kuwait. No immediate word on damage or casualties. Iranian officials say di strikes don kill more dan 35 people and wound over 300.
Di escalating attacks come days after di ceasefire between di two sides collapse entirely, raising fears of return to full-scale war. US Central Command say di latest strikes target Iranian military capabilities wey dem use to threaten vessels for di Strait of Hormuz, an international waterway vital to global commerce.
Iranian media say four locations for Ahvaz come under attack, plus Bandar Abbas, di principal port city for di strait. Missiles also hit near Sirik and Qeshm for southern Iran.
Di tit-for-tat don intensify since Tehran say dem go close di strait on Saturday, threatening maritime traffic for di waterway wey carry about one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies before di war. US reimpose naval blockade on Iran on Wednesday.
Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) respond by threatening to halt all energy exports from Middle East, saying regional energy exports either shared by all or denied to all. Oil prices continue to rise, with Brent crude trading above $85 per barrel on Wednesday, more dan 15% higher dan before di war, but still below di nearly $120 reach at di height of conflict.
Donald Trump on Wednesday again claim Iran go be defeated soon. For Pennsylvania, di US president claim Iranians want to settle so badly. On Tuesday, Trump say US negotiators don dey in touch with Iranian counterparts to tell dem make dem better make a deal.
Trump suggest di US fit widen attacks against Iran to force open di strait, warning e go hit Pickaxe Mountain, a fortified underground facility linked to Iran’s disputed nuclear programme.
Weeks after US and Iran sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to end di war and restart talks on nuclear programme, Tehran’s chief negotiator warn di MOU fit only get meaning if its clauses valid and dey implemented, suggesting further negotiations dey compromised by di recent attacks.
If Iran no derive any benefit from di MOU, we no get reason to adhere, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf say. E also say Iran’s security depend on maintaining Iranian arrangements for di strait, adding Iran dey for essential and existential war with America.
Iran’s military spokesperson say di only way to reopen di strait na for US to comply with di MOU. Experts say lack of clarity for di MOU terms and inclusion of language wey suggest Iran fit take responsibility for safe passage of ships for di strait don contribute to confusion for Trump administration strategy.
Despite di hostilities, Trump late Wednesday declare possible sign of goodwill: Iran allow an American wey dem wrongfully detain for late 2024 to leave di country. Di United States appreciate this gesture of goodwill by Iran, Trump write for Truth Social. Human rights attorney Jared Genser identify di released American as Dena Karari, wey dem prevent from leaving Iran since December 2024. Dena now safe and traveling back to di United States, Genser write, thanking Trump for efforts to free am.
