US launches new round of strikes against Iran

The US conducted a new wave of strikes against Iran's coastal defence systems and missile sites on Wednesday after reimposing a naval blockade of Iranian ports.

The daytime strikes mark the latest escalation of attacks and counterattacks launched by the two sides as they vie for control of the Strait of Hormuz, which carried about a fifth of global oil and gas shipments before the war.

"At 6 a.m. ET (1100 GMT) today, US Central Command forces began launching a wave of strikes against Iran," the US military said.

"The strikes are designed to further degrade military capabilities Iranian forces have used to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz."

US Central Command said the military had attacked coastal defense systems and cruise missile storage and launch sites, and had completed the wave of strikes within around 90 minutes.

That followed seven hours of strikes on Tuesday in which the US said it had hit dozens of military targets near the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian coastal areas.

The war, which began with US and Israeli strikes against Iran on February 28, triggered Iranian attacks on Gulf states that host US bases and caused major disruption to global energy supplies.

Oil prices edged up on Wednesday, after settling on Tuesday at a new one-month high.

An interim ceasefire deal in the conflict signed last month was meant to lead to further negotiations including on Iran's nuclear programme, and to a permanent truce, but a return to talks has faltered.

Analysts say that while the US and Iran have gone back to sparring as they did before the interim ceasefire deal was signed, they are unlikely to return to full-scale war, though a risk of further escalation remains.

They say Iran is signalling it may use its Houthi allies in Yemen to shut Bab el-Mandeb, opening a new front against Washington and putting two of the world's most vital energy arteries at risk.

TRUMP THREATENS TO HIT ENERGY TARGETS

US President Donald Trump, who faces domestic pressure to avoid a full return to war, on Tuesday threatened to hit Iranian power plants and bridges next week unless Tehran resumes negotiations.

"I'll save the energy targets for last, but ultimately we'll hit energy targets," Trump said.

As tensions escalated, Trump on Monday floated the idea of a 20 per cent fee on shipping through the strait.

On Tuesday, he scrapped the idea and said, without providing details, that he would instead seek investment deals with Gulf states.