Attacks persist on Iran and across Middle East as Trump threatens escalation

Rescue workers inspect the scene of an Israeli airstrike as fires burn among damaged vehicles, in Beirut, Lebanon (Hussein Malla/AP)

Iran kept up its attacks on Israel and Persian Gulf neighbours as airstrikes pounded Tehran and US President Donald Trump again made contradictory statements about whether he was ready to wind down the war or escalate it.

Mr Trump struck a belligerent tone on Wednesday in a Truth Social post, demanding that Iran stop blocking the Strait of Hormuz — the waterway vital to global oil supplies — or the US would bomb the Islamic Republic “back to the Stone Ages”.