US and Iran launch fresh strikes amid stalled ceasefire talks

US military says it struck tanker and sites on Iran’s Qeshm Island and defended Kuwait and Bahrain from missile attacks

Screenshot from US Central Command of a Hellfire missile fired at a tanker attempting to break through the American blockade of the strait of Hormuz amid crisis in Iran. Photograph: U.S. Central Command

The US and Iran have exchanged fresh missiles and drone strikes, further jeopardising efforts by Washington to secure a new ceasefire agreement with Tehran.

US forces fired a Hellfire missile to disable a tanker attempting to break through the American blockade of the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, and later said they repelled Iranian reprisal attacks in the region and attacked sites on Iran’s Qeshm Island.