الجيش الأمريكي يشن ضربات "دفاع عن النفس" على إيران ويسقط صواريخ وطائرات مسيّرة

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The US military announced "self-defense" strikes against Iran, and the interception of ballistic missiles and drones launched at ships and Gulf countries.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the strikes on Qeshm Island, in the Strait of Hormuz, came "in response to Iran's attempts to launch attacks across the Middle East."

Iran said it attacked US bases and helicopters in a "regional country" using missiles and drones in response. CENTCOM stated that Tehran launched two missiles at Kuwait and three at Bahrain, all of which were either destroyed or intercepted.

These latest attacks come amid stalled ceasefire negotiations, after talks on an agreement to end the months-long war failed to make any progress over the weekend.

CENTCOM added that the strike on Qeshm Island targeted an Iranian military ground control station, and that the US military also shot down three attack drones launched by Iran towards "civilian sailors who were legally transiting international waters."

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that "destabilizing the security of the Strait of Hormuz will cost the aggressive US military a heavy price."

The US Central Command also stated that Iran launched "several" ballistic missiles towards countries in the region. It added: "Two Iranian missiles launched at Kuwait fell before reaching their destination or crashed en route, while US and Bahraini air defense forces immediately intercepted three missiles launched at Bahrain."

Iran has repeatedly launched attacks on targets in Bahrain and Kuwait, where US military bases are located.

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Earlier, the US Central Command announced that it had struck and disabled an empty oil tanker heading towards Iran, as part of the US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which began on April 13.

It explained that a US aircraft launched a Hellfire missile at the engine room of the tanker flying the flag of Botswana, after its crew "ignored repeated warnings."

The US Central Command also published a video allegedly showing the moment the tanker was hit on Tuesday.

This escalation comes after US President Donald Trump told his critics this week, "Calm down," emphasizing that Iran "really wants to make a deal, and it will be a good deal for the United States."

American media had previously reported that Trump had requested amendments to the terms of a potential peace agreement, after meeting with his senior aides to discuss extending the ceasefire framework.

These amendments relate to the Strait of Hormuz, the removal of highly enriched uranium from Iran, according to CBS News, a US news partner of the BBC, as well as a framework for reopening negotiations on Iran's nuclear program.

On Monday, the spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ismail Baghaei, denied that this matter was on the table, adding that Washington "constantly changes its positions and presents new or contradictory demands."

In its latest statement, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that US forces "imposed blockade measures on the oil tanker 'Lexi', flying the flag of Botswana, as it transited international waters towards Khark Island."

It added that the ship's crew "did not comply with the directives of the US forces several times over 24 hours."

The Central Command stated that six commercial ships had been disabled and 122 other ships diverted since the blockade began.

The BBC has contacted the government of Botswana for comment.

This latest escalation comes as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared before Congress publicly for the first time since the war began.