US strikes hit Iran for a third night killing three people
At least three people have been killed in overnight strikes as the US hit Iran for a third night in a row.
The US released footage of the attacks after saying its forces completed a new wave of strikes against Iran on Tuesday.
In addition, US President Donald Trump said they would reinstate a blockade of Iranian shipping in the Gulf on Tuesday afternoon.
He said the Strait of Hormuz would remain open “with or without Iran” but said the US would start charging fees on ships transiting through the waterway.
A 20 percent fee would also be levied “for any and all costs necessary” to provide security and safety for vessels.
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The renewed attacks signal a further breakdown in negotiations between the US and Iran despite sporadic talks to end the military operation against the country that began in February.
Trump formally notified Congress last week that the United States had resumed the conflict giving the Pentagon an additional 60 days to operate in the region without congressional approval.
Defending 'red lines'
In addition to the moves in Hormuz, the US president has also threatened to destroy Pickaxe Mountain, a deeply buried nuclear site near Natanz where western intelligence claims an undeclared nuclear enrichment facility is being built.
Iranian state television on Tuesday reported that five explosions were heard around the port city of Bandar Abbas, near the Strait of Hormuz.
"A few minutes ago, five explosions were heard west of Bandar Abbas," the state broadcaster said, without providing further details.
On Tuesday, the head of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security Committee Ebrahim Azizi indicated that a bill aiming to ensure the security of the waterway was formally introduced in parliament.
"Last night, coinciding with the downing of US drones, the ‘Strategic Action for the Security and Sustainable Progress of the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf’ bill was formally introduced in Iran’s Parliament," Azizi wrote in a post on X.
He added that Tehran remains "steadfast in defending our red lines", particularly with regards to the management of the waterway.
Bahrain said its forces intercepted multiple Iranian attacks on Sunday, accusing Tehran of continuing what it described as a campaign of aggression against the Gulf kingdom.
In a statement, the Bahrain Defence Force said Iran had carried out attacks using missiles and drones, alleging that civilians and private property were targeted.
“The deliberate use of missiles and drones to target civilians and private property constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law,” the statement said.
Authorities urged residents to remain cautious and avoid approaching suspicious objects.
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