Once again, Iran is playing a weak hand surprisingly wellpublished at 13:39 BST

13:39 BST

Frank Gardner
Security correspondent

Image source, Reuters

Although totally outmatched by the US militarily, Iran is achieving some strategic advantage over its adversary.

It’s doing this by yet again making the Strait of Hormuz a dangerous place to transit - unless ships abide by its new rules and sail by the northern route, to be inspected and then possibly having to pay a fee.

At the same time Iran is meting out nightly punishment to America’s Arab allies in the region for hosting its bases. Iran seems to have no shortage of drones and missiles to fire at them.

A renewed US naval blockade will hurt Iran’s already struggling economy.

But Iran knows that a paralysed strait will also impact the rest of the world, with oil price hikes as well as Donald Trump’s fortunes at the mid-term elections in less than four months’ time.

For those just joining us, here's a summary of the latest developments:

• Explosions have been reported in multiple Iranian cities, including the port city of Bushehr, the site of a civilian nuclear power plant, according to state media outlets
• Iran says it struck two tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, which the UAE Ministry of Defence has condemned as "brazen", saying an Indian seafarer was killed. Our weapons analyst explains what this means for the battle of control
• Another tanker operated by Stolt shipping caught fire after it was hit by an "explosion of an unidentified external device" off the coast of Oman. Crew are all safe and accounted for, the firm says
• Iran and the US continued to exchange strikes overnight, with Iran saying it targeted US military facilities in Bahrain and Jordan. A British expat living in Bahrain tells our security correspondent that strikes there left him "trembling"
• On Monday Donald Trump announced the US would reinstate a naval blockade of Iranian ports and impose a 20% charge on all cargo shipped through the Strait of Hormuz. Our Chief international correspondent explains why the fee is costly for negotiations

Image source, Getty Images

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is warning airlines against operating within the airspace of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, and over the waters of the Gulf of Oman.

It says "unpredictable military developments, combined with the possible use of missiles, drones, combat aircraft and air-defence systems" within the region have created a "high risk" to flights.

The latest advisory is valid until 29 July, the EASA says, adding it will closely monitor the situation.

Iranian state media have reported explosions near the city of Mahshahr, as well as Abadan, in south-west Iran.

Fars news agency cited comments from Valiollah Hayati, the deputy security governor of Khuzestan province.

Local media earlier reported US strikes hit the port city of Bushehr, which hosts the country's only civilian nuclear power plant.

Deputy provincial governor Ehsan Jahanian said four points in the city were hit "by enemy projectiles", according to state-run IRNA. Jahanian said the strikes took place "in different areas" of the city.

Some ships may be prepared to take the risk of going through the Strait of Hormuz "because the rewards are also very high", according to a safety and security expert.

Jakob Larsen is chief safety and security officer at the Baltic and International Maritime Council and he tells BBC News that security risks for ships "have gone up dramatically".

But while many owners "are now rethinking their decision to transit the Strait", Larsen - who was also a commander in the Danish Navy and has experience in the Gulf - says some ship bosses and crews will be talking about making the journey.

"Some crews are willing to take risks because they are also rewarded," he says.

"At the end of the day, when the risk goes up, there are more and more ships that back down and will decide not to go through."

Frank Gardner
Security correspondent

Image source, Reuters

A British expatriate resident in Bahrain has described to me the terror of living through successive nights of Iranian missile and drone attacks, close to residential areas in the tiny Gulf island state.

He speaks of "huge bangs" and the "closest attack interception yet, a few hundred feet above me with the debris falling in the sea in front of the flats".

"It was so loud I am still trembling," he says.

He also describes "a big fireball" as one of the intercepted missiles fell into the sea close to him, and seeing "three cruise missiles heading toward Juffair [the US naval base]".

The expat says much of the damage to military facilities claimed by Iran is exaggerated, with the majority of Iranian munitions successfully intercepted by Bahrain’s air defence teams.

But residential apartment blocks have suffered significant blast damage and from falling debris.

This morning he texted me to say: "Have just been hit by five huge explosions. Had glass from the window blow out and flying glass cut my leg. Just a few pieces. Nothing serious."

On 17 June, the US and Iran agreed a plan to bring an end to the conflict, with a 14-point agreement that included safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, an extension to the ceasefire and an end to a naval blockade.

A lot has changed between then and now, here's a recap:

• 26 June: The US launches fresh strikes on Iran after Donald Trump accuses the country of a "foolish violation" of its truce, following an attack on a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz
• 7 July: The US launches approximately 80 more strikes at Iran in response to attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran targets US military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait
• 8 July: Trump declares the ceasefire with Iran "over", calling the country's leadership as "scum" and "cuckoo" - see clip below
• 11 July: US Central Command says that during three nights that week US forces struck more than 300 targets to degrade Iran's ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial vessels passing through the strait
• 12 July: US launches its latest wave of attacks on Iran following further attacks in the strait, Iran retaliates with several strikes at US bases in the region
• 13 July: Washington says it will reinstate a naval blockade of Iranian ports from 16:00 EST (20:00 GMT / 21:00 BST) on 14 July, as well as imposing a 20% charge on all cargo shipped through the Strait of Hormuz
• 14 July: The US military says it's carried out another wave of strikes on Iranian military targets overnight, the third consecutive night of strikes in a row. The UAE condemns Iran's latest strikes targeting cargo ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz. Delhi summons Iranian ambassador as Tehran's strikes killed an Indian seafarer and injured others

A tanker struck by an explosion caused by "an unidentified external device" off the coast of Oman has said a fire took hold in the engine room, but no one was hurt in the incident.

The Stolt Magnesium was passing through the Arabian Sea when it was hit, according to the shipping company.

"All seafarers of Stolt Magnesium are safe an accounted for. Following the incident the master activated the ship’s emergency response procedures and the crew started fighting the fire on board," it adds.

Stolt says it has contacted the next of kin of the vessel's crew and "All relevant authorities and parties" have also been informed.

The company confirmed it was the same vessel referred to in a report received by the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which said a tanker was hit by "an unknown projectile" off the coast of Qalhat in Oman last night.

Tanker strikes show Iran can still launch attacks despite heavy US bombingpublished at 11:21 BST

11:21 BST

Chris Partridge
BBC News weapons analyst

Iran's tactic to target ships again, including oil tankers, plays into its larger strategic goal of wanting to maintain control of the Strait of Hormuz.

These attacks again demonstrate Tehran's ability to launch strikes, despite the sustained and heavy bombing campaign earlier this year by the US and Israel.

That points to two things. Either the intense bombing effort failed to sufficiently destroy those Iranian weapons, or Iran is somehow now able to replenish its stocks from elsewhere. We don't know.

What we do know is that there are more targets popping up for the United States to continue to strike - both from the air and, more interestingly, from the sea.

The United States' use of one-way, uncrewed surface vehicles to attack Bandar Abbas Naval Base reminds us of the use of such technology by Ukraine in its war with Russia, a conflict which has largely rewritten the way that war is fought.

But, looking further east, it is the law of unintended consequences that has again shown how maintaining leverage over the Strait of Hormuz has proved to be Iran's most effective weapon.

Image source, US Central Command

Several explosions have been heard near the port city of Bandar Abbas, according to Iranian state media.

The state-run IRNA has also said four locations were hit by projectiles in the city of Bushehr, with the Fars news agency saying residents have reported hearing multiple explosions.

We've contacted the US Central Command for comment on this.

Image source, Hindustan Times via Getty Images

India's Ministry of External Affairs says one Indian crew member was killed and 10 others were injured in Iranian attacks on two vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

Two tankers - named in the statement as the "Al Bahiyah and Mombasa" - carrying a combined 46 crew members, were struck by Iranian cruise missiles off the coast of Oman overnight.

One of 12 Indian nationals onboard the Al Bahiyah was killed in the attack, while another was injured, according to a statement issued on X by ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.

There were 18 Indian nationals onboard the Mombasa, of which nine sustained injuries, including two who are reported to be seriously injured, it adds.

India's Ministry of External Affairs says it has summoned the deputy ambassador of Iran to lodge "a strong protest against these attacks".

"We strongly condemn these attacks and acts of violence targeting seafarers and disrupting free and safe navigation through international waterways like the Strait of Hormuz," the statement adds.

Trump's 20% tolls are another curve ball in negotiations over Strait of Hormuzpublished at 10:30 BST

10:30 BST

Lyse Doucet
Chief international correspondent

President Trump has thrown another curve ball in saying the US will now start charging tolls of 20% in the Strait of Hormuz.

Shipping experts say that could double costs through an already all too costly maritime corridor. It also contradicts what the Secretary of State Marco Rubio has repeatedly said is US policy – that no one should charge tolls in what they regard as international waters.

It’s not clear this is legally, politically, or logistically possible. Iran has swiftly exploited the president’s remark to underline what they see as their right to impose some form of fees.

The foreign minister Abbas Aragchi posted on social media that “20% is of course too much. We will be fair.” For Tehran, its presence in this strategic strait is non-negotiable.

Yesterday Iran’s parliament introduced a “Strategic Action” plan to manage the waterway. The hard-line head of the national security committee, Ebrahim Azizi, wrote “we remain steadfast in defending our red lines.”

Three people have been killed in the US strikes in Iran overnight, according to Iranian state media.

The attack took place in Hormozgan province, the Fars news agency says, which is in the south of the country.

Posting on Telegram, state broadcaster IRIB added the family of an environmentalist were the victims of the strike.

Vague and imprecise language leaves US-Iran deal hanging by a threadpublished at 10:00 BST

10:00 BST

Lyse Doucet
Chief international correspondent

Image source, Reuters

President Trump, in his latest remarks, accused Iranof violating its deal with the United States because there was "something in the deal they didn’t like".

One of the many problems with this memorandum of understanding is both sides can find what they like in its imprecise language.

Iran can look at the 5th clause and say "the deal gives us a role in the Strait of Hormuz to decide its future management".

Trump can look at the clause above it and say "no, the deal says the strait must be open for the free flow of maritime traffic".

Other points are also putting pressure on this deal. It says Iran will conduct a dialogue with Oman, which controls the southern coast of the strait. Sources involved in mediating this say Oman did not want to be specifically mentioned.

And now there are signs of disagreements between longstanding allies over the management of this strategic waterway.

Tension over this strategic strait – an issue created by this war – will continue to plague efforts to find a way out of it.

Nick Edser
Business reporter

European stock markets have fallen again on Tuesday as investors continue to keep a wary eye on the latest escalation of hostilities between the US and Iran.

In the UK, the FTSE 100 index is down 0.6%. while Germany’s Dax index is 0.7% lower and France’s Cac 40 has fallen 0.9%.

Oil prices have continued to rise, with benchmark Brent crude up more than 3% at $86.07 a barrel. The price had fallen close to $70 a barrel earlier this month when a peace agreement appeared to be holding.

However, despite the latest increases, prices are still well below the $120 a barrel mark Brent reached at the end of April.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) says it has received reports of two tankers being hit by missiles off the coast of Limah in Oman.

The vessels were transiting outbound of the Strait of Hormuz "on the southern route" when they were attacked, it adds in a post on X.

Both reports were made on 13 July, although it is unclear at what time, and authorities are now investigating.

A third tanker also reported being attacked off Qalhat, further east of Oman's coastline, at 21:04 UTC (22:04 BST) last night.

"The master of a tanker reports being hit by an unknown projectile on the starboard side engine room. All crew are safe and accounted for with no environmental impact reported," the UKMTO says.

Overnight, the UAE Ministry of Defence said two tankers - the "Mombasa and Al Bahiyah" - were targeted by Iranian cruise missiles while transiting the Strait of Hormuz in Omani waters.

This resulted in the death of an Indian crew member, with eight others injured - six of whom are Indian and two Ukrainians, it said.

It is unclear if the "Mombasa and Al Bahiyah" are among the tankers referred to in the UKMTO reports.

Nick Edser
Business reporter

President Trump has said the US plans to impose a 20% charge on all cargo shipped through the Strait of Hormuz, but is it workable?

"In short, no. I have a very hard time seeing that ever becoming a reality," Lars Jensen, chief executive of Vespucci Maritime shipping and a former director at shipping giant Maersk, tells the BBC’s Wake Up To Money programme.

"The only way that could potentially work is if the US for some reason would say: 'Fine, we will send you a bill. You will have to pay the money, or we will impound your ships', which would basically go against any international shipping rules," he says.

"I do not see how this could work in practice."

Jensen adds that, despite all the comments from the US over whether the Strait of Hormuz is open or closed, "the Iranians de facto control the strait".

In a statement posted on its website, operator ADNOC Logistics and Services has said it "strongly condemns this attack on civilian shipping and the innocent seafarers serving aboard its vessels".

The tankers "sustained significant damage in the attacks", the company said.

The UAE Ministry of Defence previously said the strikes resulted in the death of an Indian crew member, and injured eight others. ADNOC Logistics and Services said it extended its "deepest condolences" in its statement.

• BBC Verify has more on the tankers hit by Iran - read that here

Bahrain's military command says it intercepted a number of air strikes fired by Iran towards its territory on Tuesday morning.

It accuses Iran of continuing it's "hostile" approach and claims its attacks are targeting Bahraini civilians - which it says constitutes a "flagrant violation" of international law.

Earlier, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had hit and destroyed a number of US targets within Bahrain, including several weapons depots, a satellite communications centre, a building that housed US forces and a US Navy air traffic control radar.