Middle East crisis live: US strikes Iran for third consecutive night; UAE says Tehran has hit tankers in strait of Hormuz

In case you’re just joining us, here’s a quick recap of the latest as the Middle East crisis escalates once again. It’s 9.30am in Tehran and 2am in Washington DC.

The US carried out a third consecutive night of strikes against Iran on Monday and two tankers came under fire in the strait of Hormuz.

Donald Trump said the US would reinstate its blockade of Iranian shipping in the Gulf . It would begin at 4pm ET on Tuesday, US Central Command said.

Trump said the Hormuz strait would stay open “with or without Iran” but that the US would start charging fees on ships transiting through the waterway , in an apparent policy reversal. A 20% fee would be levied “for any and all costs necessary” to provide security and safety for vessels, the president said.

Iran’s top ‌joint military command said the US had no role in determining the strait’s future and would not be allowed to intervene. Foreign minister Abbas Araqchi said Tehran would “forever” be the guardian of the strait.

Iranian media reported explosions in the port city of Bandar Abbas, Iran’s Kish and Qeshm islands and on Abu Musa Island in the Gulf shortly after the US military announced the renewed strikes on Iran.

The United Arab Emirates said Iranian cruise missiles struck ⁠two Emirati oil tankers while transiting the southern lane of the vital energy transit route in Omani territorial waters, killing a crew member and injuring eight.

Oil prices roes 2% to their highest in four weeks amid heightened uncertainty about energy ⁠flows through the strait of Hormuz. Brent crude futures climbed 2% ​to $84.98 a barrel by 0051 GMT on Tuesday, while US West Texas Intermediate crude rose 2.1% to $79.79. Brent crude surged 9.6% in ⁠the previous session – its biggest daily gain since May 2020.