Tensions escalate in Middle East as US, Iran continue to exchange fire

Iran and the United States are once again exchanging fire in the Persian Gulf, with the Revolutionary Guard launching missiles toward Kuwait and Bahrain.

Tehran puts blame on the Americans disabling an unladen oil tanker transiting international waters toward Iran's Kharg Island as it tries to run the blockade.

Following the halting of merchant vessel, the Lian Star, a few days ago, the Botswana-flagged M/T Lexie heading towards Iran's main crude oil loading port was stopped by a US warplane that fired a Hellfire missile into the engine room on Tuesday.

The US Centcom releases footage of the oil tanker being hit by a projectile and says it happened after the ship's crew ignored repeated warnings over a 24-hour period.

Media reports say the Lexie has been added to Washington's sanctions list for its alleged involvement in the Iranian oil trade.

Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard responds to the stopping by striking a vessel identified as Panaya they say is linked to the US and Israel, and targeting two US bases in regional neighbours with missiles and drones.

Yet, US officials state the Iranian attacks all failed to hit their intended targets: the missiles fired at Kuwait fell short or broke apart en route, and multiple drones launched at the headquarters of the US Navy's 5th Fleet in Bahrain were intercepted immediately.

The flare-up of hostilities reportedly caused several injuries and led to the suspension and diversion of flights at Kuwait International Airport.

The US and Iran indicated last week they've reached a tentative initial agreement to halt the war but it was not signed off.

US President Donald Trump insists their negotiations have not stopped, though Iranian media reports Tehran has not communicated with Washington for several days.

When asked by Senator Chris Murphy during Tuesday's Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing whether the US will swap sanctions relief as a carrot to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio declares any such relief for Iran will come after nuclear concessions.

Rubio says, "They have to commit to very specific negotiations on highly enriched, the disposition of the highly enriched uranium that still is buried deep in a mountain somewhere. They have to agree on negotiating severe and long-term limitations and or cancellation of enrichment."

Rubio says there are indications Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is increasingly engaged with US negotiations at some level.

At the same hearing, Maryland lawmaker Chris Van Hollen blasts Rubio for the nation's actions taken in Iran, accusing the Trump administration of entering the war on behalf of Israel.

Van Hollen says, "It turns out he (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu) finally found a president who was both stupid and reckless enough to join him."

"President told us 91 days ago that we had, quote, won the war in Iran. Last year, he told the country Iran's key enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. Was that false? Let's face it, Mr. Secretary, the Trump foreign policy has become a dumpster fire."