US attack oil tanker near Oman accused of violating blockade

The United States attacked an oil tanker near Oman, accusing it of violating an American blockade.

Three Indian sailors died during the strike. Hours later, the US launched a second round of airstrikes on Iran after US President Donald Trump warned that Tehran would pay the price for stalled negotiations.

This as Iran's joint military command declared the Strait of Hormuz close to the passage of all vessels, including oil tankers and commercial ships.

The new US assault across multiple Iranian cities came as efforts to negotiate an end to the war appeared stuck, with Iran insisting it would maintain its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz disrupting global energy supplies and sending oil prices higher.

The video released by the US Navy shows what it said were Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from the USS Michael Murphy against targets in Iran Wednesday.

Iran State TV claimed Iran had attacked the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain. Also reporting the country's joint military had declared the Strait of Hormuz closed and warned that any transit through the strait will be targeted.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres voiced his concern of the escalating attacks and rhetoric throughout

the Middle East that could trigger a full resumption of conflict pulling the region deeper into crisis.

FARHAN HAQ, Deputy spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General said "The Secretary General warned the Security Council this morning that the Middle East is being pulled deeper into crisis and the consequences reach far beyond the region.

This week has brought wider attacks and further deterioration, he said. Mr. Guterres said that he is profoundly concerned it could trigger a full resumption of conflict.

He said that the ceasefire is more like a lesser fire as we have seen with the escalating attacks and rhetoric over the last 48 hours. We should not minimise the risk of lesser fire becoming full fire, in other words, full scale war.

The world needs to see a complete ceasefire, the Secretary General said, with navigational rights and freedoms restored."

At a UN Security Council meeting, Fu Cong China's permanent representative to the United Nations said that the current Middle East situation is still tense, which has harmed many countries' common interests.

He then called on concerned parties to resolve disputes via dialogue and consultation by purposing four propositions. First adhering to political settlement and using peaceful means to resolve disputes.

Second, uphold fairness and justice to maintain regional stability through international rule of law. Third, adhering to independence and self-reliance, to build common security through unity and cooperation. And fourth, adopting both short-term and long-term solutions to promote long-term stability through development and revitalisation.