US-Iran strikes: latest developments

Here are the latest main events related to the war in the Middle East. Iran calls US 'irrational' "The problem is the type of approach of America, and that is their irrational, excessive and domineering approach, which has been met with strong reactions from us," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told state television. EU slams Houthi tanker attack The European Union's top diplomat demanded on Thursday that the Houthis cease attacks on ships in the Red Sea, after a Saudi vessel was hit by the Iran-backed rebels. "The attack on an oil tanker in the Red Sea is unacceptable, illegal and further inflames an already volatile situation in the region," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in a statement. Britain withdraws last Iran staff Britain said it had withdrawn remaining diplomatic staff from Iran as the conflict between Iran and the United States escalates. "Due to the security situation, UK staff have been temporarily withdrawn from Iran. Our embassy continues to operate remotely," the Foreign Office said on its website. Brent nears $100 The price of the main international oil contract, Brent North Sea, soared five percent on Thursday after Houthi rebels said they had struck two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. Brent reached $98.80 a barrel while the main US contract, West Texas Intermediate, rallied 3.8 percent to $90.11 a barrel. The attacks potentially open a new front in the Middle East war. Sirens in Bahrain Bahrain's interior ministry said air sirens had been triggered, with AFP correspondents hearing the alerts in the capital Manama. "The siren has been sounded... Citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place," the ministry said. The Iranian military has confirmed targeting US assets in Bahrian, Jordan and Kuwait. Jordan, Kuwait intercept strikes The Jordanian and Kuwaiti militaries reported intercepting fresh salvos of Iranian missiles and drones, without specifying their target. Jordan's army said it had shot down three Iranian missiles early on Thursday, while a fourth fell in an uninhabited area. Kuwait's military said overnight it was also intercepting "hostile drone threats". Oman wants Houthi-Saudi talks Oman, a key mediator between Yemen's Houthis and Saudi Arabia, said it was working to resume talks after the Iran-backed rebels hit a Saudi ship in the Red Sea a day earlier. Oman's foreign ministry voiced "great concern", saying it was working with Saudi Arabia, the Yemeni parties and the United Nations' special envoy for Yemen "with the aim of resuming the political process and roadmap to achieve security and stability in the region". Iran, US continue strikes The Iranian army said it would continue its strikes around the region until the attacks on Iran stopped, state television reported. "The armed forces' retaliatory attacks will continue as long as the US attacks on the country's infrastructure and coastal areas continue," said army spokesperson Mohammad Akraminia according to state TV, adding that the country was ready for "every enemy scenario". Rubio says Houthis 'suckered' US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Yemen's Houthi rebels had been tricked into attacking Red Sea shipping by Iran. "The Houthis largely were smart and stayed out of all this throughout the conflict but they now apparently have gotten themselves suckered into this, going after Saudi Arabia and their ships," Rubio said on the sidelines of a Southeast Asian summit in Manila. US assets in Jordan, Kuwait hit Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said that they had attacked and destroyed several US military assets in Jordan, including a radar for the THAAD missile defence system, a Patriot system, a C-RAM radar and a helicopter hangar. The Iranian army and IRGC claimed responsibility for attacks on several US bases in Kuwait, including the Ali Al Salem base, Camp Udairi, Camp Doha, Camp Arifjan and a telecommunications tower. burs-sbk/gil AL-MONITOR All-Access gives you unlimited access to all our journalism, the full Daily Briefing, exclusive interviews, premium newsletters, and live events — for less than $2/week.