The United States and Iran have exchanged fresh military strikes, further testing a fragile ceasefire and ongoing negotiations aimed at easing tensions in the Middle East.

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said it carried out overnight self-defence strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island on Wednesday, claiming the action was in response to attempted attacks by Iran-backed forces across the region.

According to CENTCOM, US forces had earlier disabled an unladen oil tanker that was reportedly heading towards an Iranian port in the Arabian Gulf. Iranian authorities are said to have cited the incident as a trigger for the renewed hostilities.

In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it targeted a US-Israeli vessel with naval missiles before US forces struck an IRGC communications tower south of Qeshm Island.

The IRGC also claimed responsibility for missile and drone attacks against US military assets in the region, including a military airbase, the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, and helicopters stationed in another Gulf country.

The latest exchange highlights the continued volatility in the region despite diplomatic efforts to sustain the ceasefire and advance negotiations between Washington and Tehran.