Iran war highlights: US launches fresh strikes as IRGC shuts Hormuz Strait again; Cyprus ship attacked

US-Iran war: Updates to this blog have ended, follow here for latest update. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Saturday announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz "until further notice," saying the key shipping route will remain shut until the United States ends its "interference" in the West Asia region, Iranian state media reported.In a statement cited by Press TV, the IRGC said the decision was taken "in light of the security situation resulting from the unlawful intervention of foreign powers.""The Strait of Hormuz has been closed until further notice and will remain closed until the United States ends its intervention in the region. No vessel will be permitted to transit the strait," the statement said, as quoted by Press TV.The IRGC Navy also warned against any military action against Iran linked to the closure of the waterway, saying any such move would be met with a strong response. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important oil shipping routes, and any disruption to traffic through the passage could have significant implications for global energy supplies.The action comes after US President Donald Trump on Friday said that he had ordered the military to be ready to launch strikes on Iran if the Iranian government carried out or attempted to assassinate him. The warning came after the funeral of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, where open calls were made for his killing.The “revenge” calls sparked fresh tensions across West Asia as an interim agreement to end the war continues to come under strain amid repeated crossfire in the region.Trump on Iran talksTrump said the US was willing to continue talks with Iran, but declared that the ceasefire between the two countries was over. His administration also moved swiftly to increase pressure on Tehran."The Islamic Republic of Iran has asked us to continue ‘talks.’ We have agreed to do so, but the United States has stated to them, in no uncertain terms, that the Cease Fire is OVER!," Trump wrote on social media on Friday.Iran rejects Trump's claimsIran on Friday rejected claims that it had asked to resume negotiations with the United States after Trump said Washington and Tehran had agreed to continue talks despite the recent rise in tensions.According to Iranian state television, foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran had not requested negotiations with the US. He added that Iran had agreed to receive a visit from Qatar's mediator.US-Iran tensionsThe United States launched fresh airstrikes on Iran early Thursday, prompting Tehran to retaliate with missile attacks targeting US-allied countries across the West Asia, escalating tensions and putting a fragile ceasefire under renewed strain.The latest exchange followed similar attacks a day earlier that had already threatened the truce. Thursday's escalation was broader, with air raid sirens sounding at least three times in Bahrain, home to the US Navy's Fifth Fleet headquarters. Iran also launched missiles towards Kuwait and Qatar.Sirens were also heard across Jordan on Thursday afternoon, where the United States maintains troops and military aircraft.Despite two days of clashes that threatened to derail an already fragile ceasefire, technical talks between the US and Iran are continuing, a US official said.The comments are likely to calm fears of a return to full-scale conflict after the US carried out fresh strikes on Iranian targets in retaliation for what it said were attacks by Tehran on ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded by targeting US military bases in the region on each of the past two nights.Amid the renewed violence, Trump said on Wednesday that the ceasefire was “over,” but added that he would not prevent negotiations from moving forward.Talks between the US and Iran were postponed this week as the Islamic Republic observed several days of funeral rites for former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an airstrike on the opening day of the US-Israeli military campaign.