Second Day of US Strikes on Iran; Trump Says Tehran 'Behaving Very Badly'

The US military carried out strikes on Iran for a second consecutive day, hours after President Donald Trump said an interim agreement to end the war was 'over'. Iranian state media reported explosions in the port city of Bandar Abbas in the Strait of Hormuz; in Sirik, another southern coastal city; and the south-western Bushehr province, home to Iran's nuclear power plant complex. US Central Command confirmed the strikes. On Tuesday, three cargo ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz were attacked, leading to the most extensive exchange of fire since the interim deal was signed last month.

Speaking at the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump said: 'Anything that happens is going to happen very fast' and that the latest strikes would not result in 'long-term' military action. 'They are behaving very badly,' Trump said, accusing Iran of launching drones and a missile at ships.

US stock markets fell on Wednesday, and Brent crude jumped more than 5% to crest $80 a barrel. The International Monetary Fund lowered its global economic growth forecast to 3%, citing conflict in the Middle East. Jorge León, head of geopolitical analysis at Rystad Energy, said: 'Tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has essentially stopped.'

In other news: Graham Platner, the Democratic nominee for US Senate in Maine, is suspending his campaign following sexual assault allegations. The family of a Mexican immigrant fatally shot by an ICE agent in Texas called for an independent investigation. Trump is to ask the US Supreme Court to reconsider the birthright citizenship ruling. A photo of a bound Palestinian detainee corroborates Israeli torture reports, say rights groups. French far-right leader Marine Le Pen launched her presidential campaign after a court shortened her ban on running for office. Bonnie Tyler, the 80s pop legend, has died aged 75. A Manhattan federal judge ordered the release of $5.8 million Trump owes E Jean Carroll. Western Europe recorded its hottest June on record. Hundreds of snakes escaped from flooded breeding farms in southern China.