Trump threatens to intensify strikes on Iran, with attacks overshadowing diplomatic efforts

Trump threatens to intensify strikes on Iran, with attacks overshadowing diplomatic efforts JON GAMBRELL AND MUNIR AHMED DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES THE ASSOCIATED PRESS PUBLISHED 31 MINUTES AGO Open this photo in gallery: Smoke is seen near the southern Israeli city of Eilat, on the border with Jordan, after Jordanian state media reported the interception of six Iranian missiles on Wednesday. LIMOR HEVRONI/REUTERS SHARE SAVE FOR LATER Listen to this article Learn more about audio Log in or create a free account to listen to this article. The U.S. military said it completed the 11th night of strikes on Iran early Wednesday as attacks across the Middle East overshadowed diplomatic efforts in Pakistan to salvage an interim ceasefire deal that has collapsed. U.S. Central Command said targets included aircraft hangars and drone storage sites. The newest barrage came after President Donald Trump telegraphed that strikes would be intensifying. Before the latest strikes, Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni visited Pakistan, a key mediator in the conflict, seeking to revamp diplomacy. But it was unclear what new arrangement might be reached to end the war, which lately has become a battle for control over the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway vital to world energy supplies. Speaking from the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump gave a dim view on possible talks, saying the U.S. had “no interest in meeting.” He signalled that U.S. forces could soon target an area of Iran close to one of its main sites for enriching uranium. Iran war has cost U.S. $37.5-billion so far, Hegseth estimates in Senate hearing With negotiations and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz largely stalled, both sides have sought to gain leverage by targeting civilian infrastructure in the region relied on by millions of people. A barrage of U.S. strikes hasn’t loosened Iran’s grip on the strait, through which about one-fifth of the world’s crude oil and natural gas was shipped before the war. The U.S. continued its air strikes into Wednesday, with Iranian air defences activating near the capital, Tehran. Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported that explosions rocked Bushehr, East Azerbaijan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Khuzestan and Sistan and Baluchistan provinces. That came after Iran attacked a tanker in the strait Tuesday, forcing the crew to abandon the ship. Iran also kept up attacks against U.S. allies in the region. Iran also launched attacks against Bahrain, Jordan and…