Tehran claims new ayatollah 'safe' as cargo ships attacked in Strait of Hormuz

 Welcome to our live coverage of day 12 of the Iran war, as US and Israeli strikes against Iran continue while Tehran maintains its barrages against neighbouring countries.

Washington says it has destroyed 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for international energy supplies, through which roughly a fifth of global oil exports flow.

The attacks come after senior Iranian lawmakers threatened to block the waterway and not allow “even a litre” of crude to pass through, as the war continues to destabilise global energy markets and rattle prices.

Israel says it has carried out attacks early on Wednesday against Iran-backed Hezbollah targets in neighbouring Lebanon.

Meanwhile, several Gulf states, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, have reported interceptions of Iranian projectiles on Wednesday.