US strikes dozens of Iranian targets in response to attacks on oil tankers in Strait of Hormuz

Live Reporting Edited by Caitlin Doherty and Sam Hancock What is the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran? published at 07:00 BST On June 17, the presidents of the US and Iran signed an initial deal - known as a memorandum of understanding (MoU) - extending the ceasefire between the two nations. The agreement includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a $300bn (£224bn) plan for Iran's "reconstruction", and the US terminating "all types of sanctions" on Iran. But it does not deal with the thorny issue of Iran's nuclear programme - one of the reasons stated by the US for launching the war. As a result, further negotiations have been taking place the two sides in recent weeks. Earlier this morning, Iran's parliamentary speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Ghalibaf accused the US of breaking the MoU by "violating Iranian adjustements in the strait". During the conflict Iran sought to assert its sovereignty over the strait, including by establishing the "Persian Gulf Strait Authority" which it said would manage "safe passage permits". But the agreement notes that Iran will "make arrangements using its best efforts" to allow safe passage of commercial vessels through the strait - with no charge - for at least 60 days. Nato chief says US strikes were 'absolutely necessary' published at 06:48 BST The latest round of US strikes against Iran have taken place against the backdrop of the Nato summit, which began in the Turkish capital Ankara yesterday. This morning, Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte was asked about the overnight strikes. He says they were "absolutely necessary" as he accused Iran of violating the ceasefire agreement. "I think it is totally crucial that the US forcefully reacts," he adds. Tensions ramp up in Middle East as Trump meets allies at Nato summit published at 06:42 BST The US and Iran have traded strikes overnight after tensions escalated in the Strait of Hormuz, as Donald Trump is in Turkey for the Nato summit. US Central Command (Centcom) said on Tuesday it had hit over 80 targets, including more than 60 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) small boats in the strait. The IRGC said it had responded with retaliatory attacks on US military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Centcom says the US strikes are in response to Iran "targeting and attacking commercial shipping" in the strait, after several reports of tankers being targeted on Tuesday. Iran, on the other hand, has accused the US of breaching a memorandum of understanding signed between the countries last month. It comes as the US president will meet with allies at Nato’s Ankara summit - we’ll bring you up to speed with the situation in the Middle East and keep across what is happening in Turkey.