{"text":[[{"start":11,"text":"The US and Iran traded fire late on Friday in the latest tit-for-tat exchanges that have threatened a shaky ceasefire, while Kuwait and Bahrain also came under fire from ballistic missiles. "}],[{"start":23.8,"text":"US Central Command, which oversees military operations against Iran, said its forces shot down four Iranian attack drones that “posed an immediate threat to regional maritime traffic” in the Strait of Hormuz. It said American forces subsequently struck “Iranian coastal surveillance radar sites” in Goruk and on Qeshm Island. "}],[{"start":42.85,"text":"Iran, in a pattern that mirrored the most recent exchanges on Wednesday, fired missiles at US bases in the nearby Gulf states of Kuwait and Bahrain. Centcom said that six missiles were intercepted, while a seventh did not reach its target. It said claims that Iran had struck the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain were “false”. "}],[{"start":64.95,"text":"The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had launched the drones into the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway over which Iran wrested control following the attacks by Israel and the US on February 28, after four vessels sought to leave the Gulf without its permission. "}],[{"start":82.25,"text":"Iran has insisted that vessels seeking to transit the strait pay a fee and use shipping lanes that pass close to its coastline. The IRGC accused the vessels of operating under the guidance of the US military. "}],[{"start":96.85,"text":"Kuwait said its air defence systems intercepted seven ballistic missiles that entered the country’s airspace in the early hours of Saturday. Fragments from intercepted Iranian missiles caused damage in residential areas but no casualties were reported. "}],[{"start":112.64999999999999,"text":"In neighbouring Bahrain, the army said it had intercepted and destroyed three missiles and several drones."}],[{"start":118.55,"text":"The General Command of the Bahrain Defence Force called the attack a continuation of Iran’s “systematic hostile approach through its criminal attacks using missiles and drones targeting civilians”, according to the country’s state news agency. "}],[{"start":131.5,"text":"Tehran and Washington have exchanged fire with increasing regularity over the past two weeks, as efforts to move beyond a fragile truce struck in early April and broker a longer-term agreement remain elusive. "}],[{"start":144.8,"text":"Under the terms of such an agreement, which would extend the existing ceasefire, Iran would gradually reopen the Strait of Hormuz and the US would ease its blockade on Iranian ports. There would also be further discussions on the future of the Iranian nuclear programme. "}],[{"start":160.3,"text":"Iran has been demanding access to about $24bn in Iranian oil revenues held overseas and significant sanctions relief as part of any agreement, terms that US President Donald Trump has been reluctant to agree to. "}],[{"start":174.55,"text":"Kuwait and Bahrain, which both host significant American bases and are the two smallest Gulf states, have become repeat targets for Iranian retaliatory strikes. "}],[{"start":185.15,"text":"One person was killed and more than 60 were injured in Iranian strikes on the main international airport in Kuwait on Wednesday. Tehran claimed the damage had been caused by a US missile interceptor that misfired. "}],[{"start":198.9,"text":"Trump, despite the back-and-forth violence with Iran and the seemingly stalled negotiations, said on Friday that “the situation with Iran seems to be going quite well”. "}],[{"start":208.3,"text":"Trump, who is under growing domestic pressure to resolve the crisis with Iran ahead of critical midterm elections in November, told NBC News on Friday that it would take time for Iran to sign a deal on terms acceptable to Washington. "}],[{"start":221.55,"text":"“They are strong. They are proud. There are things they never thought they’d be doing that they’re going to have to do, they’ve got no choice, and it takes a little time,” he said. "}],[{"start":237.35000000000002,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1780794438_9288.mp3"}