{"text":[[{"start":10.85,"text":"The US has carried out a fresh round of strikes against Iran as Donald Trump aims to force Tehran to sign a deal to extend the ceasefire, open the Strait of Hormuz and begin nuclear talks."}],[{"start":22.95,"text":"US Central Command said American forces “began launching additional self-defence strikes” at 5.15pm ET on Wednesday against multiple targets in Iran. Centcom later said it had completed the strikes and had “targeted Iranian military surveillance capabilities, communication systems, and air defense sites across Iran”. "}],[{"start":44.099999999999994,"text":"In response, Iran’s military command centre, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, announced early on Thursday that the strait would be closed to all vessels “effective immediately”, and that “any vessels crossing the strait will be targeted”."}],[{"start":59.05,"text":"Iran also said it had launched a drone strike against the American Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, targeting communications and radar facilities of the Patriot system. Centcom disputed earlier Iranian media reports that a US warship had been struck."}],[{"start":73.85,"text":"In a later statement, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said its aerospace and naval forces launched two waves of retaliatory strikes, “hitting and destroying 18 key US military targets in Ali Al Salem Airbase, Ahmad al-Jaber Air Base and Shaikh Isa Air Base” in Kuwait and Bahrain. "}],[{"start":91.94999999999999,"text":"It said the strikes were in response to the US attacks against coastal sites and outposts belonging to the guards and the law enforcement command as well as Bandar Abbas airport."}],[{"start":104.14999999999999,"text":"Wednesday night’s clash marked an escalation after the US and Iran exchanged fire on Tuesday and the US president accused Tehran’s forces of downing an American helicopter."}],[{"start":114.69999999999999,"text":"The flare-up in hostilities represents the most serious threat to a fragile ceasefire agreed between the two countries in April as Trump grows frustrated with Tehran’s unwillingness to meet his terms for an agreement. "}],[{"start":126.6,"text":"Brent crude, the international oil benchmark, in Asian trade on Thursday rose 1.4 per cent to $94.40 a barrel as traders fretted over the potential for a return to wider conflict. West Texas Intermediate, the US marker, was up 1.7 per cent at $91.59 a barrel. "}],[{"start":147.35,"text":"As the strikes were carried out, Washington and Tehran sent mixed signals about the status of the strait. "}],[{"start":153.4,"text":"The IRGC navy said the waterway would “remain closed until further notice” and that “two vessels were struck” after they attempted to “illegally” cross. "}],[{"start":162.85,"text":"It warned all vessels in the Gulf and the Sea of Oman to remain at their anchorages, adding: “Any attempt to approach the Strait of Hormuz shall be regarded as collaboration with the enemy.”"}],[{"start":175.75,"text":"Centcom insisted “commercial ships are continuing to transit in and out of the Strait of Hormuz tonight”. "}],[{"start":182.05,"text":"Speaking earlier on Wednesday evening, US defence secretary Pete Hegseth said the attacks were intended to “enhance our military interests and also enhance our diplomatic position”."}],[{"start":193.3,"text":"“The war department is prepared to set the terms to ensure that we get the kind of deal President Trump expects,” Hegseth said from Centcom headquarters in Tampa, Florida. “If we need to negotiate with bombs, we’ll negotiate with bombs.”"}],[{"start":206.35000000000002,"text":"Trump earlier said Iran would “have to pay the price” for taking “too long to negotiate a deal” and that the US had “the right” to do so “based on the helicopter” that Tehran shot down."}],[{"start":218.60000000000002,"text":"Centcom said the latest strikes were “in response to Iran’s unwarranted and continued aggression”. "}],[{"start":224.75000000000003,"text":"Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi had previously suggested the helicopter incident was an accident."}],[{"start":231.35000000000002,"text":"Mediation efforts led by Pakistan and Qatar have in recent weeks sought to broker a deal between the US and Iran. A Qatari delegation travelled to Tehran on Wednesday in an effort to break the stalemate. "}],[{"start":244.90000000000003,"text":"But mediators have struggled to bridge the gaps between the warring parties amid deep mistrust on both sides."}],[{"start":252.50000000000003,"text":"The price of oil has surged since the conflict broke out in February, with Brent rising as high as $126 a barrel following the closure of the strait. But prices have since receded as China slashed imports and countries drew down barrels from their emergency stockpiles."}],[{"start":270.35,"text":"Helima Croft, head of commodity strategy at RBC Capital Markets and a former CIA analyst, said the lower oil price environment “may be providing the White House increased confidence to pursue more maximalist goals, thereby extending the shelf life of the conflict”."}],[{"start":287.40000000000003,"text":"Rystad Energy warned that, if hostilities were to resume in earnest, prices could shoot up towards $150 per barrel."}],[{"start":295.70000000000005,"text":"“The next few days will be critical in determining whether diplomacy can reassert itself or whether the conflict moves into a more sustained escalation cycle,” said Jorge León, head of geopolitical analysis at Rystad."}],[{"start":308.20000000000005,"text":"Additional reporting by Jamie Smyth in New York"}],[{"start":317.80000000000007,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1781145630_3282.mp3"}