The US military carried out self-defense strikes on Iran overnight and intercepted ballistic missiles along with drones directed at vessels and Gulf states.

The action on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz responded to attempted Iranian assaults across the Middle East, according to US Central Command.

Iran reported missile and drone attacks on US bases and helicopters in a regional country as payback. Centcom noted Tehran launched two missiles at Kuwait and three at Bahrain, all of which either broke apart or were shot down.

Kuwait's army stated that Iranian drones struck its international airport, inflicting significant structural damage and injuring several individuals.

Air traffic halted on Wednesday morning. Defense ministry spokesman Brigadier General Saud Abdulaziz Al-Otaibi called the incident criminal Iranian aggression and confirmed medical care for the injured.

These events unfold against stalled ceasefire talks between the US and Iran after weekend negotiations on ending months of conflict made no progress.

Centcom said the Qeshm Island strike hit an Iranian military ground control station and that US forces downed three attack drones launched toward civilian mariners in regional waters.

The IRGC warned that disrupting Strait of Hormuz security would exact a heavy price from the US military.

Centcom added that Iran fired several ballistic missiles at regional countries, with two aimed at Kuwait falling short or breaking apart and three directed at Bahrain intercepted by US and Bahraini defenses.

Iran has repeatedly targeted sites in Bahrain and Kuwait, locations that host US military bases.

Earlier Centcom reported striking and disabling an empty oil tanker heading toward Iran as part of the naval blockade on the Strait of Hormuz that began on 13 April.

A US aircraft launched a Hellfire missile into the engine room of the Botswana-flagged vessel after its crew ignored repeated warnings.

Centcom released footage said to show the tanker being hit on Tuesday.

The escalation follows US President Donald Trump telling critics this week to sit back and relax while noting Iran wants a deal that would benefit the USA.

US media reported Trump sought changes to a potential peace framework after discussions with aides on extending a ceasefire, including issues tied to the Strait of Hormuz and removal of highly enriched uranium from Iran.

The changes also covered reopening talks on Iran's nuclear program, according to CBS News. On Monday Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei rejected the claims and accused Washington of constantly shifting positions with new or contradictory demands.

Centcom described enforcement of blockade measures against the Botswana-flagged M/T Lexie in international waters toward Kharg Island, noting the crew failed to follow US directions multiple times over 24 hours.

Six commercial vessels have been disabled and 122 redirected since the blockade began, Centcom stated.

The BBC contacted Botswana's government for comment.

The latest clash occurs as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared before Congress for the first time since the war started.

The diplomat told lawmakers that negotiators had not offered Iran sanctions relief in exchange for reopening the strait.

Any sanctions relief remains condition-based and tied to Iran's nuclear program, he said. In another exchange he stated the war is over while lawmakers questioned the strategy for ending the conflict.