The US military said it launched another round of strikes on Iran — the third in a week — after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps struck a container ship travelling through the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday.

Iranian state media has reported explosions in a number of port cities after the strikes.

A series of attacks between the US and Iran over the past several days led President Donald Trump to declare the end of a ceasefire meant to halt the war on Iran that the US and Israel began on February 28, though Trump has left the door open to continued negotiations.

Iran said it closed the vital Strait of Hormuz after firing a warning shot that struck a vessel travelling on an unapproved route. It warned that any retaliation over the incident would be met with a “severe response.”

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre said the crew of a container ship damaged east of Oman had abandoned the vessel and were in a lifeboat.

Soon after, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they had destroyed a command and control centre and drone hangars at a base in US ally Jordon.

The United Arab Emirates said its air defence systems were engaging missiles and drones from Iran, Qatar said it had intercepted a missile attack while warning sirens sounded in Bahrain and explosions were heard in Doha.

Hormuz again the focus of war, diplomacy

The war has destabilised the Gulf, while Iran’s effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has caused energy prices to surge, fuelling global inflation. Higher prices, especially for gasoline, are a politically sensitive issue for Trump ahead of the November congressional elections.