- No talks -

Iran's ambassador to Pakistan said Tehran and Washington have not held talks, after US President Donald Trump signalled tentative progress in diplomatic efforts to end the war.

"We have also heard such details through the media, but according to my information -- and contrary to Trump's claims -- so far no negotiations, direct or indirect, have taken place between the two countries," said Reza Amiri Moghadam, adding that it was "natural that friendly countries are always engaged in consultations with both sides to end this illegitimate aggression".

- 'Unmitigated catastrophe' -

Strikes around Iran and Israel's nuclear sites risk unleashing an "unmitigated catastrophe", the UN rights chief said, warning that "recent missile strikes near nuclear sites in both Israel and Iran underscore the immense danger of further escalation."

- Gulf shipping -

China's shipping Giant Cosco said it was resuming new bookings for shipments to some Gulf countries, which it halted because of the war.

The state-owned firm "resumed new bookings for general cargo containers for shipments" to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and Iraq "with immediate effect", according to a company statement.

Earlier Iran said "non-hostile vessels" can transit the Strait of Hormuz, according to a statement released to the International Maritime Organization.

- Missile sites hit -

The Israeli military said it had struck two naval cruise missile production facilities in Tehran that were used to "develop and manufacture long-range naval cruise missiles".

- Deadly Iraq strike -

A new strike in western Iraq targeted the former paramilitary coalition Hashed al-Shaabi has killed seven.

The coalition is part of Iraq's armed forces but includes brigades belonging to Iran-backed groups.

The previous day, a similar attack killed 15 Iraqi fighters, the deadliest attack in Iraq since the start of the war and blamed on the US, while a strike blamed on Iran in the autonomous Kurdistan region killed six fighters.

After those strikes, Baghdad granted former paramilitary groups the "right to respond" and summoned US and Iranian diplomats.

- IEA on oil release -

The head of the International Energy Agency said he was "ready to move forward" with an additional release of oil reserves "if and when necessary".

Fatih Birol's comments in Tokyo came after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi asked the agency "to prepare to implement an additional release in case the situation drags on" with the war in the Middle East.

- US bases targeted -

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had fired missiles and drones at military bases hosting US forces in Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain, as well as targets in Israel, according to a statement carried by Iranian state broadcaster IRIB.

- Oil prices drop -

Brent crude oil, the global market benchmark, was down 6.3 percent at $97.90 per barrel at around 0200 GMT.

Benchmark US oil contract, West Texas Intermediate, was down 5.2 percent at $87.52.

- Kuwait airport fire -

Drones hit a fuel tank and sparked a fire at Kuwait International Airport, the Gulf state's civil aviation authority said, reporting no casualties.

- Deadly strikes on Lebanon -

Lebanese state media reported that Israeli strikes killed at least nine people.

Four were killed in the town of Adloun, two in the Mieh Mieh refugee camp, and three in the town of Habboush, media said.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military, which has sent in ground troops in its battle against Iran-backed Hezbollah.

- Israel targeted -

Israel's military said air defences responded to missiles launched from Iran, with blasts heard late Tuesday in Jerusalem and over the city of Jericho in the occupied West Bank.

- Bushehr nuclear plant -

The UN nuclear watchdog said Iran had informed it that "another projectile hit the premises" of the Bushehr nuclear power plant on Tuesday, without damaging it.

- Iran's 'present' -

US President Donald Trump said he was upbeat about a negotiated deal with Iran after its surviving leadership gave him a "very big present" related to the Strait of Hormuz, "worth a tremendous amount of money".

He earlier said negotiations to end the Middle East war were under way "right now," adding that Tehran wants to make a deal "so badly".

burs/yad