Both Iran and Pakistan say a deal has never been closer - echoing US President Donald Trump's statement on Thursday.

The US military had attacked the Palau-flagged tanker on Wednesday after accusing it of not complying with directions.

Iran says it responded to US strikes by targeting American assets in Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain, which reported damage to its capital city overnight.

The US vice-president says the Israeli leader "aggressively asserts" his country's interests, but they do not always align with those of the US.

Nine of them were killed in a series of attacks in the town of Tayr Debba, according to Lebanon's state news agency.

President Donald Trump earlier accused Iran of shooting down the US helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz and vowed to respond.

The uncrewed vessel - which looks similar to a speedboat - rescued the two soldiers from an Apache helicopter that went down on Monday.

France will also bar far-right Israeli Minister Bezalel Smotrich from entry as part of the measures, which Israel condemns as "disgraceful".

The US and Israeli leaders have lost control of the consequences after miscalculating the Iran war.

Iran warned Israel on Monday that it could resume hostilities if attacks on its Lebanese ally Hezbollah do not stop.