PAKISTAN said today it was working to get the US and Iran back around the negotiating table, as fears grow the frequently violated truce between the two could reignite all-out war.

On Tuesday the US admitted firing Hellfire missiles from an attack helicopter into the engine room of a Panama-flagged commercial vessel attempting to pass the Gulf of Oman, as part of its naval blockade of Iran.

US Central Command said that since its blockade began it had “redirected 55 commercial vessels attempting to run the blockade, disabled three non-compliant vessels, and boarded two.” Also on Tuesday, the Iran-allied Houthis in Yemen fired at a Saudi cargo vessel in the Red Sea, killing six.

US President Donald Trump bragged that he had “total control” of the Strait of Hormuz, but Iran disputed this, saying it was keeping the Strait closed and would continue to do so until the US changes its “behaviour” and accepts its demands.