James Woolcock

has carried out further airstrikes on Iranian targets as hopes for an imminent deal continue to fade.

As with its attacks earlier this week, a U.S.

official described the latest bombings as defensive.

The U.S.

says it shot down four one-way Iranian drones that were fired at a commercial ship and also struck another drone-launching unit near the Strait of Hormuz.

The latest flare-up in hostilities came just hours after President Trump said that no single nation would control the vital waterway as part of any deal with Tehran.

President Trump speaking there as the U.S.

Treasury says it has taken action against Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority, accusing it of launching a new attempt to monetize transit through the strait.

Here in Europe, the outgoing vice president of the ECB says the central bank should consider the impact of the Iran war on the economy when setting rates next month.

Luis de Guindos told Bloomberg that while inflation in the Eurozone responded quickly to surging energy costs, the effect on economic growth is less clear.

Guindos' dovish tone comes as a number of other European central bank policymakers have signalled they are weighing interest rate hikes.

Both Isabel Schnabel and Yanis Stouran Thornanis have pointed to the need for higher borrowing costs after inflation hit 3%.

The European Union's top diplomat, Kaya Callas, says Russia is on the back foot in its war with Ukraine.

Speaking to reporters ahead of an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Cyprus, she also discussed the bloc's plan surrounding possible peace talks.

The EU's Kayakal is speaking there as Ukraine's President Zelensky rejected the idea of partial membership in the European Union.

In a letter to senior EU officials that's been seen by Bloomberg, he argued that the country deserves full EU membership because its forces are defending the bloc from Russia.

The comments come after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suggested Ukraine could be granted associate membership as an interim step before joining the Union.

That's news when you want it.

With Bloomberg News Now, I'm James Walcock.

an infinite capacity for self-delusion.