• Iran’s security chief, Mohsen Rezaei, says the US has accepted some of Tehran’s seven conditions for an agreement but described the response as “inadequate”.
• Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says a third oil supertanker has struck a naval mine in the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours. A video of the incident shows the vessel engulfed in flames.

US war on Iran

Iran threatens to destroy US data centres, AI sites and cables in the Gulf if war resumes

Iran’s state-owned Press TV has published its full interview with security chief Mohsen Rezaei online.

In the 30-minute conversation, Rezaei addressed a range of issues, including diplomacy with the US, the Strait of Hormuz and threatened strikes on US tech assets in the Middle East if war resumes.

“The United States has extremely expensive assets in the UAE and around the Strait of Hormuz,” he said. “We have not yet included these assets among our targets. But if war breaks out, many of these cables, data centers, artificial intelligence facilities and numerous other sites will be destroyed.”

Rezaei described those assets as the “pulse of the American economy in this region” and said they “are worth more than $2 trillion”.

He also said Iran was “fully prepared” to introduce new capabilities if the US attacks again.

“We did not act in a way that would reveal all our capabilities in the first week. Had we done so, we would have had little left to use afterwards,” he said. “Today, if another confrontation takes place, we will certainly face the enemy with a much broader and more extensive plan.”

Iranian Navy warns US against ‘new miscalculation’

Rear Admiral Faramarz Bemani, the deputy commander of the Iranian Navy, says the US has “made a wide retreat from Iran’s borders in the seas and has now moved the furthest away from Iran’s borders” compared to previous conflicts.

“If they try to repeat a new miscalculation, the Navy will respond in such a way that they will again move further away from our borders than before,” Bemani said in an interview with the IRIB broadcaster.

He said Iran has been busy producing new weapons, after having “examined and studied the enemy’s weaknesses”.

“In response to the new tactics the enemy is adopting, Iran is also adopting new tactics,” Bemani added.

The reason why the Pentagon has ordered to move all US warships 1,000 kilometers away from the eastern Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman, is to keep the nuclear powered aircraft carriers away from target distance.

It has logistically consequences for the fighter jets on board these carriers. It's an extra 2,000 kilometers back and forth from targets  in Iran. It means more fuel is needed.

IRGC chief warns against foreign interference in Strait of Hormuz

Major-General Ahmad Vahidi, commander-in-chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), says powers outside the region have no right to interfere in the Strait of Hormuz.

“No extra-regional power has the right to threaten, maintain a hegemonic presence, or interfere in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf,” Vahidi said in a statement.

IRAN-US talks

Iran’s 7 conditions to end war

Iran’s security chief, Mohsen Rezaei, said the US has agreed to some of Tehran’s seven conditions to end the war.

But he said Washington’s response was “inadequate”.

Rezaei did not detail the seven conditions or specify which ones the US has rejected.

But he has previously told Al Jazeera that the conditions include an end to the war on all fronts, the release of frozen Iranian funds, the lifting of the US naval blockade on Iran, an end to Washington’s interference in Iran’s internal affairs, and an end to all US attacks on Iranian territory.

He also warned that the Strait of Hormuz will not reopen until all of Iran’s conditions are met.

Iran’s security chief about diplomatic efforts to end war

• “Over the past two months, the Americans have approached us through three different channels: Pakistan, Qatar and even Iraq. They asked us to present our proposals to them about two weeks ago.”
• “We announced seven conditions to the Americans. We made it clear that unless they fulfilled these conditions, the Strait of Hormuz would not be reopened to them, and there would be no negotiations.”
• “In the response, they accepted some of our conditions while others remain unclear. We are not in the process of responding to the Americans. They have responded to us, and we consider their response inadequate.”
• “They must clarify the issues that remain unclear to us. The question is whether they can resolve these ambiguities, so that the next stages can begin or whether they cannot.”

‘Exchange of messages between Iran and US continuing’

Baghaei has told reporters that “the exchange of messages between Iran and the US through mediators is continuing” and called on Washington to lift its latest sanctions.

“Iran’s seven-point plan, presented on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, outlines its legitimate demands, including lifting the naval blockade, ending the war on all fronts and releasing frozen Iranian assets,” he said.

“These demands remain unchanged, and Iran sees no reason to compromise on its rights.

“Iran has reiterated that ending US interference and acts of aggression must be the priority. These positions have been conveyed through mediators, and Tehran is reviewing Washington’s latest points before sending its response.”

Iran ‘seriously’ pursuing diplomacy to secure ‘national interests’

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says diplomatic efforts to achieve its national interests are “seriously” being pursued at the international level.

Araghchi said Iran’s foreign policy priorities include using economic diplomacy to end US and Western sanctions against Iran and strengthening media engagement, according to his Telegram channel.

Last week, Abbas said while Iran is determined to defend itself, officials are “serious” about using diplomacy to end the conflict with the United States.

Nuclear issue

Strait of Hormuz

US naval escorts in Strait of Hormuz ‘simply not sustainable’

Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, says that while shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has picked up, the US cannot keep paying the price for getting ships out safely.

“Undoubtedly, the strait is more open than it was before… But also, there’s another element that has to be added to the picture: at what cost?” he asked.

“The US is spending a tremendous amount of resources right now escorting ships out of the Strait of Hormuz, and it is simply not sustainable for the US military to continue to do this.”

Parsi also warned that the rise in traffic did not mean the crisis was over.

“It does not mean in any way, shape, or form that we have reached some sort of a plateau or pause in this war,” he said.

“What we’re seeing right now is just the calm before the storm because of the midterm elections.”

Iran’s security chief accuses US, UAE of running oil smuggling network in Hormuz

Rezaei has accused the head of the US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) of running oil smuggling operations in the Strait of Hormuz with the support of the UAE’s military.

“Over the past two or three months, on average, we have been striking five of these smuggling vessels every night,” Rezaei told state-owned Press TV. “These are the very operations overseen by the commander of the US Central Command.”

He claimed that “personnel from the UAE armed forces” were used and deployed “in support of these operations”.

He also accused the US president of being involved, saying, “Trump has teamed up with a number of smugglers in these rocky coastal waters of Oman to carry out smuggling operations.”

There has been no response from the UAE or CENTCOM to these claims.

Iran’s actions in Hormuz ‘a direct result’ of what US, Israel are doing there, Foreign Ministry says

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson adds that US claims about shipping in the Strait of Hormuz “have no correspondence with what we observe in the field of reality”.

“They can continue to claim that the Strait of Hormuz is no longer effective and Iran has lost its leverage, but we are doing our job,” Baghaei told reporters.

Baghaei said Iran’s actions in the strait were not aiming to gain leverage but were “a direct result” of the actions of the US and Israel.

“As long as the US insists on continuing to insecure this waterway and the region through naval blockade and economic warfare – actions of which it is proud and which are all examples of military aggression against a country – security will not return to this waterway.”

IRGC says supertanker struck in Hormuz

A supertanker following an unauthorised route in the Strait of Hormuz was hit this morning, according to the IRGC Navy, which added that it was the third vessel struck in the waterway in the last two days.

“Like previous offenders, this tanker – having deactivated its navigation system and ignored warnings from the IRGC Navy – intended to exit the Strait of Hormuz and disrupt its order and security,” a statement quoted by Iran’s state-run media said. “Consequently, it was struck.”

Iran escalates attacks on ‘US-UAE’ oil shuttle out of Strait of Hormuz

Iranian authorities have signaled that they intend to disrupt an Arab-operated and US-assisted shuttle system that has enabled some energy exports through the Strait of Hormuz.

With the US naval blockade of Iran’s southern ports imposed and sanctions tightening, Tehran has said it will pursue military and diplomatic efforts to pressure Washington to submit to its demands for fully reopening the shipping channel.

60 countries pledge to oppose tolls on shipping routes, says EU

The European Union’s chief diplomat Kaja Kallas has announced more than 60 countries oppose tolls or fees on international shipping routes.

The move comes as Iran has suggested payments must be made to the Islamic Republic for access to the Strait of Hormuz by international commercial vessels.

The pledge aims to preserve freedom of international navigation, according to Kallas, amid disruption of maritime traffic caused by the US-Israel war on Iran launched in February.

Credit rating agency predicts deal to reopen Hormuz in early 2027

Fitch Ratings has assessed a durable agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz will be reached in the first quarter of 2027.

Fitch did not specify what form the agreement might take, which countries would participate, or what terms it would include.

Higher oil prices, recovering oil exports and large financial buffers have supported sovereign credit profiles, the rating agency said in a commentary accompanying its latest regional peer credit analysis.

Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Iraq have borne the brunt of the fallout from the US-Israel war on Iran – facing sporadic attacks from the IRGC and regional proxies, alongside disruptions to the main route for their hydrocarbon exports.

Oman says wounded seaman evacuated from ship after fire

Oman’s Maritime Security Centre launched “a medical evacuation operation for one of the crew members of the commercial vessel JOHN K”.

According to a statement, the rescue effort via helicopter was carried out after a fire broke out in the engine room of the vessel, 81km (44 nautical miles) from the Al Batinah South governorate.

“The injured individual was transported by air to receive the necessary treatment,” it added.

It’s unclear if the blaze on the ship was caused by an attack or other circumstances.

Iran IRGC says it attacked ‘supertanker’ in Strait of Hormuz

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps says it targeted a cargo ship attempting to cross the crucial waterway for energy supplies on Monday using an “unauthorised route”.

IRGC’s navy said in a statement published on its Sepah News platform that “a supertanker was hit in the Strait of Hormuz and caught fire”.

The ship tried to sail through the area “by disabling its transponders” and “by ignoring warnings from the Guards’ Navy”, it said.

Ali Ozmaei, the IRGC’s naval commander, warned last weekend that any vessel disabling its transponder to avoid detection while crossing the strait would be considered “hostile” and face a “severe” response.

The British maritime agency UKMTO also reported on Monday four separate incidents of vessels being hit in Hormuz the day before.

Oil & Oil markets

Oil prices fall on hopes of more Russian supplies

Oil prices have slipped on expectations of more Russian supplies after Trump said Ukraine and Russia had agreed to halt attacks on each other’s energy facilities, according to Reuters.

But the US-Israel war on Iran continued to keep Brent crude above $100 a barrel.

Brent crude futures fell $1.37, or 1.31 percent, to $103.35 a barrel by 00:37 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude was at $90.55 a barrel, down $1.30, or 1.42 percent.

Saudi oil minister warns energy security cannot be taken for granted

Saudi Arabia’s energy minister says energy systems “are being tested” around the world.

“Supply routes have been disturbed. Infrastructure has been attacked and supply chains have been strained,” Abdulaziz bin Salman said at the WPC Energy Congress in Riyadh.

“Government, businesses and consumers have been reminded of a fundamental truth: Energy security cannot be taken for granted.”

In relation to the war on Iran: Saudi Arabia accused of allowing the US of activities directly linked to their attacks on Iran.

In relation to the war in Yemen: Saudi Arabia triggered the war in July 13, 2026.

Aramco CEO warns ‘squeeze on crude oil is serious’

Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser has said that until the Strait of Hormuz is fully reopened, pressure across the energy chain will only intensify.

“Globally, the squeeze on crude oil is serious,” he said during the WPC Energy Congress in Riyadh, adding that the spike in refined fuel prices is making the challenge even worse.

Nasser said that commercial offshore inventories, the last available buffer, are currently “well below” six billion barrels, adding that the vast majority of these are locked up.

It could take up to two years to refill inventories while meeting demand, he said.

OPEC cuts 2026 oil demand growth forecast to 400,000 bpd

OPEC has lowered its oil demand growth forecast for this year to 400,000 barrels per day from 1.4 million at the start of the year, Haitham al-Ghais, Secretary General of the organization says.

However, OPEC expects the deferred demand to materialize in 2027, when it anticipates pent-up demand.

Oil prices rise to near two-week highs

Oil prices have jumped to near two-week highs as continuing Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia overshadow possible further supplies to the market after US President Donald Trump praised fresh Russian diesel exports and a Russia-Ukraine energy ceasefire.

Retracing earlier losses, Brent crude futures rose $1.24, or 1.2 percent, to $106.19 a barrel by 11:24 GMT, their highest since September 29. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was at $92.96 a barrel, up $1.11, or 1.2 percent.

In addition, increasing attacks on tankers sailing through the Strait of Hormuz this month threaten to dampen a recovery in Middle East crude exports seen in September.

World faces biggest energy crisis ever

The head of the International Energy Agency (IEA) says humanity is staring down the most serious energy crisis in history.

More than seven months into the US-Israel war on Iran, the standoff continues with little relief in sight.

IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol says global oil stocks are declining fast.

G7 countries and IEA members have tapped into their strategic emergency reserves, but relief has been short-lived and the global economy is still feeling the pain with the Russia-Ukraine war putting additional strain on the oil industry.

Shipping and insurance costs reach ‘unprecedented level’, says OPEC

Energy and oil ministers have said that current disruptions to energy supply have caused the cost of shipping and insurance to reach ‘unprecedented levels’, according to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Pipeline disruptions, including the Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline, and the Strait of Hormuz crisis have exacerbated uncertainty on global energy flows.

In a statement released by OPEC, the ministers noted that the costs reached “more than one third of the commodity value, impeding the timely and efficient movement of crude oil and products, and placing additional inflationary pressures on the global economy.”

The ministers stressed that the increased costs are “ultimately transmitted across the oil value chain increasing and prolonging the cost burden on producing and consuming countries and impacting global economic growth,” on the sidelines of an International Energy Forum ministerial meeting in Riyadh.

US arbitrary sanctionism

Under modern international law, the legality of unilateral sanctions is inherently tied to whether the state imposing them is responding to an initial illegal act. Because the attacking belligerent is the original violator of the prohibition on the use of force (Article 2(4) of the UN Charter), any "arbitrary sanctions" it levies cannot be legally justified.

(delusional) US politics

Iranian official criticizes Rubio’s statement about Greek history

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Baghaei has also accused US Secretary of State Marco Rubio of engaging in a “cognitive war against Iran and the world”.

“Distorting history to justify warmongering is dangerous and an injustice to Greek civilization,” he told reporters, referring to recent remarks made by Rubio about the history of Greece.

Referencing the ancient Greco-Persian Wars, Rubio used the Persian destruction of Athens in 480 BC under King Xerxes I as an example of Western civilization surviving an external enemy.

Baghaei said that Rubio had inadvertently admitted that Iran has “endured for thousands of years”, adding that “the continuity of civilization and culture is not achieved through military conquests”.

War during ancient times were waged in a much different context. There was no invention of nuclear militarization as by the US in 1942, that caused the rise of nuclear powers, including the Israelis.

All the bad things in the world rooted from the US. just like AI.

RAF airbase Fairford

UK’s Burnham says Iran’s IRGC ‘almost certainly’ involved in RAF Fairford incident

The United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Andy Burnham says a suspected plot targeting the RAF Fairford airbase in Britain was “almost certainly” directed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

“We will not tolerate these threats on our soil,” Burnham told the UK Parliament. “We will crack down on Iran’s use of criminal networks, using our full range of powers to target them and their funding streams, and we will bring further sanctions to restrict the capacity of Iran and the IRGC to do us harm.”

The incident near RAF Fairford began in the early hours of September 27 when five British men in their 20s were arrested near the base on suspected “terrorism” and explosives offences. They were later released without charge on ‌‌police ⁠⁠bail “under stringent conditions”.

Tehran’s embassy in London issued a statement last month saying Iran “categorically rejects and strongly condemns the recent unfounded and malicious speculations” attempting to link the country to the arrests, adding it will “fuel Iranophobia propaganda”.

Iran reiterates denial of any role in UK airbase incident

Ali Mousavi, Iran’s ambassador to the UK, has again denied any Iranian involvement in an alleged “terrorism” plot near the RAF Fairford airbase.

Mousavi told British authorities that Tehran is willing to cooperate with UK authorities during an investigation into the incident, in which five men were arrested and later released on bail, Iran’s ⁠⁠⁠⁠state news agency IRNA reported.

Mousavi met Stephen Doughty, the UK’s minister for the Middle East, and again “categorically rejected” allegations of any Iranian role while urging “the British side to refrain from any unsubstantiated statements”.

Iran’s embassy previously denied involvement in September calling the UK’s accusations “Iranophobia propaganda”.

Other

Iran says regional countries witnessed ‘ineffectiveness’ of US security umbrella

Abolfazl Shekarchi, chief spokesman of the Iranian armed forces, has said the country will not allow the restoration of the US-Israeli regional order in West Asia, according to the IRIB broadcaster.

“Regional nations have witnessed the ineffectiveness of this alleged US security umbrella firsthand. Now is the time for them to learn from this experience and avoid plunging into a deadly abyss by hitching their fate to the fraying rope of Trump and Netanyahu,” he said.

“Washington is incapable of ensuring even its own security in the region, let alone guaranteeing the security of others,” Shekarchi said.

“Persisting in reliance on the US’s purported security umbrella amounts to nothing less than accepting the heavy costs of a flawed calculation and decision,” he added.