Middle East War: Saudi intercepts Houthi missile as Iran warns Israel against strikes
Tehran warns of economic fallout as US weighs renewed attacks after midterms
Iran has warned of devastating economic consequences if Israel launches fresh attacks, as votes are counted in an election that could shape the Middle East war. Tehran rejected reported Qatari peace proposals as unacceptable but said talks with mediators continue over reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, the US has reportedly warned regional allies to prepare for possible strikes against Iran after the November 3 midterm elections. Saudi Arabia intercepted another Houthi ballistic missile, while India confirmed 22 nationals, including 14 seafarers, have died in the conflict. Follow this live coverage for all the latest updates:
Israel's election authorities are counting outstanding ballots on Thursday after more than 90 per cent of votes were tallied, with neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc nor the opposition securing a parliamentary majority.
According to The Guardian, Netanyahu's bloc was projected to win 53 seats, compared with 48 for the opposition led by Gadi Eisenkot. Arab-led parties were projected to hold 19 seats.
Both main blocs remain short of the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-seat Knesset.
The final outcome will depend on the remaining ballots and subsequent coalition negotiations.
US President Donald Trump has denied directing Vice President JD Vance to restart peace negotiations with Iran, saying his contact with Tehran concerned medical supplies.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Vance had sent a letter to Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei to explore renewed negotiations.
Speaking to reporters, Trump acknowledged approving the outreach but said it was intended to help Iran obtain medical supplies.
Axios separately reported that Vance's letter stressed the need to address Iran's nuclear programme in any future talks.
The conflicting accounts come as Washington considers renewed military action against Iran after the November 3 midterm elections.
US officials have told several Middle East countries and regional allies to be prepared for potential renewed military action against Iran after next week's midterm elections in the United States - as well as the possibility that Iran will attempt to retaliate against them, according to two diplomats briefed on the matter.
Both of the diplomats spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment about the sensitive warnings conveyed by US diplomats and defense officials.
President Donald Trump has not made a final decision on whether to carry out new strikes against Iran, the diplomats stressed. The president, however, has repeatedly said that he is weighing ordering new military action once the critical Nov. 3 elections in the United States are over.
Those threats and the fresh US urgings for allies to prepare for potential retaliation are putting the region on alert that a return to major operations could now be on the horizon.
The White House and US officials declined to comment.
The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen's Houthis said on Thursday it had intercepted a ballistic missile fired by the group at the kingdom's eastern region.
"Air defences intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the terrorist Houthi militia toward the Eastern Province," coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki posted on X.
US Vice President JD Vance has contacted Iran's security chief in a bid to revive peace talks that could head off a renewed American assault on the Islamic republic, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Vance sent a letter to Mohsen Rezaei, head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, the Journal reported, in a move that one of the newspaper's sources said was directed by President Donald Trump.
The letter - as well as subsequent talks between US and Iranian officials - focused on a possible framework for negotiations rather than specifics of a peace proposal, the Journal said.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Wednesday that Tehran was discussing with mediators ways to implement a seven-day plan to end the Middle East war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
"While our Brave Armed Forces are fully prepared to defend the Homeland, Iran continues to give diplomacy a chance to succeed," he said in a post on X.
"We remain in close and ongoing contact with intermediaries to review ideas that can ensure implementation of our 7-Day Plan in even less than a week."
The remarks come amid mounting US and Israeli threats of renewed attacks against Iran following their launch of the war in February.
In September, Iran proposed a seven-day plan that it conveyed to the United States through Qatar.
Araghchi said at the time that under the plan, Hormuz would reopen within seven days if "necessary conditions", including a ceasefire across the Middle East, were met.
Iran has also demanded the unfreezing of its assets abroad, the lifting of sanctions on its oil sector, and an end to the US naval blockade.
US news website Axios reported on Wednesday that regional mediators led by Qatar were pushing for "a diplomatic deal" to restart US-Iran talks and prevent the resumption of war after the US midterm elections on November 3.
The report, citing US, Israeli and other regional sources, said the Qataris were trying "to convince Iran to allow UN inspectors to visit its bombed nuclear sites in return for some sanctions relief from the US".
A Qatari delegation visited Tehran on Sunday for talks to review developments including the latest on negotiations, Hormuz and energy supplies, Iran said.
The Israeli army has struck the municipality of Deir Mimas in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA).
The strike followed an earlier warning telling residents to open their windows ahead of a large explosion, the agency reported.
Twenty-two Indian nationals, including 14 seafarers, have lost their lives in the ongoing conflict in West Asia, the Ministry of External Affairs confirmed on Wednesday.
Addressing the bi-weekly media briefing, MEA Official Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated India's serious concern over the deteriorating security situation in the region and detailed the human toll.
"We remain deeply concerned about the situation," Jaiswal stated during the briefing. "Regrettably, 22 Indian nationals have lost their lives in the conflict zone, including 14 seafarers."
Highlighting the safety of the Indian diaspora and maritime personnel in the Gulf region, Jaiswal emphasised that diplomatic missions are actively maintaining contact with Indian citizens.
"We remain in close contact with our missions and community members there," Jaiswal added.
Providing additional details on casualties across the broader region, the spokesperson confirmed that three deaths occurred within Saudi Arabia as a result of regional instability.
"In Saudi Arabia, three Indian nationals have lost their lives in incidents related to the broader regional tensions," Jaiswal noted.
The Ministry reaffirmed that Indian diplomatic posts across West Asia continue to monitor developments closely to ensure the safety, security, and welfare of Indian workers and seafarers operating in vulnerable maritime corridors.
Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, met Jordan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ayman Safadi, in Amman on Wednesday.
The two discussed bilateral cooperation and regional developments, including diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions and coordination on regional security and stability, according to a Qatari statement.
Sheikh Mohammed reiterated Qatar’s full support for diplomatic efforts to find a solution that ensures freedom of navigation and leads to a comprehensive agreement for lasting peace in the region.
Qatar has not presented Iran with a new peace proposal to end the war with the United States and Israel, but only ideas that Tehran considers unacceptable, a senior Iranian official involved in the negotiations told Reuters on Wednesday.
The official said Qatar had presented only “unacceptable ideas and not an offer”, adding that Iran’s position on showing no flexibility over its nuclear programme remained unchanged.
The remarks contradicted an earlier account from another official briefed on the negotiations, who said Qatari mediators had presented a draft peace agreement to Tehran on Sunday.
Iran warned of a devastating economic impact from any new Israeli-led attack, as the votes were counted in an Israeli election that could determine the future of the regional war.
Tuesday's pivotal election gave Israelis a chance to offer a verdict on Netanyahu's right-wing government, amid mounting US and Israeli threats of renewed attacks against Iran following their launch of the war in February.
"Devastating impact on int'l markets of any Israel-instigated military misadventure in Persian Gulf region remains major concern for both gas suppliers and consumers," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a post on X, referring to recent discussions at the Gas Exporting Countries Forum summit in Moscow.
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