Middle East conflict: US strikes Iran’s Qeshm Island, Trump threatens more military action

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The United States on Monday attacked Iran's Qeshm Island, the Wall Street Journal reported, even as President Donald Trump signaled progress in negotiations with Tehran to end the eight-month-old conflict.

The Journal, citing unnamed US officials, described the strike against Qeshm, the the largest island in the Strait of Hormuz, as the latest of a series of "limited strikes" Washington has secretly carried out against Iran in recent weeks.

Iranian state news agency IRNA reported five explosions in rapid succession were heard on the island, and that some residents reported seeing two aircraft flying in its skies.

Yemen’s internationally recognised military and Health Ministry said a Houthi ballistic missile struck Al-Saqiyah Health Center in Lahj’s Al-Mudaribah district, killing five and wounding 15, including medical staff. The casualty toll is preliminary; independent verification was not available. 1286

Yemen’s military said an Iran-backed Houthi ballistic missile struck a health centre in Lahj province late on Monday, killing five people and wounding 15 others, including medical personnel.

Military spokesperson Col. Majed al-Nuzaili said the missile was launched from Houthi-controlled areas and hit the Al-Saqiyah Health Centre in the Al-Mudaribah district. The preliminary toll came from Yemen’s Ministry of Public Health and Population

The Yemeni Human Rights Ministry said the dead included three medical personnel, while seven medical workers were among the 15 wounded.

The attack occurred near the Bab Al-Mandab Strait, a key maritime chokepoint connecting the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

Tehran blames US blockade for Hormuz unrest as talks remain deadlocked

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said its forces downed and captured a US MQM-170 drone near Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, according to IRGC-affiliated media.

The claim could not be independently verified, and US Central Command dismissed it as false.

Iranian state media also reported five explosions in "rapid succession" on Qeshm Island, but no independent confirmation of the cause, target or casualties was available.

The IRGC also claimed it had destroyed an MQ-9 east of the strait and downed another MQM-170 reconnaissance drone south of Qeshm, capturing both.

The Pentagon has not confirmed the claims.

Earlier Iranian account claimed its forces seized another MQM-170 drone in the western Strait of Hormuz through an "electronic-warfare" operation, per Mehr News. US officials rejected that account as well.

Iranian media also reported that its forces destroyed an unmanned US vessel in the eastern Strait of Hormuz. CentCom said all American unmanned surface vessels in the region were accounted for.

IRNA said the Qeshm blasts came in rapid succession, and some residents reported two aircraft over the island. Fars also reported explosions in waters off Bandar Lengeh. No attribution has been made.

Global crude oil prices experienced a significant drop early on Tuesday (Nov. 3) driven by increased hopes for a diplomatic resolution to the US-Iran conflict. The sell-off followed mediation talks in Qatar that included a proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, reversing much of the price gains seen in October.

Brent crude price tumbled more than 8% as hopes grew for a diplomatic end to the US-Iran war, erasing part of October’s sharp rally. Brent was down $9.32, or 8.22%, to $104.1 a barrel, as of 5.39am in Beijing on Tuesday (Nov. 3, 2026), per OilPrice.com. WTI fell $8.10, or 7.78%, to $96.02, below the psychological $100 mark. Murban crude fell $13.40 or 11.29% to $105.3 per barrel.

The sell-off followed weekend mediation talks between Iran and Qatar. Oil first fell more than 4% as a draft proposal to end the war circulated after Iranian negotiators left Qatar.

British maritime agency UKMTO reported on Monday that a vessel was struck by "an unknown projectile" near the Strait of Hormuz a day earlier, marking the latest disturbance in the contested waterway.

The agency said the incident occurred on Sunday off the coast of Lima, Oman, around the mouth of the strait. 

"The master reports the vessel has been struck by an unknown projectile which has caused a hole on the starboard side. Vessel and crew safe, no environmental impact reported," the agency said in a statement. 

Israeli airstrikes and gunfire killed five people on Monday across the Gaza Strip, its civil defence agency reported, with the Israeli army saying it had targeted "several terrorists" in the devastated Palestinian territory.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that Tehran is prepared for both diplomacy and military confrontation with the United States "more than ever before", adding that the next move depends on Washington's willingness to pursue negotiations.

Speaking to Iranian state news agency IRNA on Monday after concluding his visit to Turkmenistan, Araghchi said Iran had presented its specific conditions and a formulated plan for a diplomatic resolution, with Qatar and Pakistan playing active roles in facilitating negotiations through phone calls and shuttle diplomacy.

"We have announced our specific conditions and presented our formulated plan; now everything depends on how much political rationality prevails on the American side and whether there is a will to take the wise path of diplomacy or, as in previous instances, to drag the situation toward aggression and military operations," he said.

Araghchi warned that any renewed military test or attempt at deception by the enemy would invite a response "far harsher and more regretful than before".

The European Union (EU) strongly condemned the attacks carried out by the Houthi group against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, particularly those targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, and expressed its full solidarity with Saudi Arabia.
In a statement issued by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas on behalf of the union, the EU described the Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia as heinous acts.
It also called on all actors, including Iran, to end all military support to the Houthis, describing such support as a violation of several United Nations Security Council resolutions.
On maritime security, the EU reiterated the importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait in accordance with international law, including the international law of the sea.
It also strongly condemned all threats and attacks against civilian and commercial shipping, saying they threaten regional security and international trade.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Monday that "very intensive" talks are underway with the United States via mediators, as the Middle East war threatens to reignite. 

"Given the sensitivity and gravity of the current situation, consultations and deliberations are very intensive. Qatar and Pakistan are playing a very active mediating role in these negotiations," he said in a video interview given to the official IRNA news agency.

The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis said on Monday that its forces had intercepted two drones in the area of the Saudi capital Riyadh.

"Interception and destruction of two drones in the Riyadh area," coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki said in a post on X, without naming a perpetrator. 

Iran's vice president said on Monday that exchanges with the United States via mediators indicated Washington's recognition of Tehran's "victory" in the Middle East war. 

"Our enemy failed to achieve any of its objectives in the last two wars. Even today, although the United States, driven by its own goals and concerns regarding domestic public opinion, is engaging in various maneuvers, the messages conveyed to Iran through intermediaries point to an acknowledgment of our victory," said Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref, according to IRNA state news agency. 

Iran's security chief Mohsen Rezaei spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the Middle East war, Iranian state media reported on Monday, without providing further details.

"As part of high-level consultations between Iran and Russia, and following recent meetings between senior officials of the two countries, General Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the current situation... in the Middle East during a telephone conversation," IRNA news agency said.

Iran's supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei granted "powers" to the government in its talks with the United States seeking to end the Middle East war, President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Monday.

"We are striving to resolve the issue through dialogue. In this regard, the Supreme Leader has also conferred certain powers on the government," Pezeshkian was quoted by state news agency IRNA as saying, shortly after Iran's foreign ministry said it was exchanging messages with Washington via mediators. 

Iran-backed Hezbollah on Monday announced it had begun distributing financial aid to Lebanese displaced by the group's latest war with Israel, despite efforts to dry up its funding sources. 

The aid is being provided despite US economic sanctions on Hezbollah backer Iran, and Lebanese authorities tightening controls over the group's channels for obtaining money and weapons, as part of their declared campaign to disarm the group.

Hezbollah announced in a statement that it had begun paying a first tranche of aid to displaced people in the Nabatieh region of southern Lebanon. 

It is an act of "loyalty to the owners of the destroyed homes", the group said. 

China's top diplomat told a senior Iranian official that Beijing supports Tehran in "safeguarding its own sovereignty and security" as they met in the Chinese capital on Monday, after threats of renewed US strikes.

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States has knocked out much of Iran's military but still has to "take care of" one or two targets, as Tehran warned of reprisals if attacked.

"China supports Iran in safeguarding its own sovereignty and security," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Ali Bagheri Kani, the deputy secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, according to a statement from Beijing.

The foreign ministry had not previously announced the visit by Bagheri Kani to Beijing.

"All parties should... in a spirit of reason and pragmatism, focus on a political solution rather than once again resorting to armed conflict," Wang told Bagheri Kani, according to the statement.

Irish no-frills airline Ryanair said Monday it would launch a cost-cutting drive and hike fares next year to help offset the impact of soaring jet fuel prices driven by the Middle East war. 

Chief executive Michael O'Leary said Ryanair's fuel bill is expected to rise by 2.0 billion euros ($2.24 billion) in its next financial year, which could prompt cost-saving measures such as temporary pay freezes, lower cabin crew ratios and greater use of artificial intelligence in back-office operations.

The announcement came as profit after tax fell six per cent to 1.61 billion euros in its second quarter, or three months to end-September, from one year earlier, the Dublin-based carrier said in a statement.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei on Monday said that the responsibility for advancing negotiations now lies entirely with Washington, emphasising that Iran’s logical demand, starting with an end to the US naval blockade, must be met before the Strait of Hormuz can be reopened or secured. 

"The ball is in America's court; because our demands have been stated very clearly and transparently, and Iran's demands are reasonable and logical," Baghaei said during a press briefing. "No final agreement can be initiated and the Strait of Hormuz cannot be opened or secured unless the US naval blockade is ended, Iran's demands are met, and Iran's legitimate demands are implemented. After that, we can discuss the continuation of the process." 

Addressing questions regarding a recent diplomatic letter sent by the US Vice President JD Vance to the Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Mohsen Razaei, Baghaei noted that Tehran evaluates the US based on concrete performance rather than tone or rhetorical style.

"It is common for different people to write letters or speak in different ways," Baghaei explained. "The style of writing letters and expressing oneself may differ from one person to another; but for us, the performance of the US government is important."

He warned that Washington has a track record of undermining diplomatic efforts rather than initiating them.

"So far, the US has shown that it not only lacks initiative in the field of diplomacy, but also destroys diplomatic initiatives," Baghaei added. "In the past two years, the US has only beaten the drum of war, and whenever a path for diplomacy has been opened, or during that process, it has disrupted the process."

Baghaei referenced previous diplomatic attempts, pointing out that even after agreements were reached—such as the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding—they were unravelled shortly after. 

"Incidentally, the senior negotiator in the Islamabad process was the same writer of the letter, and we saw that the US President recently also announced that that process was a waste of time in our opinion," he said. "That said, any diplomatic process should definitely be approached with great caution."

Oil prices fell nearly 4% as hopes grew for a deal to end the US-Israel war on Iran. Brent crude dropped 3.7% to $109.23 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate fell 3.8% to $100.14.

Qatar-mediated talks and signs of rising shipments from major exporters lifted hopes of a breakthrough, despite recent attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran's foreign ministry on Monday said it was considering a two-day plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if the US agrees to its conditions, having previously proposed a one-week timeline.

"The possibility of implementing this plan in two days is another indication of Iran's good-faith approach. We have stated that, if Iran's demands are met, it would be possible to restore security to the Strait of Hormuz and resume the negotiating process within a short period," said foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, adding that the "exchange of messages is still ongoing" via mediators.

Iran has no hostility towards regional countries and supports cooperation to establish lasting security, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said.

However, he said Tehran could not remain silent if the territory of regional states was used to violate Iran’s sovereignty or threaten the security of its people.

Baghaei said some Gulf countries had placed excessive trust in the US military presence, with some actively cooperating with Washington. He added that Iran expected neighbouring countries not to allow their territory or facilities to be used against it, saying trust-building must be mutual.

Iranian negotiators left Doha on Sunday after three days of talks with Qatari mediators, but their departure was not due to difficulties in the discussions, an official briefed on the talks told Reuters on Monday.

The consultations focused on efforts to reach a deal to end the US-Israeli war on Iran, amid concerns that the conflict could escalate again after the November 3 US midterm elections.

Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, said Tehran has not closed the window of diplomacy and messages are being passed to the US via intermediaries. Negotiations over the war have appeared to stall for weeks.

State media said Baghaei spoke in an interview with a German broadcaster. He said the U.S. appears to persist in unilateral demands and that Trump and U.S. officials repeatedly use the phrase "complete surrender," which Baghaei said no Iranian accepts.

Saudi Arabia’s Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen said its air defences intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the Houthi militia towards the Kingdom’s southern region.

The announcement was made by Colonel Turki Al Malki, the coalition’s official spokesman.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Iran and its allies might try to disrupt Tuesday's elections, warning the Islamic republic against any hostile acts.

The remarks came as Israel's Channel 12 reported, citing unnamed sources, that there had been a confrontation between Netanyahu and army chief Eyal Zamir over an unspecified new directive in the war with Iran, which the premier denied.

"We have intelligence signs that our enemies, Iran and its proxies, could challenge us with attacks in order to disrupt the elections," Netanyahu said in a video released by his office on Sunday.

"Don't test us. You will suffer disproportionate blows," he added, noting the military was ready for both defensive and offensive operations.

In its report on the purported confrontation between Netanyahu and Zamir, Channel 12 said the latter had "demanded an in-depth discussion before carrying out the directive he had received, as well as legal guarantees and the signatures of the political echelon".

It did not offer details of the directive, but cited sources saying there were concerns within the army that the war might be exploited for political gain.

In a television appearance later in the day, Netanyahu dismissed the report as "nothing but rubbish".

Opposition leader Yair Lapid referenced the report in a post on X, accusing Netanyahu of seeking to put off the vote.

"Tonight it was published that he wants to set off an escalation and a confrontation with Iran, just to postpone the elections," he said.

"This man has lost his grip. We absolutely must send him home."

Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence has announced that the danger has passed in Najran Province, Khamis Mushait Governorate and Abha City.

Residents have been urged to continue following Civil Defence instructions and avoid gathering or filming at affected locations. Anyone facing an emergency should call 998.

Authorities also warned that filming, publishing or sharing information related to missile and drone interceptions, or their impact sites, could expose individuals to legal liability.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) has rejected claims by Iran’s foreign minister that Tehran has not attacked civilians in neighbouring countries, saying Iran has targeted civilian infrastructure, residential areas and other facilities across the Gulf.

In a statement, CENTCOM also accused Iran of deliberately attacking civilian mariners at sea, claiming more than 20 people had been killed in recent months.

The US command described the attacks as indiscriminate aggression. The allegations were made in response to the Iranian foreign minister’s recent public remarks.

Yemen's Houthis said Monday that Saudi strikes targeted a key Red Sea port and oil facility in Hodeidah province, wounding seven people.

The Iran-backed group is fighting a Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen's internationally recognised government after a civil war reignited in one of the world's poorest countries.

Saudi-coalition strikes on Ras Issa port wounded four civilians, while three more were hurt in an attack on an oil facility in Bajil district, Houthi health ministry spokesman Anees Alasbahi said in a post on X.

"These repeated attacks on oil facilities and vital ports constitute a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and add to the series of war crimes in Yemen that target civilians and critical infrastructure," he said.

The Houthis' Al-Masirah TV channel said earlier that Saudi Arabia had attacked a pier and commercial ship on Ras Issa port.

Hodeidah has the biggest seaport under Houthi control and is a key entry point for food and aid to areas they hold.

The Ras Issa port, north of the city, also serves to import and store oil.

UAE travel is heading into a busy November, with Dubai preparing for the winter tourism season and more international flights expected to return. New tourism initiatives, including a membership programme for repeat visitors and online visa applications, are also set to boost the emirate’s appeal.

However, regional tensions continue to affect air travel, with delays and cancellations reported across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah airports. Services to Saudi Arabia remain particularly affected, with Etihad Airways extending cancellations on selected routes until November 5. Emirates, flydubai and Air Arabia have also reported schedule changes.

Here are the latest UAE flight, airline, tourism and regional travel updates for Monday, November 2.

Saudi Arabia’s Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz held a phone call with Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi to discuss strengthening military and defence cooperation between the two countries.

The ministers also stressed the importance of supporting efforts to promote regional security and stability, while condemning Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported an incident involving a tanker 72 nautical miles east of Ras Al Khafji, Saudi Arabia, on November 1.

The vessel, travelling south-east through the Arabian Gulf, was struck by two unidentified projectiles on its port side. All crew members were accounted for, with no environmental impact reported.

UKMTO advised vessels to transit the area with caution and report any suspicious activity as authorities investigate the incident.

US President Donald Trump said Sunday that he had a “good talk” with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and that the two leaders discussed Iran.

Axios cited sources as saying Netanyahu is pressing Trump to strike Iran immediately after Tuesday’s midterm elections, but Trump, for now, wants to let negotiations play out — a strategy Netanyahu is concerned about.

On Sunday, Iran’s army spokesman warned that any new war could extend beyond the Middle East and last much longer than the previous conflict.

Iranian negotiators were in Doha on Nov. 1 for a third consecutive day of talks with Qatari mediators aimed at reaching a deal to end the war with the US and Israel, Reuters reported, citing an official briefed on the talks.

The discussions follow an initial Iranian proposal, conveyed o Qatari intermediaries, for a "seven-day plan" under which the US and Iran would take daily confidence-building steps before broader peace talks.

Following back-and-forth communications, the seven days had been whittled down to a "two-day plan", according to a new report citing Iran FM Abbas Araghchi.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Trump has not decided whether to launch new strikes but prefers a diplomatic resolution. The split highlights a key decision point: continued diplomacy or renewed military action.

President Donald Trump has been asking allies about the performances of War Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, The Atlantic reported Sunday, citing two outside advisers close to him.

The questioning comes as Trump focuses on advisers who assured him the war would be "quick and decisive". He often seeks friends’ opinions before making personnel changes.

Some people close to Trump accused Hegseth of giving him an "overly optimistic" picture. The Pentagon rejected that claim, saying Hegseth provides the “full operational picture.”

Hegseth and Caine presented military options to Trump and Vice President JD Vance at the White House last week, the report added.

The White House said Trump had “full confidence” in both men. No order to resume strikes had been given, the report said.

The Atlantic noted that Trump has been contemplating a renewal of hostilities aimed at forcing Iran to negotiate. Advisers told the magazine that a new round of attacks could "come soon" after Tuesday’s midterms.

Hegseth and Caine have been two of Trump’s key counselors on the war. In its earliest stages, they were among the most publicly optimistic about its prospects, though they have not held a press conference since May.

US President Donald Trump has predicted that the war with Iran will end “very soon”, defending higher oil prices as a "small" sacrifice for American and global security.

Speaking at a midterm election rally in Iowa on Sunday, November 1, Trump claimed the US military campaign had prevented Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

He forecast a sharp decline in fuel prices once hostilities end, saying oil would come “plunging” afterwards.

Trump said energy prices had risen less than he initially expected, describing the increase as “a very small price to pay” for security.

However, he provided no timetable or details of a possible settlement, leaving uncertainty over when the conflict might end.

The remarks come ahead of the November 3 US midterm elections, with the Iran war driving up energy costs and adding pressure on American households.

Oil prices have exceeded $100 per barrel amid disruptions to Gulf shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.

US crude benchmark WTI Crude dropped by $2.39 to $101.7, down 2.30%; Brent Crude was down 2% at $111.2 (down $2.27); Murban Crude rose 1.85% to $114.8 per barrel, as of 10.11 am Beijing time on Monday (Nov. 2, 2026).

Two oil tankers "exploded after striking mines” while transitting Hormuz through what the Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy declared as an "unauthorised route", Iranian state media reported late on Sunday.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Qatar-mediated talks have produced a "two-day plan" under which the US would implement a set of measures on the first day, allowing Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restore normal navigation on the second.

"I can say that we have now reached a two-day plan. This means that on the first day, the U.S. implements a set of measures, and on the second day, the Strait of Hormuz reopens and transit returns to its previous state," Clash Report quoted Araghchi as saying..

The proposal is a shortened version of an earlier seven-day plan, reduced to 48 hours after consultations with Qatari mediators. Araghchi said talks were continuing and “moving toward implementation.”

Araghchi's statement, corroborated by Al Jazeera and The Washington Times, is a proposal, not an agreed deal.

The report clarified that consultations continue and no definitive conclusion has been reached. The two-day sequence is conditional on U.S. action; the US has not publicly accepted it.

The United Arab Emirates has condemned in the strongest terms the attack targeting the liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker Al Mayeda, owned by Qatar Gas Transport Company, in the Arabian Gulf.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) affirmed that this attack constitutes a grave threat to the safety of maritime navigation and global energy supplies, carries serious environmental repercussions, and represents a dangerous escalation aimed at undermining the security and stability of critical waterways.

The UAE expressed its solidarity with the State of Qatar, stressing the need to uphold international law, ensure the safety and security of commercial vessels, energy tankers, and their crews, and prevent any disruption to maritime navigation and energy supplies.

Day 246: UAE hopes for peace, ‘braced for worst’

Day 245: Rubio says US yet to decide on new Iran strikes

Day 244: US denies Iran destroyed sea drone in Strait of Hormuz

Day 243: US fires senior army general in latest ouster: reports

Day 242: Iran discusses plan to end war and reopen Hormuz

Day 241: Iran says supreme leader met with security chief

Day 240: 'Entering new path could be considered': Iran tells US