Middle East war: Trump warns US may hit Iran ‘a little bit further’ as IRGC threatens US bases, Netanyahu calls for regime change in Tehran

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy reported that two supertankers attempting to pass through an unauthorised southern route in the Strait of Hormuz struck naval mines earlier on Friday, triggering explosions and severe fires that disabled their engine rooms and left both vessels stranded.

The two tankers were carrying a combined total of more than 4.5 million barrels of crude oil, according to the IRGC Navy.

The statement added that the vessels had been abandoned off the southern coast of the Strait of Hormuz following the explosions, with their crews leaving the ships.

Israel may need to develop an alternative digital economy to circumvent rising international sanctions, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, as he acknowledged rising pressure from key ally the United States.

"You have to understand that there could be sanctions, including banking sanctions," Netanyahu said on a talk show of Israel's Channel 10 released ahead of elections.

"You need to prepare an alternative economy that can operate around them," he said.

Asked if he was speaking about blockchain, a decentralised digital system that does not rely on central government authorities, Netanyahu said, "Absolutely. I have asked to prepare this plan."

Netanyahu did not specify from which country he expected sanctions.

Netanyahu, who has previously called for Israel to become self-sufficient militarily, said that multibillion-dollar weapons packages from Washington "won't keep coming".

"It's over. It's just a question of when," he said, acknowledging he was "worried" about the shift in the United States.

Yair Lapid, a centrist former prime minister who is part of the opposition bloc challenging Netanyahu, seized on the remarks.

"Netanyahu now admits, in his own words: if his government is reelected, American security aid will come to an end and Israel will face sanctions that would devastate our economy, lead to runaway price hikes, and cause irreparable damage," Lapid said.

Iran has drawn up plans to target undersea communications cables in the Gulf if the US and Israel launch fresh attacks, two senior Iranian security officials told Reuters on October 23.

One official said Tehran could also seek to delay repairs to prolong disruptions to communications and internet connections. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards deputy head of political affairs, Yadollah Javani, said the country could target seven major internet cables beneath the Strait of Hormuz if Iranian infrastructure came under attack.

Analysts have said the global impact of any disruption could be limited, although damage to the cables could affect connectivity across the Gulf.

If cables in the Strait of Hormuz are cut:

• Gulf countries could face widespread internet outages and severe connectivity problems.

• Banks, payment systems, cloud platforms and businesses could suffer major disruptions.

• Government, military and emergency communications could also be affected.

• Multiple cable cuts could isolate parts of the Gulf from global internet networks and cause a broader regional communications crisis.

Jordanian Prime Minister Jaafar Hassan issued a directive on Friday declaring three days of national mourning across the kingdom, starting October 23, 2026, in honour of the victims of the terrorist attack on the Greek Orthodox Church in Hamoud village, Karak Governorate. Flags will be flown at half-mast on the buildings of ministries, government departments, public institutions and authorities throughout the mourning period. The directive described the attack as a brutal and cowardly act of terrorism and stated that the national mourning reflected the grief and solidarity of Jordanians following the deaths of innocent victims.

The United States appears to be preparing for renewed large-scale strikes against Iran, with military deployments and heightened regional alerts raising concerns about further escalation, according to AFP.

Experts point to additional US military assets moving to the Middle East, a planned deployment of the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier and another Marine Expeditionary Unit, alongside heightened Israeli military readiness.

Some analysts believe strikes could follow the November 3 US midterm elections, although the timing remains uncertain. US envoy Tom Barrack said an attack could also take place over the weekend.

The conflict has largely centred on attacks involving commercial shipping, a US blockade of Iranian ports and tensions over the Strait of Hormuz. Major attacks on land-based targets have been limited since early September.

However, analysts warn that renewed military action may not resolve the conflict. They say previous strikes have already heavily damaged Iran’s conventional military sites, while further attacks could increasingly affect civilian infrastructure.

Experts also question the feasibility of a ground operation, citing damage to US bases in the region and the difficulty of deploying the forces required.

Trump has said the conflict could be ended quickly, but the path towards either a diplomatic settlement or further military escalation remains unclear

India is continuing to facilitate the transport of life-saving medicines to Iran despite flight disruptions caused by the regional conflict, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Indian authorities remain in contact with Iranian counterparts to ensure the delivery of essential medicines as a humanitarian gesture.

India has also raised concerns over the safety of its seafarers and tankers amid attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

National Security Adviser Ajit Doval discussed the issue with Iran’s Supreme National Security Council secretary, Mohsen Rezaei, during a telephone conversation on October 12.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Heads of Government meeting in Dushanbe earlier this week.

The United States could strike Iran as soon as this weekend, a US envoy said Friday, after mounting threats by both Washington and Israel.

"Could there be a strike this weekend? Absolutely," Tom Barrack, the US ambassador to Turkey and point man on Syria who does not have a direct role on Iran, said in an interview with podcast host Mario Nawfal.

President Donald Trump "is very clear. He's open and available and accessible to a deal and we've been at the table for months and months and months," Barrack said in the interview, a snippet of which was aired on Israeli army radio.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces elections Tuesday, in recent days has repeatedly vowed to topple the clerical state in Iran, following two major bombing campaigns against Iran since last year.

Trump has also signalled an openness to resuming strikes on Iran after a long deadlock in diplomacy although he earlier said it would not happen before US congressional elections on November 3.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said he had stressed the need to reduce tensions, promote US-Iran dialogue, protect Saudi Arabia’s security, safeguard freedom of navigation and achieve a just peace in Palestine during talks with counterparts in Istanbul.

Foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey, known as the R4, are meeting counterparts from the UK, France and Germany, the E3, to discuss Iran and Yemen amid concerns over renewed military escalation.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is hosting the meeting as Turkey  seeks to strengthen its regional role, including through the Mecca Defence Alliance, a defence pact launched with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in August.

Türkiye has said the pact is not directed against any specific country and remains open to others, including Egypt.

Cairo has yet to decide whether to join the alliance. On Wednesday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi said Egypt would defend Saudi territory but would not participate in any attack on Yemen.

British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband's office said the talks would focus primarily on the Strait of Hormuz and the situation in Saudi Arabia.

Miliband would advocate a diplomatic solution to the Hormuz crisis that restores full freedom of navigation, his office said.

He would also stress how what it described as Iranian tactics were being replicated across the region, with attacks on Saudi Arabia further destabilising the region and increasing pressure on vital waterways and global chokepoints, including Bab Al Mandeb and the Suez Canal.

Akasa Air has extended the suspension of flights to and from Jeddah until November 10 and Riyadh until November 30, 2026, citing the prevailing security situation in Saudi Arabia.

The airline said it was closely monitoring developments and assessing the situation in real time.

Affected passengers can claim a full refund, credited to their original payment method within seven days, or reschedule their travel at no additional cost. Passengers who booked through travel partners should contact them directly for assistance.

Akasa Air said passenger and crew safety remained its highest priority.

Around 3,000 stranded Indian Umrah pilgrims have returned from Saudi Arabia over the past week, while more than 10,000 other pilgrims have also travelled home on available flights, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday.

The Indian Embassy and Consulate in Saudi Arabia are working with airlines and tour operators to facilitate the early return of remaining stranded pilgrims.

Indian officials are assisting stranded pilgrims with community volunteers and operating round-the-clock control rooms in Riyadh and Jeddah. Regular advisories are also being issued to keep Indian nationals informed of developments.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said arrangements were being discussed to help other stranded Umrah pilgrims return to India as soon as possible.

A tanker was hit by an unknown projectile while sailing out of the Strait of Hormuz near Oman, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said.

The incident occurred at 5.15pm UTC on October 22, about seven nautical miles northeast of Limah, Oman, according to a UKMTO advisory issued after a delayed report from the vessel’s company security officer.

The tanker was able to continue its voyage to its next port of call. The advisory did not provide details of the vessel or report any casualties.

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

The price of international crude benchmark, Brent North Sea, touched $115 per barrel in trading Friday for the first time since early May on supply concerns caused by the Middle East conflict.

Oil and gas prices have risen strongly this week, adding to worries about high inflation weighing on economic growth around the world.

An Indian national was killed in the October 21 attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia confirmed. The embassy is assisting the family with arrangements to transport his remains to India.

Of the two Indians injured in the Dammam attack, one was discharged on October 22 and the other was expected to be discharged on Friday. An Indian injured in the Shaybah oil field attack was also discharged.

Meanwhile, four Indians injured in the October 10 attack on Riyadh airport remain hospitalised, with two in intensive care and two in a general ward. Seven injured Indians have been discharged so far, while one Indian killed in that attack was buried in Riyadh on October 12.

The embassy urged Indians in Saudi Arabia to take precautions, follow local laws and avoid photographing or sharing images of interceptions and impact sites.

Foreign ministers from eight European and Middle Eastern countries are set to meet in Istanbul on Friday in an unprecedented format for talks on the Strait of Hormuz and crises across the Middle East.

Ministers from Britain, France and Germany - the so-called E3 - as well as Italy will meet counterparts from the newly created R4 group comprising Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Egypt to discuss the Palestinians, developments in Yemen and Hormuz, and ways to end the Russia-Ukraine war, a Turkish foreign ministry source said.

The meeting of the R4 group has started at an Istanbul hotel overlooking the Bosphorus, the source added.

British foreign minister Ed Miliband's office said the Istanbul talks would essentially revolve around "the Strait of Hormuz and the situation in Saudi Arabia".

It said Miliband "will advocate for a diplomatic solution to the (Hormuz) crisis that restores full navigational rights and freedoms".

France confirmed the talks on "the Iranian crisis in its various ramifications", hailing it as a first "in this format... against a backdrop of extreme instability and uncertainty in the region."

The meeting will aim to "strengthen coordination between Europeans and Middle Eastern countries in the face of crises that we did not choose and that affect us all," the French foreign ministry said.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is hosting the meeting as Turkey steps up efforts to strengthen its regional role, including through the Mecca Defence Alliance, a defence pact launched with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in August.

Turkey has said the pact is not aimed at any specific country and remains open to others, including Egypt

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by Yemen’s Houthi militia towards Khamis Mushait, coalition spokesperson Major General Turki Al-Maliki said.

India’s Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said stranded Umrah pilgrims have returned safely to India, while the remaining pilgrims are being assisted.

More than 3,000 stranded pilgrims have returned over the past week, in addition to over 10,000 who travelled on scheduled flights. India’s embassy in Riyadh and consulate in Jeddah are coordinating with airlines and tour operators to help others return.

Foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey are meeting in Istanbul before being joined by their counterparts from the United Kingdom, France and Germany.

The first meeting involving the seven countries in this format will focus on developments in Iran and Yemen, amid concerns over a possible escalation in military tensions.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah arrived in Istanbul to attend a ministerial meeting of the Quadripartite Group, comprising Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt.

The meeting will be followed by a joint ministerial session with European counterparts from the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy.

Discussions will focus on key regional and international developments, including the situation in Yemen, the US-Iran war, the Palestinian cause and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Ministers will also discuss efforts to restore and secure freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, as well as ways to strengthen cooperation and coordination between regional and European countries.

flydubai has cancelled flights to several destinations in Saudi Arabia, including Riyadh, Dammam and Abha, until October 29, citing the prevailing situation.

A spokesperson for the Dubai-based airline told media that some changes to its scheduled services to Saudi Arabia were expected.

Foreign ministers from eight European and Middle Eastern countries are set to meet in Istanbul on Friday in an unprecedented format for talks on the Strait of Hormuz and crises across the Middle East.

Ministers from Britain, France and Germany -- the so-called E3 -- as well as Italy will meet counterparts from the newly created R4 group comprising Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Egypt to discuss the Palestinians, developments in Yemen and Hormuz, and ways to end the Russia-Ukraine war, a Turkish foreign ministry source said.

British foreign minister Ed Miliband's office said the talks would essentially revolve around "the Strait of Hormuz and the situation in Saudi Arabia".

It said Miliband "will advocate for a diplomatic solution to the (Hormuz) crisis that restores full navigational rights and freedoms".

He will also stress "how Iranian tactics are being replicated across the region, with attacks on Saudi Arabia further destabilising the region and increasing pressure on vital waterways and global chokepoints, such as Bab El-Mandeb and the Suez Canal", it added.

India’s mission in Yemen says reports suggest all 14 Indian nationals are safe and located around Hodeidah.

In a post on X, tagging India’s Ministry of External Affairs, the mission said it will continue working to ensure their well-being.

The update follows the mission’s earlier statement on an October 22 incident off the Yemeni coast involving a yacht that apparently had Indian sailors on board.

Indian carrier IndiGo has extended the suspension of its flights to Saudi Arabia, citing the evolving security situation.

In a travel advisory posted on X, the airline said flights to and from Riyadh will remain cancelled until October 31, 2026 (inclusive), while flights to and from Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah will remain cancelled until October 27, 2026 (inclusive).

The airline said the safety and well-being of its customers and crew remain its highest priority, and that it is closely monitoring developments and coordinating with the relevant authorities.

Affected customers are being notified through the contact details provided at the time of booking. Passengers are advised to check their flight status at goindigo.in/check-flight-status before heading to the airport.

Etihad Airways has cancelled all flights between Abu Dhabi and Dammam, Riyadh and Jeddah until Thursday, November 5, due to regional disruptions, the airline said.

The cancellations affect services connecting Abu Dhabi with three major Saudi cities, with passengers advised to check their bookings before travelling.

Abu Dhabi–Dammam flights

All Etihad Airways flights between Abu Dhabi and Dammam have been cancelled through November 5. The airline said further changes remain possible as the regional situation develops.

Read more

India’s mission in Yemen says it is working to establish the facts of an incident off the Yemeni coast on October 22 involving a yacht that apparently had Indian sailors on board.

In a post on X, the embassy said exact information was not yet available due to the ongoing conflict, and that it had contacted various parties to determine the circumstances. It said it would share an update once verified information becomes available.

No details have been released on the nature of the incident, the number of Indian nationals involved, or their condition.

The Saudi-led coalition has rejected as “baseless and false” claims by Yemen’s Houthi militia that Saudi Arabia had threatened to target tribal and civilian gatherings.

Coalition spokesman Major General Turki Al-Maliki said the claims were an attempt to mislead public opinion, divert attention from the militia’s own crises, and drag Yemeni tribes into its conflicts.

“The Yemeni tribe will remain an integral component and a firm pillar in the social and historical fabric of Yemen, and a bridge of brotherhood and communication between the Saudi and Yemeni peoples,” he said.

Al-Maliki reaffirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to Yemen’s security and stability and to preventing the exploitation of Yemeni tribes in conflicts that “do not serve the aspirations of Yemenis for security, peace, and development”.

The denial comes as the coalition reports intercepting Houthi missiles and drones aimed at Riyadh and southern Saudi Arabia.

Asian stocks sank again Friday as tech firms took another beating from investors increasingly losing faith in the sector, with the traditional safe haven yen and government bonds benefiting from the risk-off mood.

Since AI-linked companies hit record highs in June, their equity prices have been pummelled by concerns they were overvalued, their huge outlays on infrastructure and hardware might not return a profit and, more recently, their servicing costs were spiralling.

That has combined with an Iran war-fuelled surge in oil prices to more than $100 that has ramped up inflation, forced central banks to hike interest rates and sent government borrowing costs to multi-decade highs.

Speaking to reporters at the White House before departing for Iowa on Thursday, Trump said: “This should have been done a long time ago by other presidents. The Iran war — and we’ve knocked the hell out of them, and we may do it a little bit further.”

He also said the UnS was not negotiating with Iran and suggested action could come soon: “No, I think we’re not negotiating with – we are going to have something one way or the other. It’ll happen fairly soon.”

Trump framed the potential escalation around preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, saying: “We can’t let Iran have a nuclear weapon.” He did not specify a target, timetable, or the scale of any additional operation.

In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that continued US naval escorts through what it called “mined waterways” could trigger direct action against American bases in the Middle East. It also claimed three additional vessels had struck mines west of the Strait of Hormuz.

Saudi air defences intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by Yemen’s Houthi militia towards Riyadh, the Saudi-led coalition said, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). In a separate statement earlier, the coalition said it had intercepted and destroyed two drones launched by the Houthis towards the Kingdom’s southern region.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has directed Israel's military, Mossad, and security agencies to pursue regime change in Iran, framing it as the sole path to neutralise Tehran's existential nuclear danger. In a Persian-language Instagram post, he thanked Iranian civilians for their support and pledged to defend their freedom alongside US President Donald Trump for a peaceful future. "I will continue to defend the freedom and rights of the Iranian people... President Trump and I are doing everything we can to create a better future." The comments, made five days before Israel's October 27 Knesset election, come amid tight polls showing his Likud party and right-wing bloc hovering near a majority, while critics question if military action alone can achieve overthrow after past strikes damaged but did not topple Tehran.

Iran’s arrogance is now visible from space, according to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who assailed Iran’s alleged financing of terrorism, nuclear acquisition, and the “lavish lifestyles of the IRGC elite.”

Highlighting satellite photos of a key important oil terminal, Bessent shared before-and-after imagery of Kharg Island, Iran’s principal crude-export hub in the Gulf.

“Before,” he wrote, “tankers filled Iran’s main oil-loading terminal. After: no crude tankers in sight.”

He then asserted: “Kharg Island is now nothing more than a monument to the one thing the Iranian regime can still produce: failure.”

Bessent contrasted that with the Iranian people impoverished not by sanctions alone, but by a regime that spends scarce national wealth on confrontation and repression.

Bessent lambasted the regime in Tehran: “The regime’s arrogance and belligerence continue to punish ordinary Iranians.”

He stated that Iran’s leadership has chosen confrontation over compromise, ideology over prosperity, and regional adventurism over the economic survival of its own people.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent launched a scathing attack on Tehran, asserting that Washington's aggressive economic offensive, dubbed "Operation Economic Outcast", has successfully crippled Iran’s crude export apparatus and severed the regime's principal financial lifeline.

In a post on X, Bessent highlighted the visible depletion of oil shipping traffic around Kharg Island, Iran's primary maritime export hub in the Persian Gulf, claiming the facility has been brought to a virtual standstill, showcasing a graphic video. 

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Jean-Noël Barrot, France's Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, have discussed ways to strengthen and develop strategic relations between the two countries across various fields during a telephone call.

The two top diplomats also discussed a range of regional and international issues of shared interest and exchanged views on the latest developments in the Middle East.

They also reviewed ways to support efforts aimed at consolidating regional and international peace and security.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned escalating hostilities in Yemen and continued Houthi attacks on civilian targets in Saudi Arabia, calling them “totally unacceptable”.

In a post on X, Guterres said the violence was causing immense civilian suffering and adding to regional tensions. He urged all sides to exercise restraint and called for a political path forward for Yemen.

The Saudi-led coalition said a ballistic missile launched by Yemen’s Houthi movement towards Najran in Saudi Arabia was intercepted and destroyed.

The coalition announced the development in a post on X.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its naval blockade against Iran has reached 100 days, claiming it has prevented Iran from exporting at least $25 billion worth of crude oil.

In a post on X, CENTCOM said the blockade had constrained the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) ability to fund proxy militias, criminal networks and terrorism. It added that there had been no maritime exports or imports to Iran, apart from humanitarian aid permitted by US forces.

Day 236: Iran's Guards threaten to hit US bases

Day 235: 1 killed, 8 hurt in attack on Saudi airport: Report

Day 234: Iran warns Nato, Europe over Ukrainian drone buildup

Day 233: Iran officials ramp up calls for nuclear weapons

Day 232: 7-day Hormuz reopening plan still on the table: Iran

Day 231: Saudi Arabia intercepts four drones in Riyadh and east