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Friday 23 October 2026
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The IRGC Navy said four ships transferring oil were struck and three hit mines near the Strait of Hormuz, without naming them, and warned that continued US escorts would extend the conflict to US bases. President Donald Trump accused Tehran of inventing the attacks.
Oil prices rose as much as 4% on Thursday after Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia and Iranian statements about strikes on vessels, while spot gold fell to its lowest level since 14 October.
Iraq closed the Al-Sheeb crossing, known in Iran as Chazabeh, to passengers and trade until further notice, an Iraqi border official said. Two Iraqi political sources told AFP that Washington was pressing Baghdad to close more crossings. Separately, the UK maritime agency UKMTO said a tanker was struck by an unknown projectile near the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran's foreign minister told Iraqi television that indirect talks with Washington continue through Pakistan and Qatar and that the US had accepted Tehran's conditions but wanted to add more. The US Treasury Secretary said no oil loadings had been seen at Iran's Kharg Island since August.
In an interview with India's Network18, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a US-India trade deal was "incredibly close", defended the US relationship with Pakistan and said a Quad leaders' summit will be held in Manila.
The French presidency said the commitments, added to deliveries from Saudi Arabia, bring France to 295,000 tonnes a month, just over 10% of its consumption. The fuel is to travel overland via Oman, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz.
Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman said both sides were engaging and warned that unchecked escalation could spread beyond the region. Iran's top military officer said any new US attack would be answered without waiting for the November elections.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held talks with Iran's Abbas Araghchi and met President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday, the last stop of a Middle East tour. Mr Araghchi blamed the United States and Israel for insecurity around the strait.
Iran's parliament confirmed Mehrdad Akhlaghi as defence minister. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran was still reviewing US comments on its seven-day proposal, while the White House said all options remain on the table.
The Revolutionary Guards said the tankers used a route Iran had not authorised. Iran's foreign minister said a reopening proposal was passed to Washington through Qatar.
