US-Iran diplomacy and strikes in the Strait of Hormuz
The United States and Iran have had strikes and indirect talks over the Strait of Hormuz, with Qatari mediators still exchanging proposals. After US midterm elections, oil prices fell sharply, but neither side has confirmed a deal.
IllustrationThe story so far
Early in the week, Iranian officials warned that a renewed war with the United States could last longer than the previous conflict, after President Trump suggested the US still had targets to strike. The IRGC said tankers hit mines and caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz, while Gulf states and Russia voiced concern. Diplomatic efforts continued through Qatar, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the supreme leader had given the government authority over peace talks.
Oil prices fell as the United States and Iran signaled diplomatic options, with Brent crude dropping to its lowest level in more than two weeks. Iran said intensive indirect talks were underway to avert all-out war, with Qatar and Pakistan mediating. Then explosions were reported on Qeshm Island and in Bandar Lengeh, and US officials said strikes hit Iranian targets in the Strait of Hormuz, including an anti-aircraft facility, before the midterm elections.
Iran warned that any renewed US attacks would draw a harder and broader response, and its IRGC said tankers were destroyed by naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump confirmed the strikes, called them minor, and said a deal could happen. After a Democratic blue wave in the US midterms, oil headed for its biggest weekly drop since the pandemic, while South Korea expanded naval operations near the strait and questions arose over secret strikes.
Latest updates
23 updates · newest first- 5 NovNew development
Iran strikes kept quiet during midterm homestretch set off worries on transparency
Reported secret US military attacks on Iran in the lead up to Tuesday's midterm elections have raised concerns about public transparency. A US strike on Monday hit Iranian targets in the Strait of Hormuz, including an anti-aircraft facility on Qeshm Island.
The Hill ↗
- 5 NovNew development
Oil heads for biggest weekly drop since pandemic as US midterms ease Middle East fears
Brent crude fell about 20% this week to around US$95 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate dropped 16% to about US$88. The decline followed a Democratic blue wave in US midterm elections that eased concerns about President Donald Trump escalating conflict in the Middle East. Oil is headed for its biggest weekly decline since the pandemic.
South China Morning Post ↗
- 5 NovNew development
South Korea to expand naval operations near Strait of Hormuz
South Korea will deploy maritime patrol aircraft and an explosive ordnance disposal team near the Strait of Hormuz to protect commercial shipping and energy supplies. The move expands the Cheonghae anti-piracy unit's operational area to waters about 650km from the strait, following pressure from the US. Seoul maintains the deployment is for non-combat purposes and will operate independently of allied forces.
France 24 ↗
Middle East Eye ↗
The Guardian ↗
- 4 NovOfficial statement
Iran chief negotiator says Americans said no to war as tankers hit mines
Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Americans have said no to war after the midterms, warning the US if it betrays public will. The IRGC said four tankers were destroyed after hitting naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz and that it shot down a US MQ-9 drone. President Donald Trump said the Iran war and higher gasoline prices hurt Republicans, while indirect talks continued with little sign of a breakthrough.
BBC News ↗
- 4 NovNew development
IRGC says four tankers destroyed by mines in the Strait of Hormuz
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said four rogue oil tankers were destroyed after hitting naval mines while trying to traverse a prohibited route in the Strait of Hormuz. The IRGC said the incident occurred south of the waterway and that its forces also intercepted two other vessels.
- 4 NovNew development
Iran calls US reply unconvincing as Trump confirms strikes
Iran said the US response to its seven conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz was unconvincing, with Mohsen Rezaei saying Washington must fully address them. President Donald Trump confirmed US strikes on an anti-aircraft facility on Qeshm Island, calling the operation a minor attack and not war. Qatar said it was facilitating real-time exchanges of proposals, while Trump told CBS News the war would end when he says it ends.
Al Jazeera ↗
- 3 NovNew development
Qatar sees hope for deal with Iran despite fresh US strikes
Qatar said there was still hope for a deal between the US and Iran after mediators exchanged proposals in real time following talks in Tehran. Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari said a Qatari delegation met Iranian officials for more than three hours on Monday and that Washington and Tehran were reviewing proposals. Doha is working towards an interim agreement to build trust, even as overnight US strikes hit Qeshm Island.
Euronews ↗
- 3 NovNew development
IRGC says three tankers hit mines in Strait of Hormuz
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said three tankers exploded after hitting naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz. The IRGC said the ships were trying to cross without Tehran's permission and had switched off geolocation tracking, with no casualties reported yet.
- 3 NovOfficial statement
Trump says US may target Iran's Pickaxe Mountain if no deal
President Donald Trump said the US may need to go after a suspected underground nuclear complex in Iran known as Pickaxe Mountain if no deal is reached. Telling Fox News, he said Washington could do that in one hour, at any time it wants. Trump did not rule out resuming the war on Iran, but said Tehran wants a deal very badly and there is a very good chance one will be made.
- 3 NovOfficial statement
Iran warns US of harder and broader response to aggression
An Iranian military spokesperson warned that any renewed US attacks would be met with a harder and broader response than Tehran's past retaliations. He said a new war would not remain limited to West Asia and that US facilities, equipment, personnel and interests in any reachable location could become targets.
- 3 NovNew development
US strikes Iranian targets in Strait of Hormuz before midterms
A US official said strikes were carried out on Iranian targets in the Strait of Hormuz, with Iranian state television reporting explosions on Qeshm Island. The official, speaking anonymously, said the US targeted Iranians using surface to air missiles against US assets. The strikes came on the eve of US midterm elections, and Vice President JD Vance said he and President Trump felt pretty good about prospects for a negotiated settlement.
ABC Australia ↗
- 3 NovNew development
US reportedly strikes Qeshm Island as Trump says Iran deal could happen
Explosions were reported on Monday on Iran's Qeshm Island and in Bandar Lengeh after US media said the US carried out defensive strikes in the Strait of Hormuz. Officials said the attacks aimed to limit Iran's ability to hit shipping, while Fox News and Axios said they followed an IRGC firing at a US aircraft. Trump said a deal with Tehran could happen, and oil prices fell more than seven percent on optimism.
- 3 NovNew development
Blasts reported in southern Iran as Vance sees progress
Vance saw progress in the Iran war, while Tehran said the ball was in the US court. Tehran said the US must lift its naval blockade and meet its demands in full before any agreement is reached. Explosions were heard overnight in southern Iran, according to several local reports, on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz and in Bandar Lengeh in Hormozgan province.
- 2 NovOfficial statement
Trump says US will not attack Iran after midterms
President Donald Trump said the US will not attack Iran after Tuesday's midterms, ruling out strikes during a speech at the Washington Reflecting Pool. He said there was no rush, that Iran was financially crippled and that a settlement could happen soon, after Tucker Carlson warned Trump was weighing a nuclear strike at Benjamin Netanyahu's behest. Brent crude fell 7% to $104 a barrel as Qatari mediators continued shuttling between Doha and Iran.
- 2 NovNew development
Iran says intensive US talks aim to avert war
Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said intensive indirect talks with the United States are underway to avert all-out war, with Qatar and Pakistan mediating. Oil prices fell more than six percent on optimism, even as President Trump threatened renewed strikes after this week's midterms. A senior Iranian official said Tehran could reopen Hormuz within two days if Washington accepts demands, including ending the war and lifting oil sanctions.
- 2 NovNew development
Oil falls to lowest in more than two weeks as Iran talks continue
Brent crude fell more than 6.5% to as low as $105.55 a barrel, its lowest since 16 October, after Iran said contacts with the US to end their eight-month war were continuing. Qatari officials had sought to free more than $6bn in Iranian assets to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The drop lifted airline shares and cut the 10-year UK bond yield by 10 basis points to its lowest since 22 September.
- 2 NovOfficial statement
Iran's president says supreme leader gave government authority over talks
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said the country's Supreme Leader has granted the government certain authorities over peace talks, state media reported on Monday. He said Tehran will try to resolve the problem with dialogue, without elaborating.
- 2 NovOfficial statement
Russia calls reports of new action against Iran extremely concerning
Russia's Foreign Ministry said reports of new military action against Iran are a cause for extreme concern. Russia has been calling for increased diplomatic efforts to normalise the situation in the region.
- 2 NovNew development
Gulf states fear renewed Iran war after US midterms
Gulf states fear a renewed war with Iran after Tuesday's US midterms, as Tehran waits for a response to a proposal to fully open the Strait of Hormuz within two days. Iranian officials said their delegation left Qatar but messages continue through the mediator. New supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei told military chiefs any threat should be met immediately without geographic limits.
ABC News ↗
NPR ↗
- 2 NovNew development
Oil falls as U.S. and Iran seek diplomacy
Brent crude futures fell 3.31% to $109.67 a barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures fell 3.34% to $100.64 on Monday as the U.S. and Iran signaled diplomatic options. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said President Trump prefers a peaceful resolution, while Iranian authorities said a deal remained possible after talks mediated by Qatar. The developments matter because concerns over the Middle East and Ukraine conflicts are likely to linger.
CNBC ↗
- 2 NovOfficial statement
UAE says it hopes for Iran-US breakthrough but is braced for worst
A diplomatic adviser to the UAE president said at the IISS Manama Dialogue that the United Arab Emirates hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough in negotiations between Iran and the United States. Anwar Gargash added that the UAE is braced for the worst and will take measures to protect itself and its citizens.
- 2 NovNew development
Iran says renewed war with US could outlast previous conflict as tankers hit in Hormuz
Iran said a renewed war with the United States could last longer than the previous conflict, after President Donald Trump said the US still had targets to strike. The IRGC said two tankers hit mines and caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz, while Trump warned Iran to make a deal and said the US may need to give Tehran 'the hammer'.
- 1 NovNew development
Iran warns new war could last longer after Trump threats
Iranian army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia said a potential future war with the United States could last longer than the previous conflict, and that President Trump would not dictate its timing or conditions. His remarks followed Trump's suggestion that the US could swiftly strike remaining targets in Iran. Diplomatic efforts to end the Middle East war have been punctuated by repeated threats from the US and Israel as they hold crucial elections.