Saudi-led coalition destroys Houthi missile launcher after attack on Riyadh The Saudi-led coalition said it destroyed the missile platform used by the Houthis to launch a ballistic missile at the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on Wednesday.

Coalition spokesperson Major General Turki al-Maliki confirmed the strike..Iran rules out US talks until Tehran's conditions are met Iran's top security official Rezaei told Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir that Tehran would not negotiate with the US until its conditions were met..Iran rules out transfer of enriched nuclear material out of country Iran's security chief Rezaei said all enriched nuclear materials would remain in the country during a meeting with Pakistan's army chief, Tasnim reported..Iran sets condition for US trust, links it to Hormuz reopening proposal in talks with Pak army chief Iran's Qalibaf told Pakistan's army chief that the US cannot win Tehran's trust unless it implements Iran's proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, according to a Telegram post..Iran’s Pezeshkian meets Pakistan army chief amid mediation efforts Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian discussed mediation efforts and regional developments during a meeting with Pakistan’s army chief in Tehran, Iran’s Nournews reported..Lebanon judge summons two Hezbollah officials over seized explosives shipment A Lebanese judge ordered two Hezbollah officials to appear for questioning over their alleged involvement in transporting half a tonne of explosives seized earlier this month, a judicial official told AFP.

The shipment was intercepted on October 8 at a checkpoint in Dahr al-Baidar, eastern Lebanon, while being transported towards Beirut.

Two suspected Hezbollah members were arrested in connection with the case. The judicial official said initial investigations had established the identities of the two officials, adding that security agencies were working to locate and detain them.

Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah last week acknowledged that the explosives belonged to the Iran-backed group, demanding their return and the release of those arrested.

Lebanese authorities have seized three major explosives shipments this month amid efforts to disarm Hezbollah. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has pledged firm action against weapons held outside the legal framework, while the militant group has rejected calls to surrender its arsenal..Iran war uncertainty pushes oil prices higher; US futures dip as AI sell-off returns US futures were mostly lower as artificial-intelligence stocks came under renewed pressure, while oil prices climbed amid uncertainty over when the Iran war would allow energy supplies to return to normal.

US crude rose 2% to $100.55 a barrel, while Brent gained 1.6% to $111.25..The UK expands military support for Saudi Arabia against Houthis to include 'defensive' air patrols Britain says it is expanding military support for Saudi Arabia against Houthis to include “defensive” air patrols by Royal Air Force jets.

Defense Secretary Wes Streeting says Royal Air Force Typhoon jets will “conduct defensive counter-air operations over Saudi Arabia, helping to protect Saudi cities, civilian populations and critical national infrastructure from Houthi attack.”

Iran's Revolutionary Guards say mines set two tankers ablaze south of Hormuz Iran's Revolutionary Guards' navy said two tankers were set ablaze by mines and brought to a halt south of the Strait of Hormuz, without specifying when the incident occurred..Iranian lawmaker urges new fatwa on nuclear weapons amid US threats Iranian lawmaker Hassan Nattaj has urged Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei to issue a new religious ruling on producing nuclear weapons, citing current circumstances and US threats to use the “Mother of All Bombs,” according to an interview with Didban Iran.

Nattaj also identified the Strait of Hormuz as a potential pressure point, saying Iran could disrupt global energy supplies through the strategic waterway to push other countries into negotiations with Tehran..Saudi-led coalition says ballistic missile targeting Riyadh intercepted The Saudi-led coalition said on Tuesday it had intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile fired by Houthi forces toward Riyadh..Iran says no nuclear talks with US have taken place Iran has not entered into nuclear negotiations with the United States, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Tuesday, adding that Tehran has no details to share with other parties, including Russia..Saudi Arabia lifts safety alert in Riyadh after earlier warning Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defense announced that the danger had passed in Riyadh on Tuesday, lifting an earlier safety alert.

Authorities urged residents to remain vigilant and continue following official safety instructions..Qatar backs Saudi Arabia as Houthi attacks escalate Qatar has voiced firm support for Saudi Arabia amid escalating Houthi attacks, with the foreign ministry spokesperson reaffirming Doha’s backing for Riyadh’s sovereignty and right to defend itself.

“Qatar is supporting our brothers in Saudi Arabia in defending their sovereignty against this attack,” he said.

Former Iranian lawmaker warns ‘mother of all bombs’ could target cities and infrastructure Former Iranian lawmaker Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh said on Tuesday that the US GBU-43/B, known as the “mother of all bombs”, would be better suited to striking cities and critical infrastructure than deeply buried underground facilities.

Speaking to ILNA, Falahatpisheh said the weapon was designed for widespread destruction and could threaten major cities, power plants, refineries and other infrastructure. He contrasted the bomb with bunker-busting weapons previously used against underground facilities at Fordow, arguing that the MOAB would be less suitable for targeting Iran’s deeply buried missile installations.

The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb is a conventional weapon weighing approximately 21,600 pounds, designed to generate an extremely powerful blast over a wide area..Iranian lawmaker warns Persian Gulf could become ‘graveyard’ for US warships An Iranian lawmaker has warned that the Persian Gulf and surrounding waters could become a “graveyard for invading ships” if the United States launches military action against Iran. According to the Iran International, Mohammad Bayat, a member of the leadership of Iran’s parliamentary councils committee, said on Tuesday that the country’s armed forces were fully prepared to defend against any US military intervention.

“Iran’s armed forces are fully prepared to defend the country, and any US military adventurism will be met with a decisive response,” Bayat said. He added that American military deployments and displays of force would not weaken Tehran’s resolve, warning that any attack would impose significant economic and military costs on Washington rather than deliver gains..US Iran war: Iran needs unified energy command centre to tackle shortages, lawmaker says Iran needs a centralised command centre to address its worsening energy shortages, a member of parliament’s energy committee said on Tuesday, warning that the crisis goes beyond seasonal demand.

Mohammad Kaabamir said the shortages were the result of past mistakes in the country’s energy strategy and called for a coordinated approach to managing the sector.

He added that international sanctions had further aggravated the situation by restricting Iran’s access to advanced equipment needed for energy extraction and processing..US Iran war: Hegseth praises US troops on ‘historic mission’ after CENTCOM visit US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth shared photos from a visit to US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Tuesday, praising American troops and describing their mission as historic.

“As always, it was an honor to visit our warfighters in CENTCOM today,” Hegseth wrote in a post on X. “The best of our country, on a historic mission. Godspeed.”His remarks come as US forces remain engaged in the conflict involving Iran, with Washington continuing its military operations in the region..Iran and Russia working more closely than ever, Araghchi says after Lavrov talks Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran and Moscow were cooperating more closely than at any point in their history following talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Tehran on Monday.

“Never in our history have Iran and Russia worked as closely as now,” Araghchi said in a post on He said the discussions covered developments in Europe and West Asia, including Lebanon, Palestine, Ukraine and Yemen, alongside plans to expand economic and nuclear cooperation.

The meeting underscores the growing ties between Tehran and Moscow as regional tensions continue, with both sides seeking to strengthen cooperation across diplomatic, economic and strategic areas..Iraq oil exports exceed 3.4 million barrels per day despite Hormuz war Iraq’s oil exports have climbed to more than 3.4 million barrels per day since the beginning of October, despite disruptions linked to the war around the Strait of Hormuz, Iran International reported, citing the Iraqi News Agency (INA).

Oil minister Basim Mohammed Khudair said Iraq exported an average of 3 million barrels per day in September before shipments increased this month. He credited the oil ministry and the State Oil Marketing Organisation (SOMO) for maintaining export operations despite the challenging conditions, saying teams had been working around the clock to sustain shipments..US senators demand Pentagon disclose full cost of Iran war Five Democratic senators have urged the Pentagon to disclose the full cost of the US war against Iran, accusing the Trump administration of concealing the financial impact of the conflict.

In a letter led by Senator Elizabeth Warren to US Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper, the lawmakers sought estimates of damage to US bases, repair timelines and spending on alternative facilities, USA Today reported.

The military estimated that the war had cost $43.6 billion through September 3, excluding damage caused by Iranian strikes on US bases and facilities. “The American people deserve to know the full cost of the Trump administration’s unauthorized war against Iran,” the senators wrote, arguing that there was no justification for keeping the damage estimate classified.

They also warned that attacks on allied facilities had increased costs for regional partners and put US troops at risk..Trump says US could exit Iran war now, rules out Tehran acquiring nuclear weapons US President Donald Trump said Washington could end its war with Iran immediately, claiming the country’s military and leadership had been devastated.

“We could leave right now. They’re not going to have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said at a campaign rally in Kansas on Monday.

He claimed Iran’s navy, air force, radar systems and air defences had been destroyed, while questioning whom Washington could negotiate with after the reported deaths of senior Iranian leaders.

Trump also accused Iranian authorities of killing at least 75,000 protesters over eight months and condemned the execution of wrestler Saleh Mohammadi in March. However, Trump did not announce a formal US withdrawal or provide a timeline for ending the conflict..Trump claims Iran’s navy destroyed, 229 fighter jets scattered across runways US President Donald Trump claimed that US had destroyed Iran’s naval forces and it's fighter jets.

“Their navies are at the bottom of the sea, and their 229 beautiful fighter jets are now scattered all over the runways — the beautiful runways of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Trump said..US Iran war: Iran military chief warns Tehran will not allow attacks on country Iran’s Armed Forces Chief of Staff Ali Abdollahi on Monday warned that Tehran would not allow any country to attack Iran. He also claimed that US power was declining amid the continuing conflict.

“We will not allow any aggressor to encroach on our country,” Abdollahi said. He went on to criticise Washington’s military and political leadership, saying: “This America is no longer the powerful America it once was. America has grown old, and we are now witnessing the decline of American power.”He added that US President Donald Trump had failed and would not succeed in the future either..Oil tanker rates surge to $1.4 million a day amid conflict Daily rates for oil tankers have surged to $1.4 million from between $35,000 and $50,000 before the war, maritime tracking group TankerTrackers said in a post on X on Monday.

The group said Iran had blacklisted 104 tankers, while the fleet it calls the “Arab Dark Fleet” was nearly four times that size. The sharp increase in rates has attracted more operators, with new tankers being identified daily. The developments come amid disruption to maritime traffic and oil flows during the conflict, highlighting the rising costs and risks associated with transporting crude oil through the region..Iranian man held for 75 days over Netanyahu social media 'like' An Iranian man has remained in prison for 75 days after being arrested for liking a social media post by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, human rights news agency HRANA reported on Monday.

Vahid Vidafar, a resident of Tabriz in north-western Iran, was arrested by Intelligence Ministry agents on August 5 and is being held in the city’s prison.

According to HRANA, Vidafar suffers from a spinal disc condition and has been denied medical treatment. He has reportedly been allowed only one brief phone call with his family, while details of the judicial proceedings against him remain unknown..US Iran war: Iran not prioritising NPT withdrawal for now, report says Iran is not currently prioritising withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the Financial Times reported, citing two unnamed senior Iranian officials.

One official said Tehran’s position on the treaty remained unchanged but cautioned that this could change in the future. “Our policy regarding the NPT has not changed yet, but this doesn’t mean it won’t in the future,” the official said. The comments indicate that Iran is not presently placing withdrawal from the international nuclear non-proliferation framework at the forefront of its policy, while leaving open the possibility of a future change..US defence secretary Pete Hegseth meets Netanyahu during unannounced visit to Israel US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an unannounced visit to Israel on Monday, Axios reported, citing two sources.

The visit follows President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Netanyahu ahead of next week’s parliamentary election, amid polls suggesting his governing coalition could lose its majority..Netanyahu tells Trump they have 'a job to finish' against Iran Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday said he and US President Donald Trump would eliminate “the Iranian threat”, sharing a video of their phone conversation on X. “Together we are going to remove the Iranian threat forever!”

Netanyahu wrote after Trump endorsed him for re-election ahead of Israel’s October 27 election. During the call, Netanyahu said the two leaders had unfinished work and pledged to complete it together, adding that nobody else could accomplish the task.

Trump praised Netanyahu during the conversation, telling him: “You're a great warrior. And we will prove that. We will prove that, you know, I think you're terrific, by the way.”.Iran summons German envoy over allegations linked to plot against Jewish leader Iran summoned German Ambassador Axel Dittmann to its Foreign Ministry on Monday over what Tehran described as repeated baseless accusations by German officials. The move followed Germany’s decision to summon Iran’s ambassador in Berlin after a Hamburg court sentenced two men to lengthy prison terms for plotting attacks against prominent Jewish and pro-Israel figures.

The men were convicted of spying for Iran and identifying potential targets. Iranian Foreign Ministry official Alireza Yousefi rejected the allegations, calling them a longstanding tactic used by Israel and some Western countries. He also accused Berlin of involvement in US-Israeli military strikes against Iran..Pezeshkian calls for faster implementation of Iran-Russia agreements Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday called for faster implementation of agreements between Tehran and Moscow during talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Tehran.

Pezeshkian said Iran had no fundamental disagreements with neighbouring countries and was ready to resolve tensions through dialogue and regional mechanisms. He blamed US interference and what he described as Washington’s divisive policies for regional instability. He also thanked Russia for its “support during the recent war” and called for stronger political and security cooperation with Russia, China and members of BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Eurasian Economic Union..UK warns companies against helping build Israeli settlements The United Kingdom’s top diplomat has warned companies that assisting the construction of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank could violate international law.

The warning comes as settlement construction has increased under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, which considers the West Bank the biblical and historical homeland of the Jewish people and opposes the creation of a Palestinian state. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said the Israeli-approved E1 settlement project, which would divide the West Bank in two, “is a direct threat to the prospect of a two-state solution.”The UK has banned trade with Israeli settlements and introduced measures to sanction companies servicing them..Israeli strikes on Gaza kill four, including two teenagers At least four people, including two teenagers, were killed in separate Israeli strikes on Gaza, according to local hospitals.

Three strikes hit Gaza City, killing at least two people, Shifa Hospital said. In a separate attack on Khan Younis in southern Gaza, two 17-year-olds were killed, according to Nasser Hospital. The Israeli military said it had targeted Hamas militants in each of the attacks on Gaza City but did not comment on the strike in Khan Younis. Israel has continued launching deadly attacks on the enclave more than a year after agreeing to a ceasefire with Hamas..US Iran war: Iran threatens forceful response to renewed US attacks Iran will respond forcefully to any renewed US attack, conservative politician Mohammad Mokhber said on Monday.

An adviser to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, Mokhber warned that Iran would strike “nine countries” if Iranian bases or “petrochemical” facilities were targeted again. He did not identify the countries in his recorded comments, which were published by Tasnim, a semi-official news agency close to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.

The warning comes amid continuing tensions between Tehran and Washington over military action and regional security, with Iranian officials repeatedly cautioning against further attacks on the country..Iran war: Houthi missile strikes kill 53 soldiers at Yemeni military camp At least 53 soldiers were killed and 200 recruits wounded in ballistic missile strikes by Iran-backed Houthi rebels on the al-Alam military camp in Yemen on Monday, according to the Shabwa provincial government.

The attack was among the deadliest against forces supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government since the Houthis broke a 2022 ceasefire. Officials said the recruits were preparing to join the government’s internal security forces. The authorities described the strike as a major escalation and warned that the death toll could rise. Yemen’s leadership called for air defence systems and early warning capabilities to protect military and civilian sites..Israel to resume commercial deliveries to Gaza Israel’s military said on Monday that it would resume coordinating the entry of commercial trucks into Gaza after deliveries were halted on Wednesday.

The suspension disrupted the flow of food and other goods into the territory. COGAT, the Israeli military body responsible for coordinating humanitarian affairs in Gaza, attributed the stoppage to a disagreement between Hamas and merchants over taxation. It said Hamas had withdrawn its demands. However, truckers in Gaza accused Israel of using the dispute as a pretext to counter Hamas’ taxation efforts, saying officials described the payments as a “donation” to pay civil servants..Israel arrests 10 suspects following settler violence Israeli police arrested 10 suspects on Monday following a series of violent attacks by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.

The incidents have drawn heavy criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

Police did not identify those accused of attacking people who had arrived to support Palestinians during their annual olive harvest. Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine was beaten by a crowd of young male settlers on Friday while documenting the scene, suffering several broken ribs and vertebrae.

Masked settlers also attacked European diplomats on Saturday. Netanyahu’s main rival, Gadi Eisenkot, called the violence “Jewish terror”..Pakistan army chief Asim Munir to visit Tehran on Tuesday, Iranian media claims Pakistan’s army chief, General Asim Munir, is expected to arrive in Tehran on Tuesday, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported..Houthis claim attacks on Aramco site in Yanbu, Shaybah oilfield, King Khalid and Abha airports Yemen’s Houthi rebels said they had carried out several attacks targeting energy infrastructure, airports and military sites in Saudi Arabia, including an Aramco facility in Yanbu.

The group also claimed to have targeted the Shaybah oilfield, King Khalid Airport in Riyadh and Abha Airport..Iran’s navy says US strike on Konarak base wounds two troops Iran’s navy said US forces attacked the Konarak naval base with “two light projectiles” early on Monday, wounding two Iranian soldiers.

The base is located within a military complex in Sistan and Baluchestan province on Iran’s southeastern coast.

“The target of the American forces in the attack on the Iranian navy this morning was a 35mm cannon,” the navy added. Al Jazeera reported..Yemeni forces say Houthi positions targeted west of Taiz Yemeni government forces said they had targeted Houthi gatherings and weapons in al-Dhabab, west of Taiz..Houthis claim ballistic missile strikes on military gatherings in Yemen The Houthis’ military spokesperson said the group had targeted military gatherings in the al-Saqya and Ras al-Ara areas of Yemen’s Lahj governorate using ballistic missiles..Russia has no interest in energy price volatility: FM Lavrov in Iran Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow had no interest in volatile energy prices, adding that Russia needed to plan its energy strategy for the long term.

Lavrov is on a diplomatic visit to Tehran..Tehran FM Araghchi says world will remember US attack on Iran Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said the US had “started to attack Iran without Iran doing anything wrong”.

“The international community will never forget that,” he said..Pakistan providing ‘whatever support is needed’ to defend Saudi Arabia: Pak official Pakistan is providing “whatever support is needed” to defend Saudi Arabia amid attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, a senior Pakistani military official has said.

Lieutenant-general Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, director-general of Pakistan’s military media wing, told Independent Arabia that Saudi Arabia’s “sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the security, and foremost the security of the Two Holy Mosques, is paramount”.

“It’s non-negotiable, it’s absolute as far as Pakistan is concerned,” he said, adding that whatever support was needed “is being provided and will be provided”.

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye are part of the Mecca Joint Defence Alliance. .Houthis claim responsibility for attack on Yemen government training camp Yemen’s Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for the attack on a Yemeni government military training camp in Shabwa province..Death toll reported 53 after Houthi ballistic missile attack on Yemen military camp