War returns to Iran with Israel, US strikes

Speaking to reporters on the White House South Lawn as he leaves on a trip to Florida, US President Donald Trump says oil is getting out through the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reports.

“We are getting everything we want,’ he says.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan says a renewed attack on Iran could exacerbate tensions and further expand the conflict, adding that diplomacy and dialogue were the only way to end the war, Reuters reports.

Speaking after meeting his counterparts from Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Germany, France, Britain and Italy in Istanbul, Fidan said none of the countries in the meeting approve of another military intervention or attack on Iran.

President Donald Trump says the United States can end the war with Iran quickly, but questions whether Washington should seek a swift conclusion or allow the conflict to gradually wind down, Reuters reports.

“We could end it very quickly,” Trump tells reporters. “Do we want to finish it or let it wither is the question.”

France’s foreign minister has said that any renewed escalation between Iran and the United States would only have losers and raise oil prices, according to Reuters.

“A further escalation between Iran and the United States would leave no winners and would likely have very serious consequences for hydrocarbon prices,” Jean-Noel Barrot told reporters in Istanbul after a meeting with counterparts from Britain, Germany, Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he is set to launch a military operation in the occupied West Bank, adding that it will be unlike any other since 1967, when Israel occupied the territory and captured East Jerusalem and Gaza, according to Al Jazeera.

“I have reviewed a very extensive operation in the West Bank that will be unprecedented since ’67, and we will choose the timing of its implementation,” Netanyahu says.

The commander of Iran’s ground forces has ordered all unit commanders to remain at the highest level of combat readiness, Al Jazeera reports citing Iranian state media.

Ali Jahanshahi warned that any negligence in a wartime situation could “entail heavy costs” and that readiness is being maintained through continuous training, assessment of operational capabilities and coordination with other units, according to broadcaster IRIB.

The US Department of Energy has authorised the emergency exchange of up to 400,000 barrels of crude oil from the nation’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve to address a supply disruption affecting Phillips 66’s Lake Charles refinery in Louisiana, Reuters reports.

The United Arab Emirates says efforts are under way to contain oil leaking from a tanker offshore that has prompted authorities to close beaches and warn fishermen to avoid the area, Reuters reports.

Authorities in Sharjah have temporarily closed Al Hamriyah Beach, on the UAE’s northern coast near the border with Umm Al Quwain, as a precaution, the Sharjah Government Media Bureau says.

Iran’s permanent mission to the UN in Vienna has issued a statement calling for an end to the “selective and politically motivated implementation” of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) commitments, state news agency IRNA reports.

The statement — issued on the 70th anniversary of the approval of the IAEA statute — slams the UN nuclear watchdog for “applying double standards and discriminatory approaches”, emphasising that the statute is legally binding and must not be used as a political instrument to serve the interests of “certain powerful states”.

The Saudi-led coalition says it has intercepted and destroyed a Houthi ballistic missile targeting the Saudi city of Khamis Mushait.

International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Fatih Birol expects the ongoing energy crisis to continue into 2027, warning that the world will still be dealing with its consequences as governments seek alternative energy sources and strengthen supply security, Anadolu reports.

Addressing the Investment Summit Towards COP31 in Istanbul remotely, Birol says developments worldwide and countries’ energy policies offer little reason to expect normalisation next year.

“I am not optimistic about normalisation in 2027,” he explains. “Even when I try to look at things optimistically, I cannot find an argument that convinces me.

“This crisis will continue in one form or another in 2027. The world will still be trying to heal its wounds, provided no new wounds emerge,” he adds.

Birol says the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz is affecting the economy, agriculture and energy, prompting governments, companies and investors to reconsider their short- and long-term strategies. He draws parallels with the oil crises of 1973 and 1979, which he says spurred nuclear energy development and improvements in vehicle efficiency.

Russian oil sellers have raised ESPO Blend offers to China to record levels, supported by strong demand and higher freight costs driven by the war, although some independent Chinese refiners may baulk as margins turn negative, traders said, according to Reuters.

Far East ESPO Blend cargoes for end-December and January delivery have been offered at premiums above $25 a barrel to ICE Brent, with two offers heard above $30 a barrel delivered to China, traders said.

Vessels “violating maritime regulations” imposed by Iran have stopped moving after the destruction of navigation systems, strikes on three oil tankers and the destruction of another tanker last night, state broadcaster Press TV reports citing a source close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The source adds that any resumption of “oil smuggling will be met with a much stronger response targeting the vessels involved and the technical systems assisting them”, according to the broadcaster.

They warn that any “renewed US air intervention” will prompt a more decisive response, the consequences of which will lie with the American military

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Dr Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, has said that energy is becoming a “geopolitical weapon”.

Birol said Europe risks higher gas prices this winter, and criticised governments for failing to diversify energy supplies.

With regard to the Middle East, he said he hopes it is “going to be much better” than it is currently.

UAE national airline Etihad has extended until Nov 5 its suspension of flights to Riyadh and Dammam in Saudi Arabia, targeted by strikes from Yemen’s Houthis, AFP reports.

Etihad had suspended its service to Riyadh on Oct 12, two days after a deadly attack on a passenger terminal killed 13 people.

In a statement on Thursday, Etihad specified that flights to and from Riyadh and Dammam would remain suspended due to “operational disruptions”.

Etihad added that it would operate only daytime flights to the western city of Jeddah, with night flights cancelled until Nov 5.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei has criticised the use of the term “Iran conflict” to describe the war involving Tehran, the US and Israel, saying it obscures responsibility for the hostilities and portrays the country under attack as the aggressor, IRNA reports.

In a statement posted X, Baqaei described the military campaign against Iran as an unlawful “war of aggression” waged by Washington and Israel.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Senegalese counterpart, Cheikh Niang, in a telephone conversation discussed bilateral ties.

During the phone call, the two foreign ministers reviewed issues related to bilateral relations and discussed the latest regional developments.

Oil prices rose, with Brent crude touching a more than five-month high, after Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia stoked concern over further disruption to energy supplies from the Middle East, Reuters reports.

Brent crude futures gained 79 cents, or 0.7 per cent, to $113.96 a barrel by 0810 GMT, having earlier reached $114.72 for the highest level since May 4. US West Texas Intermediate crude gained $1.10, or 1.1pc, to $100.57.

The Brent benchmark is on track for a third consecutive weekly gain, of almost 4pc, while WTI is poised to finish 0.8pc down on the week.

Oil prices rose on Friday after Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia stoked concerns of further disruption to energy supplies from the Middle East, Reuters reports.

Brent crude futures climbed 58 cents, or 0.5 per cent, to $113.75 a barrel as of 0439 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 66 cents, or 0.7pc, to $100.13.

On a weekly basis, Brent, which settled at its highest since May 4 on Thursday, is set to close higher for a third successive week, while WTI is on track to finish lower, following two weeks of gains.

The Yemeni Women Empowerment Foundation (YWEF) says it has documented 491 violations by Houthi forces in Yemen’s Taiz governorate between October 14 and 22, Al Jazeera reports.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Israel shares a “parasitic” relationship with the United States, citing the latter’s defence support to Tel Aviv.

In a post on X, Araghchi said, “The US has over the past three years spent $11 billion in taxpayer money on missile defence for Israel. It has fired more interceptors defending Israel than Israel has.”

He added, “That is not a symbiotic relationship. It is a parasitic one.”

US President Donald Trump has signalled possible further military action against Iran, saying the US has knocked the “hell out” of the country, Al Jazeera reports.

The United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Climate Change and Environment said its technical monitoring and environmental assessment system detected an oil spill from a tanker affecting beaches in Umm Al Quwain, Anadolu reports.

The ministry said that odors reported in Sharjah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain pose no health risks to residents.

Containment, cleanup and remediation operations began immediately in coordination with local and federal authorities to limit environmental impacts.