Iran said on Oct. 30 that four oil tankers caught fire after hitting mines in the Strait of Hormuz, pushing back on the U.S. military's claim that mines had been cleared from the main shipping channel.
According to CNBC, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said three of the tankers were hit near the Omani coast along what it described as an "unauthorized southern route." Iran's army said a fourth tanker caught fire on the eastern side of the strait.
At the same time, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement said it had launched a new round of attacks on Saudi Arabia. CNBC said international oil prices rose after the reports, with Brent crude futures up about 1.95% and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures up about 1.6%.
Iran challenges U.S. claim that mines were cleared
Iran's Revolutionary Guard also rejected an earlier statement from U.S. Central Command. The U.S. side said mines had been cleared from the main shipping lane in the Strait of Hormuz. Hossein Mohebi, a spokesperson for the Revolutionary Guard, said: 「Please use independent evidence to prove that the mines in the Strait of Hormuz have been cleared, rather than issuing a statement.」
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, or UKMTO, separately reported that a small boat placed two explosive devices on a tanker about 25 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman. The blast caused an engine room fire, left the vessel without power, and the crew remained safe.
CNBC said the Strait of Hormuz normally carries about one-fifth of global energy shipments. Since fighting broke out in late February this year, the number of ships passing through each day has fallen to single digits. The conflict has now entered its ninth month.
Houthis claim attacks on Saudi airports and oil facilities
The Houthi movement said it had carried out six military operations inside Saudi Arabia, targeting airports and oil facilities.
The attacks came after senior Saudi and Iranian officials held a rare meeting in Tehran this week and agreed to address regional differences through dialogue.
Saudi authorities did not confirm the attacks. They said only that air defenses intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone headed toward the Mecca region.
Vance sends message through Qatar as report says Trump may review military options after election
Diplomatic and military tracks were moving at the same time. U.S. Vice President JD Vance sent a letter this week through Qatari mediators to Mohsen Rezaei, head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, laying out a negotiation framework.
Asked whether he had directed the move, Trump said no, adding that Vance had asked for his view and that he replied, 「I said, if you want to do that, you can.」
Separately, The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed U.S. officials, reported that General Brad Cooper, the top U.S. commander in the Middle East, made a rare trip to the White House to brief Trump on military options involving Iran.
U.S. midterm elections are set for Nov. 3. Earlier reports had said the Trump administration could resume military action against Iran after the vote, and that the U.S. had warned Middle Eastern allies that another strike on Iran could come after the election.
