Oil prices fell on Tuesday as markets weighed an executive order from US President Donald Trump that waived some sanctions and tariffs tied to Russian energy exports, while attacks on Saudi Arabia and Yemen kept fears of Middle East supply disruptions in view.

Brent crude futures fell 49 cents, or 0.45%, to $109.06 a barrel. The US West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) contract for November delivery, set to expire on Tuesday, eased 0.33% to $103.32.

Yemeni government forces warned the Houthi militia against using traditional boats to smuggle weapons, missiles and military equipment into the country, citing risks to civilians and regional security.

The Joint Forces Command stressed in a statement that the practice threatened security in Yemen and beyond.

It urged boat owners not to cooperate with the Houthi militia in transporting weapons and military equipment to Yemen’s coast, warning that their lives and property could be put at risk.

Iran’s UN ambassador has called for an emergency Security Council meeting over what he described as “relentless threats” from the US and Israel.

In a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the Security Council, Gholamhossein Darzi urged the council to condemn threats of an attack on Iran and convene urgently to address the situation.

A Scottish businesswoman said she was detained by Israeli authorities and deported after being denied entry to Palestine while on a visit to Palestinian partners, according to media reports.

Yasmina Ferrigan, the business manager of the Edinburgh-based Hadeel store, which sells Fairtrade Palestinian goods – arrived at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport on Friday.

While she had been hoping to visit Palestinian partners who sell their wares through Hadeel to see the situation on the ground as well as find new producers and establish supply networks, she said she had been blocked from entering the country.

Pakistan's army chief, General Asim Munir, is due to arrive in Tehran on Tuesday, Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.

There was no Pakistani confirmation of the visit.

Illegal Israeli settler attacks risk setting off an "explosion" in the occupied West Bank, a senior Palestinian leader said, while urging that the response remain peaceful.

Jibril Rajoub, the secretary general of the central committee of the Palestinian Authority's ruling Fatah faction, said he called for "peaceful confrontation" as he took part in meetings in Cairo with other Palestinian movements, including Gaza-based Hamas, which led the October 7, 2023 attacks against Israel.

"The terrorism carried out by the army and settlers, under the supervision of the Israeli government... is a prelude to a coming reaction and explosion," Rajoub told AFP in Cairo.

But he said that a "peaceful, nonviolent struggle is a necessity and a strategic choice for all Palestinians". "Bloodshed is no longer an acceptable option," he said, calling for "peaceful confrontation with the occupation, despite the crimes it commits".

The prolonged closure of Riyadh's airport after a series of fatal attacks has exposed the risks confronting Saudi Arabia's drive to shift its international image, disrupting businesses, airlines and residents more than a week after flights were grounded.

Deadly strikes by Yemen's Houthi militia in recent weeks have dealt a blow to the kingdom, forcing the airport to close until further notice and a slate of events to be postponed or cancelled, including its flagship investment forum dubbed "Davos in the desert".

Government agencies in the Saudi capital have also told employees to work from home starting Monday, one worker and two consultants told AFP, as has the 99-storey Kingdom Centre skyscraper in downtown Riyadh housing the regional office of the International Monetary Fund.

More than 20,000 children killed. 60,000 left without a mother, a father, or both.

Turkish top diplomat Fidan's call with Prince Faisal bin Farhan comes amid renewed fighting in Yemen and a broader push by Ankara and Riyadh to deepen defence coordination and protect regional stability.

Iran's top diplomat accused the United States of being responsible for the "insecurity" in the Strait of Hormuz, which has been at the heart of the conflict between the foes.

"The war imposed by the United States and the Zionist regime (Israel), combined with the economic blockade, constitutes the principal source of insecurity in our region," said Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, having previously referred to "the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz" during a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.

Saudi authorities sent alerts to residents of the capital Riyadh, with AFP journalists receiving phone messages warning of "a hostile aerial threat" weeks into intensified Houthi attacks on the kingdom.

"A warning has been issued by the National Early Warning Platform in Riyadh City to alert of a potential danger," Saudi civil defence said in a statement on X, also reporting the same warning for the neighbouring Kharj area.

More than 53 people were killed and over 200 others injured in a Houthi militia attack targeting a security training centre in Yemen’s southern province of Shabwa.

In a statement released on Facebook, the Shabwa governorate said the strike hit the facility while new internal security recruits were undergoing training.

“The scale of this tragedy cannot be met with condemnation alone, but requires urgent military and security measures to prevent such attacks from recurring,” the local authorities stressed, urging the Yemeni government and the Saudi-led coalition to strengthen the governorate’s defensive capabilities.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi in Tehran, with diplomatic delegations from both countries beginning talks immediately afterwards, the Russian foreign ministry said.

"Sergey Lavrov and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are holding bilateral talks in Tehran," the ministry said in a statement.

According to the ministry, Lavrov will be received by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

The ministry highlighted that the meeting is the fourth in-person contact between the top diplomats this year, adding that they also had 14 telephone conversations.

Türkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held a phone call with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan to discuss regional security issues, Turkish Foreign Ministry sources said.

The two ministers discussed regional security matters, particularly attacks targeting Saudi Arabia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, according to the sources.

Between 20 and 30 aircraft were destroyed during Iran’s war with the US and Israel, the head of the country’s state-owned flag carrier said, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency.

Taher Abdolhai, CEO of Iran Air, also known as HOMA, said at a news conference that Iran needs approximately 1,000 passenger aircraft but currently has only around 300.

Of those, between 130 and 140 aircraft were operational before the war, with 20 to 30 destroyed during the conflict, he said.

Abdolhai also said between 70 and 80 aircraft were targeted during the war.

Saudi Arabia’s interior ministry warned that filming, publishing, or sharing information related to missile and drone interception operations and impact sites could expose individuals to legal liability.

Saudi Civil Defence shared the warning on X.

Separately, Saudi Civil Defence lifted a threat warning in the southern Najran region, saying the danger had passed. It urged residents to continue following safety instructions and avoid gathering or filming.

One Palestinian was killed and three others were injured in Israeli attacks across Gaza, in further violations of a ceasefire agreement in effect since October 2025, a medical source said.

The source told Anadolu that a man was killed and two others were wounded when an Israeli drone struck a gathering of civilians in the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood in western Gaza City.

Another Palestinian also sustained moderate injuries when Israeli forces opened fire toward tents housing displaced people in the Nahr al-Bared camp area southwest of Khan Younis in southern Gaza.

Local sources said that Israeli military vehicles opened heavy fire toward tents sheltering displaced Palestinians in the southern and eastern parts of the city.

UN rights experts on called on Israel to protect Palestinian farmers in the occupied West Bank as illegal settler attacks worsen with the annual olive harvest.

"Palestinian farmers must be protected and able to access their land safely. Yet, year after year, the violence, destruction and restrictions intensify," the experts said in a statement.

"The olive harvest should be a time when farmers can enjoy, in safety and dignity, the food and livelihoods their nature and land provide, not another season of fear, loss, violence and destruction."

The experts urged Israel to ensure that is forces protect Palestinian farmers from settler attacks and refrain from interference with their access to land. They also urged the international community to "exercise maximum pressure to protect Palestinian civilians".

Extremist Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir used penalties imposed on mosques to promote his election campaign, boasting about a fine issued to a mosque in the southern town of Tel Sheva.

The move comes amid intensifying competition among Israeli political parties ahead of elections scheduled for October 27, with Arab parties accusing Ben-Gvir of exploiting measures against the Arab community in Israel for electoral purposes and to intimidate Arab voters.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian appointed Mehrdad Akhlaqi Ketabchi as the country’s new defence minister following his approval by parliament, according to the Iranian presidency.

Pezeshkian issued a decree appointing Ketabchi as minister of defense and armed forces logistics under Articles 87 and 133 of Iran’s Constitution after he received a vote of confidence from the Iranian parliament.

Ketabchi replaces Aziz Nasirzadeh, who was killed during the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Global markets rose, buoyed by hopes for a new Middle East peace plan and positive Chinese economic data.

Markets fell last week as hotter-than-expected US inflation, escalating Middle East tensions and concerns over AI investment profitability weighed on investors.

Optimism returned on expectations of major US corporate earnings and falling bond yields.

Investors are also watching next week’s Federal Reserve meeting, with rates expected to remain unchanged, as well as Wednesday’s preliminary sectoral PMI data and earnings from Meta and Tesla.

Germany summons Iranian envoy over alleged attack plots against pro-Israel figures
Germany summoned Iran’s ambassador, accusing Tehran of planning assassination attempts against pro-Israel figures and condemning the alleged plots.

Berlin said it is taking active steps to counter such threats, and noted that it had previously pushed successfully for "the masterminds of Iranian assassination attempts worldwide.”

British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has warned companies and individuals against bidding for construction contracts linked to illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, citing the risk of sanctions.

“We urge businesses and individuals not to proceed with bids for E1 construction tenders,” Miliband said in a statement.

He said the UK had introduced new powers to sanction those involved in building illegal settlements, warning of potential legal and reputational consequences.

“This UK Government will not accept the continued displacement of Palestinians and the unlawful occupation that persists,” he added.

Miliband also said the government planned to introduce legislation banning imports from illegal settlements and to act against services that finance or facilitate them.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said that Israel has failed to comply with a US-mediated framework agreement signed in June and continues daily violations in southern Lebanon, reaffirming his country’s commitment to a diplomatic solution.

He stressed that continued Israeli violations would not achieve their objectives but would instead strengthen the Lebanese people’s determination to defend their land and rights.

He reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to a diplomatic solution despite its difficulties, saying it was “far less costly than the devastating war” for which the Lebanese people, particularly residents of the south, continue to pay the price.

Germany “criticised” attacks by violent Israeli settlers targeting European diplomats and a US news photographer in the occupied West Bank, calling for an investigation.

“I think, as a matter of principle, we must of course say that attacks on diplomats – and this also applies to a journalist – should, of course, be criticised. These are troubling reports from the weekend,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Kathrin Deschauer said at a media briefing in Berlin.

“We join in the (European) demands that there must be an investigation,” she added, expressing “solidarity” with European diplomats targeted in the attacks.

Around 40 people were killed or injured in a Houthi ballistic missile attack on a military camp in Yemen’s eastern Shabwa province, according to a local official.

A deputy governor of Shabwa said the ballistic missiles struck Al-Alam camp in the province’s Jardan district.

The official added the camp housed new recruits undergoing training before joining the security forces.

Five Palestinians have been killed by Israel in Gaza over the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll since October 2023 to 74,480, according to the Palestinian health ministry in the besieged enclace.

Hospitals also received 22 injured people during the same period, raising the total number of wounded to 175,539, the ministry said.

An Israeli religious ruling legitimises settlers’ theft of Palestinian olives in the occupied West Bank, according to a report by the Palestinian research centre MADAR.

Citing Israeli rights group Yesh Din, the report documents hundreds of incidents across 171 Palestinian communities, including 68 cases in which farmers were barred from harvesting and 119 cases of stolen produce.

Gaza’s Government Media Office has warned that the World Food Programme’s decision to halt aid to 500,000 Palestinians due to a funding shortfall could accelerate hunger and worsen the humanitarian crisis.

It blamed Israel for what it described as a policy of starvation, warning of potentially devastating consequences for the population.

US embassies in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Oman have warned of possible rapid security developments, including attacks by Iran and its allies.

They urged US citizens to remain vigilant and prepare for potential flight cancellations, airspace closures and travel disruptions.

The embassies also warned that Houthi militias could rapidly escalate hostilities, citing previous attacks on Saudi civilian airports and critical infrastructure.

Israeli police said they had arrested 10 people in the occupied West Bank after illegal settler attacks on an American photographer and a French mayor.

The police said that they raided several locations across the West Bank and also seized cars and potential evidence related to the attacks, which have stepped up as settlers disrupt Palestinians' annual olive harvest.

"Following the severe incidents of violence over the past weekend, including the assault of a media worker and the suspected attacks on foreign civilians, an arrest operation was conducted before dawn," said Major General Moshe Finchi, the Israeli police's West Bank commander.

"Suspects were arrested on suspicion of involvement in the violent incidents, violating a military commander's order concerning a closed military zone, and illegal construction," he said.

Political rivals challenge Israeli prime minister's military claims nine days ahead of the October 27 elections.

The UN's World Food Programme said it would end monthly assistance to 500,000 people in Gaza due to a funding shortfall, while warning that needs remained acute.

"As of this month, we're now cutting half a million people from the number of people that we're assisting," Shaun Hughes, the WFP country director, told AFP.

The reductions bring down to 1.1 million people, still roughly half of war-battered Gaza's population, the number of Palestinians receiving WFP aid either in food or cash assistance.

The US Embassy in the United Arab Emirates issued a security alert warning Americans in the Middle East to remain vigilant amid a complex security environment, citing potential flight cancellations, airspace closures, and travel disruptions.

It said Yemen’s Houthi militia had carried out attacks against Saudi Arabia, including strikes on civilian airports and other critical infrastructure that caused civilian casualties and severe travel disruptions.

“The hostilities have the potential to escalate rapidly beyond that immediate area,” the statement said.

Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence has issued an alert warning of potential danger in Jazan, a southwestern region bordering Yemen, according to a post on X.

The Houthi militia has previously targeted Jazan with missile and drone attacks, though the alert did not specify the nature of the threat.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of seeking to drag the United States into another war with Iran to avoid imprisonment while warning Washington against renewed military action.

“Netanyahu is driving America into another war to stay out of jail,” Araghchi wrote on the US social media platform X, accusing the Israeli leader of disregarding the consequences for Israel and US President Donald Trump.

“Last time you wanted to ‘finish the job,’ Iran emerged even stronger. Want to try your luck again? Be our guest. But be careful; we have unfinished jobs too,” he added.

An oil tanker caught fire and exploded after striking a mine in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian media reported, citing Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps navy.

The strait is a key passage for global oil shipments. The report gave no details about the vessel’s identity or any casualties.

Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman Al Saud has met UAE Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi to discuss regional developments and efforts to strengthen security and stability.

In a social media post, bin Salman said the talks covered continued coordination and consultation on issues of shared interest, alongside support for regional and international security efforts.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty discussed the latest regional developments on a phone call on Sunday.

According to a statement on Araghchi's Telegram channel, they also discussed "diplomatic efforts and initiatives aimed at reducing tension and maintaining stability in the region."

Six people have been injured after a “hostile projectile” fell in the southern Saudi city of Najran.

Saudi Civil Defence said the incident also damaged three homes and three vehicles.

Riyadh's landmark Kingdom Centre skyscraper ordered remote working for office tenants as disruption spread from Houthi militia attacks and the Saudi-led coalition announced its first military deaths since the war reignited.

The 99-storey tower, one of Saudi Arabia's tallest buildings, announced "mandatory" remote working until further notice. No reason was given for the order, but it follows a fresh security alert and two drone interceptions around the capital.

Schools in the capital and surrounding areas extended online learning into a second week, while Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport remains closed after 13 people were killed in a major attack last week.

During a CBS News town hall, Joey Amor demanded accountability over reports of inadequate security at the military facility in Kuwait where his wife, Master Sgt. Nicole Amor, was killed. “There were a lot of mistakes and a lot of fundamental failures,” Amor said.

“Sometimes information doesn't filter up to me,” US Vice President JD Vance replied, pledging to “take every single failure extremely seriously.”

A second session to discuss the matter will be held on Monday, Egypt’s Al Qahera News channel reported, without revealing further details.

Pakistan and Egypt reiterated their condemnation of the Yemeni Houthi militia’s attacks on Saudi Arabia, reaffirming full solidarity with the Kingdom.

The reaffirmation was made during a telephone call between Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty, Islamabad's Foreign Ministry said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov proposed an updated framework for collective security in the Gulf, saying regional states should have the decisive say in shaping their security.

Speaking at the Russia-GCC Strategic Dialogue in Bahrain, he called for direct dialogue among Gulf states and neighbouring countries, including Iraq and Jordan, with support from the Arab League, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and, if desired, permanent UN Security Council members.

Belgium’s consul general says masked settlers assaulted a French mayor and smashed a car window as an international delegation joined Palestinian olive farmers.

Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence has announced that danger has passed in Najran and As Sulayyil governorate after issuing emergency alerts warning of potential risks, state television reports. The authorities have not provided further details about the nature of the danger.

Hundreds attend funeral for victims, including women and children, recovered from destroyed homes in Gaza's Daraj neighbourhood as rescue teams struggle to retrieve thousands more bodies trapped beneath the rubble.

Iran's offer to the United States to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days is still on the table, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told Iranian media outlets.

Iran presented its proposal in mid-September after an interim ceasefire collapsed. Tehran later acknowledged receiving a US response but Iran’s security chief said last week negotiations have stalled because Washington failed to address all seven conditions for reopening the strait.

"Our situation is clear and based on the seven-days proposal presented to the US. They shared comments which we are reviewing, but our proposal is still on the table and if there is any honesty on the US part, which there isn't, the way to reopening the Strait of Hormuz is obvious," Araqchi said while in Baghdad for a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

Egypt’s National Defence Council pledged to provide Saudi Arabia with “all necessary and possible forms of support” to defend its security and stability amid escalating Houthi attacks on the kingdom.

The council, chaired by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at the presidential palace in Cairo, reviewed “dangerous” regional developments, particularly the escalating attacks on Saudi Arabia, Egypt’s State Information Service (SIS) said in a statement.

It declared Egypt’s “full solidarity” with Saudi Arabia, citing the historical ties between the two countries and stressing that Saudi national security is linked to Egyptian and Arab national security.

The council decided to provide “all necessary and possible forms of support” to Saudi Arabia to defend its security and stability, protect its resources and territorial integrity, and safeguard Islamic holy sites.

Newly appointed Iranian defence minister Mehrdad Akhlaghi threatened to inflict "enormous damage" on the United States and its allies in the Middle East if Washington resumes its military campaign against the country.

"People can rest assured that they will most likely not dare to attack us," Akhlaghi told reporters shortly after securing the vote of confidence. "If they (the US) do, they themselves and the region will suffer enormous damage."

Iranian lawmakers approved Mehrdad Akhlaghi as the country's new defence minister, replacing his predecessor who was killed on the first day of the war with the United States.

"Members of the Islamic Consultative Assembly today gave vote of confidence to Mehrdad Akhlaghi, the nominee for minister of defence and armed forces logistics," state television reported, nearly eight months after the initial US-Israeli strikes that sparked the conflict.

Riyadh's Kingdom Centre skyscraper, one of the city's major landmarks, ordered its office tenants to work remotely "until further notice", after repeated Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.

"Kindly refrain from attending the offices during this period," the office management said in an email to tenants seen by AFP. The mall at the foot of the 99-storey building remains open.

A Palestinian girl was killed by Israeli army fire in central Gaza, the official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.

Medical sources said Misk Hazem al-Dalou died from wounds sustained when Israeli forces opened fire toward tents housing displaced Palestinians in the Maghazi refugee camp.

Separately, Israeli military vehicles opened heavy fire toward tents sheltering displaced Palestinians in the al-Mawasi area of Rafah in southern Gaza. Israeli artillery also shelled areas northeast of Khan Younis.

A tugboat traveling southbound was struck by two unknown projectiles northeast of Khor Fakkan in the UAE, leaving one person with minor injuries, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said.

The UKMTO said the vessel sustained damage but was able to continue on its route.

“One minor casualty has been reported,” it said, without providing further details about the injured person or the extent of the damage.

Two officers killed after a Saudi National Guard reconnaissance helicopter crashed in the Najran region due to a technical malfunction, the Saudi-led coalition said.

The coalition's spokesperson confirmed that the AH-6i helicopter crashed inside Saudi territory, killing both crew members.

Eight Yemeni soldiers killed in fighting with Houthis militia in the southern province of Lahj, the Yemeni internationally recognised government forces said.

The army-affiliated Tur al-Bahah Military Axis said the soldiers died on the al-Maqatirah front, without providing further details.

Earlier, Houthi militia shelling killed three civilians, including two women, and injured five others in neighbouring Taiz province, according to a government office.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted and destroyed drones in the Riyadh region and Eastern Province, its spokesperson said.

The coalition confirmed the interceptions but provided no further details about the drones' origins or intended targets.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed concern over an attack on American photojournalist Heidi Levine in the occupied West Bank, urging Israel to "crack down" on violence in the territory.

"We're very disturbed by those images and what we're seeing," Rubio said on Saturday.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted and destroyed a drone in the Riyadh region, its spokesperson said.

The coalition confirmed the interception and destruction of the unmanned aircraft.

Palestine called for urgent international action after illegal Israeli settlers attacked European diplomats and church representatives near Taybeh, east of Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry said the delegation included French and Belgian consuls, a Polish representative and Catholic Church officials.

A French mayor was assaulted and a Belgian consular vehicle was damaged, the ministry said. It condemned the incident as “organised settler terrorism,” saying Israel is protecting the attackers and calling for international accountability.

Saudi Civil Defence announced that the danger has passed in Abha and Khamis Mushait, as residents of Riyadh received a mobile alert early Sunday warning of a "hostile aerial threat" following days of Houthi militia attacks from Yemen.

The alert urged residents to stay indoors and away from windows and doors before being lifted minutes later.

US Ambassador Mike Huckabee called on Israel to arrest and prosecute those responsible for attacking Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine in the occupied West Bank, describing the assault as a "despicable act of terror".

Levine was hospitalised with broken vertebrae after being beaten while covering the Palestinian olive harvest.

Egypt's parliament will hold an emergency session on Sunday after President Abdel Fattah el Sisi asked lawmakers to authorise support for Saudi defences against attacks by Houthi militias if the kingdom requests it.

Saudi Arabia leads a military coalition supporting Yemen's internationally recognised government in its civil war with the Houthi militia.

Egyptian president says any deployment would require parliamentary approval as fighting intensifies between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi militia.

The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said that its forces intercepted and destroyed four drones.

"We intercepted and destroyed four drones over the past few hours in the Riyadh, Eastern and Southern regions," spokesperson Turki al-Maliki wrote on X.

Illegal Israeli settlers attacked a convoy of European diplomats and beat up a visiting French mayor, in a new escalation of violence during the Palestinian olive harvest, witnesses and diplomats said.

The 78-year-old mayor said masked settlers yelled defamatory comments about France, kicked him and hit him with iron bars as he joined Palestinian olive farmers in the occupied West Bank alongside the top French and Belgian representatives as well as a Polish diplomat.

Washington is prepared to act swiftly if Tehran does not abandon its “nuclear ambitions” through negotiations, the US defence secretary says.

An explosion at the Popular Mobilisation Forces headquarters in Baghdad killed one member of the Iraqi paramilitary group and wounded four others, according to a security and a medical source.

The group earlier said a stockpile of obsolete ammunition had exploded.

A small boat carrying seven people fired two shots at an LNG tanker 140 nautical miles southeast of Yemen’s Al Mukalla, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said.

The tanker’s armed security team fired two warning shots, forcing the boat to change course. UKMTO urged vessels to exercise caution while authorities investigate.

“Iran does not accept coercion, threats and intimidation and will not relinquish its sovereign rights under pressure. But it remains ready for dialogue based on mutual respect and credible guarantees,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said.

He said Iran negotiated “in good faith” over the past two years, but claimed diplomatic efforts were repeatedly followed by military attacks, creating “deep mistrust” over restarting negotiations without guarantees against a recurrence. Nevertheless, Araghchi said, Tehran has kept the door to diplomacy open.

“We have presented a set of conditions, and the other side has also presented a set of conditions. We are now waiting to see whether the conditions we announced will be accepted by the Americans,” Yaqoub Rezazadeh, a member of the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said.

He said the contacts were being conducted with the involvement of Qatar and Oman.

Israeli forces entered an area in the western countryside of Syria’s Daraa province, according to the country’s state-run SANA news agency.

A force consisting of two Israeli military vehicles entered the Wadi al-Ruqqad area, SANA reported.

IRGC Navy said the tanker was carrying more than 2 million barrels of crude oil and had switched off its positioning and radar systems while attempting to use an “unauthorised” route.

The mine strike caused a major explosion in the vessel’s engine room, leaving the tanker immobilised, the statement said.

Yemen's Houthi militia announced the release of 159 pro-government fighters under an amnesty announced after they seized swathes of land in a major offensive last month.

The prisoners had "voluntarily surrendered themselves without fighting" as the group captured strategic positions along the Red Sea, Houthi official Abdelqader al-Murtada told a press conference in Sanaa.

The International Committee of the Red Cross confirmed the unilateral release of 159 prisoners and said it had given support by organising interviews and health checks, contacting families and helping arrange transport.

British police are assessing a social media post by the wife of national security adviser Jonathan Powell that references the banned group Palestine Action, the BBC reported on Friday.

Sarah Helm, an author and journalist, wrote on X: “God help us authors who support Palestine and Palestine Action.”

She was responding to a Sky News discussion about author Sally Rooney, whose novels will no longer be supplied to UK booksellers following her announcement that she intends to use royalties to support the group.

The Metropolitan Police said it had been made aware of Helm’s post, published Oct. 15.

“It is in the process of being assessed to determine whether any further police investigation may be required,” a spokesperson said.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said Helm was “an individual who does not represent the government in any capacity.”

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards say a supertanker carrying more than two million barrels of crude caught fire after striking a mine in the contested strait.

Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence said on Saturday that a threat to the southwestern city of Abha and Khamis Mushait governorate had ended after alarms were activated for the second time during the day.

In two posts on US social media company X, the Civil Defence said the threat had passed in Abha and Khamis Mushait, urging residents to continue following safety instructions and avoid gathering or filming.

The alarms were activated through the country’s National Early Warning Platform to warn of a threat in the two areas.

Türkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty and top Iraqi diplomat Fuad Hussein in Baghdad on Saturday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.

The ministry did not provide further details about the meetings.

The 52nd session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) began in the Iraqi capital Baghdad on Saturday.

A second tanker attack was reported in the same area off Saudi Arabia, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Saturday.

The latest incident occurred at 1922GMT Friday around 78 nautical miles (144 kilometres) northeast of Al Jubayl, according to a UKMTO advisory.

The tanker’s master reported that the vessel was attacked with a rocket-propelled grenade fired from a small boat, damaging its aft port quarter.

All crew members were accounted for and reported safe, while a full assessment of the damage and any environmental impact was not immediately available.

Authorities are investigating the incident, while vessels in the area were advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity.