Iran's Military Chief Bars US Navy From Gulf as Brent Crude Hits $117

Ali Abdollahi, the chief of general staff of Iran's armed forces, declared on Saturday that United States naval vessels are prohibited from re-entering Iranian territorial waters. Speaking through a statement released by state media, Abdollahi stated that Washington cannot target specific ships or support vessels in the region because Iran possesses the capability to strike any vessel within the area. He characterized the American presence as a fantasy, noting that the US president could only dream of his soldiers returning to the Persian Gulf.

The declaration came as President Donald Trump addressed supporters in Florida on Friday, indicating that the United States has not yet finalized its next move in the conflict. Trump suggested the military might launch another "Epic Fury" campaign, a reference to the initial large-scale bombing operations against Iran. He weighed the option of ending the war quickly with massive strikes against the strategy of maintaining a naval blockade and sanctions to pressure Tehran.

Abdollahi argued that US rhetoric is contradictory. He pointed to Washington's refusal to move aircraft carriers closer to Iranian territory as evidence that the US does not believe Iranian military capabilities have been fully destroyed. He framed the conflict as a response to a surprise attack on February 28, which started an eight-month war, saying Iranian forces intend to drag the US and Israel into a "quagmire."

The standoff has driven energy markets higher. Brent crude reached approximately $117 per barrel, the highest price since April. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported that seven tankers were attacked or struck mines overnight into Thursday. On Friday, the IRGC claimed that two supertankers hit mines in the Strait of Hormuz. The group stated its doctrine has shifted toward more offensive operations.

Washington has responded by ordering many diplomatic staff to leave Saudi Arabia, with additional personnel expected to depart other regional countries. In Yemen, Iran-allied Houthis struck Riyadh on Saturday. This followed recent attacks on Dammam's international airport and the Shaybah oilfield. Saudi forces have bombed Houthi-held areas in Marib and Taiz in return.

In southern Lebanon, Israeli air strikes hit areas near Nabatieh, while artillery fell near Zawtar ash-Sharqiyah. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, facing an election on October 27, ordered a lockdown of the occupied West Bank. This move followed a Palestinian attack in Hebron that killed two soldiers.

Diplomatic efforts have stalled. Senior diplomats from Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Egypt met with counterparts from the UK, France, Germany, and Italy in Istanbul on Friday. The United States and Iran were not present. Turkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said a new attack on Iran would widen the war and spread the conflict across the region. He added that no one is endorsing such a move at this time.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul blamed Iran and the Houthis for regional instability. The four regional ministers countered that Israeli occupation was the main source of instability. They backed the Islamabad memorandum of understanding signed in June and demanded unrestricted passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state-linked media described the meeting as showing a gap between diplomatic claims and field realities, arguing that US and European powers must concede first. Analyst Reza Nasri wrote on X that Iran will no longer negotiate under bombardment and will end the cycle by all necessary means.

Axios, citing US intelligence, reported that Iran has substantially increased efforts to strike American officials in the Middle East and elsewhere. The IRGC has threatened to target seabed internet and communication cables if civilian infrastructure is attacked again. Iranian reformist newspaper Etemad suggested that the "zero hour" of another intense round of fighting is approaching.