Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Sunday that the United States must recognise that the “rules of the game” in its war against Iran had changed “before it is too late”, a day after Washington struck several Iranian tankers in the Gulf.
Iran will raise the price of gasoline for motorists using more than 110 litres a month from Tuesday, government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said on Sunday, as Tehran seeks to address economic pressures caused by the war and U.S. sanctions.
The first two subsidised quotas, covering 110 litres, will remain unchanged, while the price for additional fuel will rise to 100,000 Iranian rials per litre, Mohajerani said in comments carried by state media.
Motorists can currently buy up to 60 litres at 15,000 rials per litre and a further 50 litres at 30,000 rials per litre, she said.
The increase will affect only consumers requiring more than 110 litres a month and is being introduced because of “current conditions”, Mohajerani said.
Iran’s government had previously discussed raising gasoline prices but postponed the move amid concerns it could fuel protests. The country saw widespread demonstrations in 2019 after a sharp increase in fuel prices.
In December, Iran partially raised the price of subsidised gasoline for most users as the OPEC member sought to curb rising fuel demand.
A restricted zone will be announced outside the Strait of Hormuz in the coming days, Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said on Sunday, according to state media.
Rezaei said the zone would extend into parts of the Gulf. He provided few details initially, but later said any vessel entering the new zone would be placed on an Iranian sanctions list.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on Sunday that it destroyed a U.S. military surveillance aerostat in a drone strike near Erbil airport in northern Iraq during clashes on Wednesday.
The IRGC said its Aerospace Force targeted a tethered PSS-T surveillance system and released footage it claimed showed the strike.
There was no immediate U.S. comment on the claim.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said security forces seized a shipment of weapons and ammunition near the border in Oshnavieh, in the northwestern province of West Azerbaijan.
The IRGC said the cache included six Kalashnikov rifles, 28 magazines and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
It alleged that separatist groups intended to transport the weapons deeper into Iran for sabotage operations with support from foreign intelligence services and Israel.
The allegation has not been independently verified.
Iran has lifted a ban preventing government agencies from using foreign messaging and social media platforms for official communications.
Abbas Pazuki, a communications official in the First Vice President’s office, said the decision would allow authorities to respond directly to the public and counter rumours “on the platforms where people are present.”
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has accused the U.S. of using artificial intelligence to generate images and videos of the battlefield amid the ongoing conflict with Tehran.
Speaking in parliament on Sunday, Ghalibaf claimed recent Iranian strikes on U.S. bases had left American leaders “in a state of desperation,” accusing them of resorting to “empty words, slogans, and artificial intelligence” to produce battlefield imagery.
Ghalibaf provided no evidence to support the accusation.
U.S. Central Command said its forces have redirected 92 commercial vessels as part of Washington’s maritime blockade against Iran as of 6 September.
CENTCOM said U.S. forces have also disabled three vessels and boarded two others to enforce compliance with the blockade.
The latest update comes as U.S. forces maintain an increased military presence in regional waters amid continuing tensions with Iran.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned on Sunday that any new U.S. attack on Iranian interests or security would trigger a “faster, heavier and more painful” response.
Ghalibaf said the era of “proportionate responses” was over and described Iran’s recent strikes on U.S. military bases in the region as “only a beginning.”
His remarks come amid renewed military escalation between Tehran and Washington following the breakdown in implementing their June agreement.
Iran’s Economy Ministry has established an “economic war headquarters” to tackle wartime disruptions, focusing on support for businesses, trade and finance.
Deputy Economy Minister Morteza Zamanian said measures include tax and customs relief, banking support and financial tools for companies affected by the conflict.
OPEC+ is expected to leave its October oil output policy unchanged at Sunday’s meeting, as the Iran war continues to disrupt exports through the Strait of Hormuz and limit the group’s influence on oil markets.
The group is also reviewing production capacity ahead of setting 2027 quotas.
The U.S. aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln left Thailand on Sunday after a five-day port visit, ending a brief break from its extended deployment, the U.S. Navy said.
The nuclear-powered carrier, carrying around 5,000 personnel, has been involved in U.S. naval operations in the Middle East, including the conflict with Iran.
“We would like to thank the people of Thailand for their incredible hospitality,” said Captain Dan Keeler, the Lincoln’s commanding officer.
Yemen’s army said on Sunday it struck a Houthi military camp in northern Al-Jawf province, destroying military equipment and “neutralising” personnel.
Army spokesman Majid al-Nuzaili said the operation targeted Al-Labanat camp using newly introduced “specialised capabilities”, but gave no details on the weapons used or casualties.
The strike comes amid renewed fighting that has raised fears Yemen’s long-running conflict could escalate again, after a relative lull since 2022.
Crude oil exports from the Middle East averaged around 7.2 million barrels per day in August—39 per cent below the January–February average, according to TankerTrackers.
Exports plunged 67 per cent below pre-war levels in May as the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupted global shipping and energy supplies.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has held phone calls with his Saudi and Turkish counterparts to discuss regional developments and diplomatic efforts, as tensions continue to escalate across the region.
According to the Iranian broadcaster IRIB, Araghchi discussed “bilateral issues, regional developments, and the latest diplomatic efforts aimed at establishing stability in the region and eliminating the insecurity imposed on the Strait of Hormuz due to the U.S.’s aggressive actions”.
U.S. and Iranian forces have exchanged fire around Iranian waters, with the U.S. striking three Iranian oil tankers after Iran launched ballistic missiles at two U.S. Navy ships.
Iran has threatened further attacks and said it targeted three tankers it accused of using unauthorised routes through the Strait of Hormuz.
The latest escalation comes amid growing tensions over Iran’s oil exports, with particular focus on Kharg Island, a key crude-export hub previously threatened by President Donald Trump.
No U.S. personnel were injured, while reports from Iran said tanker crews were being evacuated.
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