An oil tanker caught fire after striking a naval mine in the southern part of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said late Sunday.
Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, is expected to visit Iran on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, for talks on Islamabad’s efforts to mediate between Tehran and Washington, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported. Pakistan has played a central role as mediator during the conflict, and the U.S. and Iran signed the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding in June to set a framework for negotiations. The talks later broke down over security guarantees and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran-backed Yemeni Houthis have claimed an attack on Saudi energy, airport, and military targets. According to the claim, the Aramco 2222.2SE site in Yanbu, the Shaybah oilfield, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, and the Abha airport all came under their attack on Monday.
The authorities in Saudi Arabia have yet to confirm this claim.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said regional disputes should be resolved through diplomacy and political dialogue, while accusing the United States of contributing to insecurity and rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Araghchi urged diplomatic solutions to regional crises and reiterated Tehran's position that stability can only be achieved through dialogue rather than military pressure.
Egypt's parliament has postponed until 26 October a vote on authorising the military to assist in the defence of Saudi Arabia if a formal request is made by the kingdom.
The vote had originally been expected to take place this week and comes amid heightened regional tensions and concerns over attacks targeting Saudi territory.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang told Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref that the sovereignty and security of all countries should be respected during talks on the sidelines of a Shanghai Cooperation Organization meeting in Dushanbe, according to Chinese state media.
According to Xinhua, Li called on all parties to pursue dialogue and diplomatic solutions to regional disputes, while reaffirming China's readiness to expand cooperation and exchanges with Iran across multiple sectors.
Yemen's Houthi movement has claimed responsibility for an attack on a Yemeni government training camp in Shabwa province, according to a statement from the group.
The claim comes amid intensified fighting between Houthi forces and the internationally recognised government, as military operations continue across several fronts in southern Yemen.
Global markets began to recover on Monday, supported by efforts to develop a new Middle East peace plan and positive economic data from China.
Investor confidence weakened last week as U.S. inflation exceeded expectations, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East escalated, and concerns over the profitability of artificial intelligence investments weighed on markets.
AI-related stocks fell sharply, leaving markets struggling to regain stability.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is scheduled to visit Tehran on 19 October for talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and a meeting with President Masoud Pezeshkian.
According to Russia’s Foreign Ministry, the discussions will focus on bilateral cooperation and key international issues of mutual interest.
The ministers will also review the implementation of agreements reached between Russian and Iranian presidents during meetings in Bishkek on 1 September and Avaza on 8 October.
French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Kuwait on Monday, where he was welcomed by Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah at Kuwait International Airport.
Macron will also travel to the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar on a trip that will end 21 October.
He plans to discuss the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and its impact on energy prices with Gulf leaders, his office said in a statement on Wednesday.
Qatar will soon announce a defence production hub, the minister of state for defence affairs told the Global Security Forum in Doha on Monday.
Against the background of the Middle East conflict, which has drawn Iranian attacks on the energy-rich Gulf countries, Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said: “We are partnering with a regional partner, in addition to other partners such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, to make sure either we do local protection, or we are investing in some of these companies.”
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held separate telephone conversations with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi and Egyptian Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Abdelatty on Sunday, to discuss regional developments and diplomatic efforts.
According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office, Dar stressed the importance of continued dialogue and diplomacy during his conversation with Araghchi.
Brent crude prices dropped by more than 1.5 per cent to $107.92 a barrel in early Asian trading on Monday.
The decline followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to suspend several planned Russia-related sanctions just days before they were due to take effect, including measures targeting Russian goods and energy purchases.
Brent briefly reached $110 a barrel on Friday, its highest level since May, as escalating Middle East tensions raised concerns over maritime security and potential disruptions to global energy supplies.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) should play an active role in addressing challenges facing the Islamic world and resolving differences.
In a post on X, Araghchi highlighted the Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Iraq, the first such gathering in 45 years. On Saturday afternoon, he also met with OIC Secretary-General Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed to discuss matters related to the organisation.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu late Sunday 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 X, accusing the Israeli leader of disregarding the consequences for Israel and U.S. President Donald Trump.
Residents in Yemen's Taiz said soaring food and fuel prices were placing basic goods beyond the reach of many households, despite some supplies being available in markets.
The city is emerging as a key front in Yemen’s renewed civil war, amid wider regional tensions following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in February.
The U.S. Embassy in the United Arab Emirates issued a security alert warning Americans in the Middle East to exercise heightened vigilance amid a complex security environment, citing potential flight cancellations, airspace closures and travel disruptions.
It gave examples of attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi group 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 announced that the threat in the southern city of Jizan has passed, just seven minutes after issuing an alert warning residents of potential danger.
Authorities urged the public to continue following Civil Defence guidance and avoid gatherings or filming.
The blast struck the vessel’s engine room as it attempted to leave the strategic waterway, Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency reported, citing an IRGC Navy statement.
The tanker had switched off all its positioning and navigation systems from the start of its voyage and attempted to use what Tehran considers an unauthorised southern route, according to the statement.
The IRGC Navy accused the vessel of violating maritime regulations governing passage through the strait.
It warned that ships operating in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf with their navigation and identification systems switched off would face a firm response.
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