Digest

What happened in each country, written from all our sources.

Next update 07:00

Earlier digests

2026-11-02

19:01 Tehran speaks of 'intensive' talks with Washington as Trump says Iran wants to negotiate — and a tanker burns east of Hormuz

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said indirect talks with the United States are under way and described them as "very intensive," without giving details on their venue, mediators or subject matter. In the same context, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed that Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has granted the government some authorities to negotiate with the United States, without clarifying their nature or scope, and said his country will try to end the war with America through dialogue. The statements come amid mediation efforts to end the war and avoid a new escalation, an exchange of messages between Tehran and Washington through mediators, and disagreements over the conditions for resuming negotiations and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Araghchi warned that Iran will respond more harshly and severely than before if Washington intends deception or carries out military operations, while the First Vice President said U.S. messages via mediators indicate that Washington acknowledges Iran's victory.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington has not yet delivered the "decisive blow" to Iran because Tehran wants to negotiate, considering that the biggest challenge is determining the appropriate party in Iran with which Washington can negotiate. He stressed that regime change is not a condition for preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, while leaving open the possibility of military action if negotiations fail, and affirmed he does not want the current war to turn into a long-term conflict like Vietnam. He also said Iran is suffering a major crisis and can no longer pay the salaries of its military forces.

On the security front, reports said an oil tanker caught fire after a naval mine exploded east of the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran issued warnings to ships in the area, with no details on the extent of damage, casualties or the tanker's identity. A Financial Times report examined possible military scenarios for a new confrontation between Washington and Tehran, after U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned to threatening strikes on Iran, citing options ranging from limited naval strikes to targeting nuclear facilities including Jabal Bik Aks, and a broad campaign hitting IRGC leaders and infrastructure. The New York Post quoted Oded Eilam, former deputy head of global operations at Israel's Mossad, saying a surprise attack targeting Iran's military leadership, similar to the 2024 pager explosions in Lebanon, remains an option, and that four Iranian military commanders are in the crosshairs: Ahmad Vahidi, Hossein Taeb, Ali Abdollahi and Mohsen Rezaei. Russia's Foreign Ministry expressed grave concern over reports of planning for a new military action against Iran, as Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Economically, oil prices fell more than 4 percent amid hopes of progress in talks aimed at ending the war between the United States and Iran. In other security news, the Mehr agency reported that armed men attacked a vehicle carrying engineers and contractors in Saravan in Sistan and Baluchestan province, with no casualties.

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13:02 Preparations for a possible strike on Iran as Tehran ties reopening Hormuz to ending the blockade and warns of a longer war

Today's picture was dominated by mounting indications of a possible resumption of the military campaign against Iran. Israel's public broadcaster said Israel had completed its preparations for such a scenario, offensively and defensively, and that munitions and interceptor missiles had arrived from the United States and Europe to Israel and countries in the region. Axios quoted sources saying a call between Trump and Netanyahu discussed the fate of the negotiations and the timing of a return to war, with Netanyahu pushing for a strike after the elections and Trump leaning toward giving the talks an additional chance. In this context, the Tawasul news network reported that the United States deployed 43 aerial refueling aircraft in Israel to carry out strikes on Iran, while Trump threatened a "crushing strike," according to Lebanon Debate, which also carried a warning by American broadcaster Tucker Carlson that Trump may decide within days to carry out a nuclear strike on Iran.

On the other side, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei reiterated that opening the Strait of Hormuz is conditional on ending the US blockade of Iran and implementing Tehran's demands, noting that Washington has presented no initiative and has thwarted diplomatic paths, and that a seven-stage Iranian initiative remains on the table, amid warnings of a long "war of surprises" if the conflict resumes. The Foreign Ministry said it takes into account that the United States attacked Iran previously during negotiations, that message exchanges with Washington continue, that the Supreme National Security Council is managing diplomacy and that Qalibaf remains head of Iran's negotiating delegation, that it does not expect a new American approach after the midterm elections, and that it has not yet discussed resuming the inspections conducted by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Regionally and internationally, the Russian Foreign Ministry expressed grave concern over what it described as indications of planning for a new military action against Iran, and the Chinese foreign minister told an Iranian security official during a meeting that dialogue and negotiations are the way forward. Former Israeli general Yisrael Ziv warned in a Maariv article that a retaliatory US attack on Iran after the midterm elections could be a "disaster" that drags Israel into regional chaos, Al-Binaa quoted regional sources as saying Israel cannot wage a war on Iran alone, and a Euronews report examined scenarios for an attack beginning with limited strikes on naval sites in the Strait of Hormuz and potentially expanding to nuclear facilities, oil refineries, power stations and Revolutionary Guard commanders. Domestically, a report by Iran International documented the spread of protests in Fars province to 24 cities and towns since the beginning of January 2026, coinciding with a call by Reza Pahlavi, citing a police informant network, the use of armed men and motorcycles, gunfire from government buildings, raids, arrests and injuries including eye injuries.

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07:00 Israel awaits green light from Washington.. and security warning ahead of any US attack on Iran

Israeli website «Walla» quoted officials as saying that security coordination between Israel and the US Department of Defense «Pentagon» has reached its highest levels due to developments related to the Iranian file, and that Israel will receive prior warning if Washington decides to launch a military attack on Iran.

At the same time, US President Donald Trump escalated his threats against Tehran and hinted at a decisive strike, while Iranian media reported that Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei issued directives for immediate response and updating the target bank to include American and Israeli assets.

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01:01 Doha talks continue without final deal amid pressure to resume war; Iranian captain killed in US Gulf raid

Iranian negotiators in Doha continued talks with Qatari mediators for a third day, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi saying no final agreement had been reached and that there was no direct meeting with US officials, noting that current discussions center on the seven-day proposal. In parallel, a report said US President Donald Trump held a "very good" call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that covered the Iran file, while Axios quoted US and Israeli officials as saying Netanyahu urged strikes on Iran immediately after the US midterm elections on Nov. 3, whereas Trump preferred to give negotiations a chance.

In a security development, Fars news agency reported that Captain Nasser Ebrahimi Nejadhan was killed in a US raid on Friday in Gulf waters, without further details on the circumstances of the raid or the target. A Financial Times report cited former US military leaders and defense experts warning that any new military campaign against Iran after about 8 months of war that did not achieve its goals would not be easy and could open the door to regional escalation, while Tehran threatens an unprecedented response that could hit bases, interests and infrastructure in the Gulf.

Former Mossad chief David Barnea revealed that Israel released footage of covert operations inside Iran on the first day of the June 2025 war as part of a plan to confuse Iranian security services and push them into wide arrests, aiming to protect its operatives inside the country even if suspicion touched civilians. He said Iran arrested about 21,000 people during the war, and that some of those executed for cooperating with Israel had no connection to Mossad, sparking human rights criticism, while Iran said it is confronting spy networks linked to Israel.

Domestically, the Iranian parliament is taking up the nuclear cooperation file in a development moving from suspending cooperation to withdrawal, while an adviser to Mojtaba Khamenei said Iran's military strategy is undergoing a "rapid transformation," stressing that Iran's response to any attack will not respect geography.

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2026-11-01

19:00 Iran opens a "new chapter of war" as Israel raises its readiness; Trump threatens and Tehran speaks of a response with no geographic limits

The Israeli army is intensifying its preparations for a possible renewed war with Iran, while Iranian officials have stressed that any response to a new attack will have no "geographic limits", and Tehran announced the collapse of what it called "geographic restrictions" as the confrontation map widens. In this context, an Iranian military warning was directed at US President Donald Trump that the war could be longer and wider, and an adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader said the defense doctrine is evolving rapidly and that the scope of deterrence has been redefined to go beyond the regional framework.

Trump renewed his threat to strike Iran, saying US forces still have the task of dealing with "one or two sites", including "Mount Bikax", to which US officials say Tehran has moved thousands of centrifuges, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated Washington's openness to a diplomatic solution. A statement attributed to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said any threat would be met with an immediate response with no geographic limits, and ordered the updating of target lists, while Iran insisted it will not negotiate over its nuclear program under any circumstance.

Diplomatically, the Iranian delegation and Qatari mediators are continuing for a third day talks aimed at ending the war between the United States and Iran, with no details on the venue, the level of participants or the results so far. However, Iran's foreign minister said the Iranian delegation's visit to Qatar did not include negotiations with the American side, while Israeli media reported progress in indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington without an agreement, warning that their failure would greatly increase the likelihood of war.

Separately, a Reuters investigation revealed that an Iranian network imported explosives and heavy equipment worth $2 billion since January 2025, and that it imported heavy trucks usable as missile launch platforms, while another investigation indicated that Iran received cargo planes from China carrying banned materials. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced figures relating to 100 days of naval pressure on Iran. Regionally, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Major General Mohsen Rezaei, said he received a personal and direct warning from the Saudi defense minister about Israeli plans to target other countries, indicating that Turkey would be the next target after Iran before the attack turns toward Saudi Arabia; he spoke on the sidelines of a quadrilateral meeting hosted by Tehran with representatives of Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan. In Baghdad, reports spoke of the secret presence of Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and of new Iranian arrangements awaiting the factions, while Qarqash said trust with Iran has been shaken and that they are prepared for the worst.

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13:01 Iran Between a Critical Negotiation Deadline, Military Preparations and Regional Warnings

A report by journalists Barak Ravid and Nir Dvori on Israel's Channel 12 said US President Donald Trump has not made a final decision on resuming military operations against Iran, despite rising US and Israeli preparations. The report quoted an informed source as saying negotiations that began Friday and continued Saturday made progress without reaching an agreement, warning that failure to complete a deal by mid-next week would make continued diplomacy very difficult, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pressing for a joint military operation. Meanwhile, Trump said Washington still has 'one or two targets' in Iran and vowed further strikes, according to Tawasul News network.

On the military front, Israel's Broadcasting Authority said 10 US military cargo planes arrived at the Ovda and Nevatim air bases in the Negev from Fort Bliss in Texas, as part of an air bridge carrying military equipment and a Patriot system, amid reports of preparations for a possible strike against Iran. Haaretz noted concerns within the Israeli military establishment that a short US strike might not achieve Israeli goals, while The Wall Street Journal said the commander of US Central Command presented Trump with military options on Iran. Al Jazeera, in turn, reported positive indicators for a diplomatic settlement, with Iran conditioning discussion of the nuclear file on lifting the naval blockade, stopping the war on all fronts and releasing its frozen funds, and Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warning that the response to any attack would not be determined geographically.

Regionally, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Major General Mohsen Rezaei, revealed that he received a warning from Saudi Arabia's defense minister that Israel intends to target Turkey after Iran and then attack Saudi Arabia. He said representatives of Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan warned during a quadrilateral meeting in Tehran against Israel expanding its attacks, calling for establishing a new regional security structure with Iran participating and playing a central role. Former Mossad deputy chief for global operations Oded Eilam told the New York Post that Israel might resort to a surprise attack similar to the 2024 pager detonation operation against Hezbollah in Lebanon and Syria, aimed at eliminating Iran's military leadership, naming Ahmad Vahidi, Hossein Taeb, Ali Abdollahi and Mohsen Rezaei as actual power centers. Iran also designated the UK Royal Navy and Royal Air Force as terrorist organizations, according to Tawasul News network, without details on the grounds for the decision or its practical repercussions.

Domestically, a report based on accounts from citizens and a former police officer said protests widened in 24 cities and towns in Iran's Fars province on January 8 and 9, with security forces using live fire, tear gas, raids and arrests, alongside a network of informants and armed men to confront protesters.

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2026-10-29

19:01 Hormuz stays shut as Washington prepares: a widening military and political escalation with Iran

The deputy commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guard announced that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until Iran's conditions are met, a field escalation that coincided with a hardline political stance from Tehran: it said it has not yet responded to the letter sent by Vance and rejects any position that conflicts with the conditions it has set.

On the military track, The Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. military is sending an additional Patriot system to Israel to bolster its air defenses as part of preparations for a possible new U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran, and that Washington has warned Gulf states to prepare for a possible short but intensive bombing campaign, while Gulf states are intensifying contacts with Tehran to contain the escalation. The newspaper reported that President Donald Trump has taken a final decision to launch an attack but is inclined to postpone it until after the midterm elections, while the report suggests that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may find incentives to renew confrontation.

Separately, Reuters revealed that Iran has since January 2025 established a secret military network with global reach used to import equipment, explosives and trucks and to produce missiles and drones, noting that some five thousand secret Iranian entities form the "backbone" of military procurement and sanctions evasion. The Telegraph quoted Iranian officials as saying that Tehran views the nearly simultaneous elections in Israel and the United States as a rare opportunity and is seeking to recruit agents and penetrate electoral systems, after it tried to interfere in the Israeli elections this week, while Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said the Israeli elections are a "competition between gangs."

On the diplomatic front, U.S. Treasury Under Secretary for International Affairs Eileen Brown affirmed that the sanctions imposed on Iran have proven effective, and the British Prime Minister stressed that Iran must not possess any nuclear capabilities, while the Kremlin spokesman announced that Russia is ready to receive enriched uranium if that file is the problem at hand.

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13:01 Three tankers explode in Hormuz and a drone is downed: Washington between warnings and negotiating messages

Reports spoke of three oil tankers exploding in the Strait of Hormuz, with no details on the cause of the explosion or the extent of casualties, while Iran's Revolutionary Guard announced it had downed an MQ-1 drone off the strait. A ship near Hormuz caught fire in an incident described as mysterious, with the fate of its crew unknown.

As the Iranian army announced that the Strait of Hormuz is under the control of its forces and will never be opened until Iran's conditions are fully met, the United States told its Middle East allies that any new round of military operations against Iran could last several days and urged them to take precautions in anticipation of a possible Iranian response targeting energy facilities and infrastructure. President Donald Trump has not made a final decision on resuming strikes after the midterm elections on November 3.

On the diplomatic track, The Wall Street Journal reported that US Vice President JD Vance sent a message to Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Mohsen Rezaei, at the direction of President Donald Trump, to explore the possibility of reviving negotiations and pushing Washington away from a possible military attack after the midterm elections on November 3, amid regional mediation involving Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Qatar. Trump said negotiations are taking place through mediators and that he does not know whether they will succeed, while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi affirmed that Tehran continues to give diplomacy a chance.

In a separate development, Hegseth removed a key military official before Tehran's options were decided, without further details about his identity or the reasons for the removal, while Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian affirmed that Iran considers itself a brother to all neighboring countries and that they can jointly maintain regional security.

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07:00 Trump Announces Imminent End to War with Iran Amid Diplomatic Push and Rising Military Costs

US President Donald Trump affirmed that Iran has suffered a severe defeat, saying he will end the war with it soon and that Iran will never possess a nuclear weapon, faces difficulties manufacturing drones due to power outages, and would soon be on our list of victories as happened in Venezuela. NewsNation quoted a source speaking of intense contacts in recent days between Iranians and Americans through mediators, while Axios reported a message from Vice President JD Vance to Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Mohsen Rezaei.

In Washington, Pentagon data submitted to Congress showed the US military has spent more than $47 billion on operations related to the confrontation with Iran, an increase of about 25% over July estimates. In Tehran, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran continues to give diplomacy a real chance through regional mediators, while President Masoud Pezeshkian stressed his country's desire to end the state of 'no war, no peace.' A diplomatic official cited by Israel Hayom confirmed the depth of US-Israeli military and intelligence cooperation.

Meanwhile, a VietnamPlus report said US and Israeli intelligence operations have become an important factor in the confrontation with Iran, targeting information gathering and identifying vulnerabilities in Iran's security, military and nuclear systems. It warned that miscalculation of intentions, hardline rhetoric and military preparations could lead to unexpected escalation, leaving the prospects for stability in the Middle East uncertain.

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01:01 Iran Between Mediation to Avoid War and US-Israeli Preparations for Strikes After Midterms

Mediation led by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Qatar is continuing to reach a deal between Washington and Tehran that would allow UN inspectors to visit Iranian nuclear sites in exchange for some sanctions relief and the release of part of frozen funds, aiming to avoid broad US-Israeli airstrikes likely to be launched after the US midterm elections. President Donald Trump discussed the Iran file with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and envoy Steve Witkoff, while Saudi Arabia asked Washington to give negotiations more time and not rush into war, and Qatar is working to persuade Tehran to allow inspectors to visit its sites in exchange for sanctions relief. Tehran is awaiting the approval of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

In a parallel diplomatic track, The Wall Street Journal quoted US officials as saying that Vice President JD Vance contacted Iranian official Mohsen Rezaei at Trump’s direction and sent him a letter to relaunch peace talks and test the possibility of finding common ground that could convince Trump not to launch an attack. US officials said direct talks with Iranian hardliners could yield a better diplomatic result, while Al Arabiya reported consultations between mediators and Iran to hold a meeting in Turkey before November 4.

Militarily, The Wall Street Journal reported that the United States and Israel are preparing for the possible resumption of wide-scale military operations against Iran after the midterm elections, in an intense and short campaign that could aim to weaken Tehran and push it toward negotiations, with a Patriot system moved from Texas to Israel, US forces resupplied with munitions, and bombers and fighters ready. Axios quoted a US official as saying that potential strike plans could include regime leaders, energy facilities, the nuclear program and infrastructure, with US-Israeli military coordination, while Kan reported that the White House sent a message to Israel saying it has an upcoming campaign in Iran and that there is no room for more elections.

In signs of repositioning, the Israeli Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) noted three US destroyers in the Mediterranean joining another destroyer, and the rebuilding of a tanker aircraft system in Europe. US Central Command announced that all major internationally recognized transit corridors in the Strait of Hormuz were cleared of mines, while Iranian security officials threatened to target undersea cables and prevent their repair in any confrontation, warning that there would be no red lines from cables to military bases; IRGC Deputy for Political Affairs Yadollah Javani said Iran can target seven main internet cables passing through Hormuz, with estimates that less than 1% of international capacity passes through Hormuz. This comes amid a war that began on February 28, 2026, in whose first days Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was assassinated, with analysis expecting it to end in a long truce codified by an interim US-Iran agreement.

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2026-10-28

19:00 US-Israeli coordination on a possible strike on Iran as Tehran studies a Qatari proposal amid directives for unity and managing Hormuz

US-Israeli coordination continues over a possible military strike on Iran, with press sources quoting a senior official as saying the decision to strike is not linked to the outcome of the Knesset elections or the nature of the incoming Israeli government. Benjamin Netanyahu said the military mission against Tehran is not over and described Donald Trump's presence in the White House as a historic opportunity, while Trump hinted at a possible new military operation without revealing details. Meanwhile, intelligence reports warned of Iranian plans to target American interests, and said Tehran is studying a Qatari proposal.

In the same context, British media reports indicated signs that the United States and Israel may resume their attacks on Iran shortly after the US midterm congressional elections, and that unfavorable election results may not dissuade Trump and Netanyahu from a decision to act militarily. Analysts say a renewed war could give Netanyahu an opportunity to form a national unity government, amid warnings that a strong Iranian response could target Gulf facilities, American bases and ships in the Strait of Hormuz, and that a new round of fighting could increase pressure.

Domestically, Iranian newspapers covered the directives of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei at a meeting with the heads of the legislative and judicial branches and the secretary of the National Security Council, which stressed unity, support for the government, easing living burdens, strategic coordination with China and managing navigation in Hormuz, and tied ending the state of "neither war nor peace" to the full implementation of Iran's conditions. The newspapers also covered President Masoud Pezeshkian's visit to Russia and the limits of the partnership with Moscow, alongside economic crises such as inflation and unemployment and warnings of regional escalation.

Diplomatically, Iran's representative to the UN Security Council, Amir Saeed Iravani, affirmed that Israel possesses about 200 nuclear warheads outside international oversight, stressing the need to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons in the Middle East, accusing Israel and the United States of impunity and calling for condemnation of threats against his country, while considering Iran's nuclear program peaceful and not a threat to international security. Netanyahu, for his part, stressed continuing to defend Israel.

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07:00 US war costs on Iran surpass $47 billion; Israeli and US elections raise questions about confrontation path

The costs of the US war on Iran have exceeded $47 billion, according to Pentagon data, reflecting the financial burden of the confrontation. The figures coincide with attention turning to Israel's Knesset elections and the US midterm elections, and their potential impact on the course of the war with Iran.

In this context, threats by President Donald Trump of a new strike and his description of the truce with Tehran as a waste of time are raising growing concerns, while Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei insists on Tehran's conditions for ending the war. Qatar is demanding that Iran show good faith, amid fears over the security of the Strait of Hormuz and energy supplies.

Marwan Qablan believes the coming phase is highly dangerous and that Benjamin Netanyahu may resort to external escalation to preserve power, while reference is made to US red lines in an analysis by Rob Arlett.

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