Iranian Military Chief Bars US Navy From Gulf as Crude Hits $117

The war between the United States and Iran has entered its eighth month, with both sides signaling they are prepared for renewed combat operations. On Saturday, Iran’s armed forces announced they are ready to fire on United States warships. This declaration comes as President Donald Trump indicated that Washington has not yet decided its next strategic move.

The conflict began on February 28 when the US and Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran. That strike triggered a full-scale war that has since unsettled the region. Trump described the initial campaign as "Epic Fury" during a rally in Florida on Friday. He stated that the US military "may do another Epic Fury," referring to the large bombing campaign that started the war.

Prior to the rally, Trump had weighed two options for ending the fighting. One option involved massive strikes to end the war quickly. The other relied on a naval blockade and sanctions to pressure Tehran. In response to this indecision, Ali Abdollahi, the chief of general staff of Iran’s armed forces, issued a statement via state media on Saturday morning.

Abdollahi asserted that the US Navy cannot re-enter Iranian territorial waters or its surroundings. He argued that Iran can target any vessel in the region. "The US president can only dream of their soldiers and military again entering the Persian Gulf," Abdollahi said. He also criticized American rhetoric, noting that Washington claims Iran’s military capabilities are largely destroyed yet refuses to move its aircraft carriers closer to Iranian territory.

The IRGC stated that its forces intend to "drown" the US and Israel in a "quagmire." This stance is a direct response to the February 28 attack. The economic impact of the conflict is visible in energy markets. Brent crude oil has risen to about $117 per barrel, its highest level since April. This spike is driven by the prospect of renewed war and ongoing attacks on shipping.

Shipping around the Strait of Hormuz remains under frequent attack. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported that seven tankers were attacked or hit mines overnight into Thursday. On Friday, the IRGC claimed two supertankers struck mines. The group said its doctrine has become more offensive. Washington has reportedly ordered many diplomatic staff to leave Saudi Arabia, with others due to depart from other regional countries.

Other fronts in the region are also active. The Iran-allied Houthis in Yemen struck Riyadh again on Saturday. This follows recent attacks on Dammam’s international airport and the Shaybah oilfield. Saudi forces have bombed Houthi-held areas, including Marib and Taiz. In southern Lebanon, reported Israeli air strikes hit around Nabatieh, and artillery fell near Zawtar ash-Sharqiyah.

In the West Bank, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a lockdown after a Palestinian attack killed two soldiers in Hebron. Netanyahu faces an election on October 27. On the diplomatic side, mediated talks between Tehran and Washington have produced no progress. Senior diplomats from Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Egypt met counterparts from the UK, France, Germany, and Italy in Istanbul on Friday. The US 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 it at this point." German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul blamed Iran and the Houthis for regional instability. The four regional ministers stated that "Israeli occupation was the main source of instability." They backed the Islamabad memorandum of understanding signed in June and demanded unrestricted passage through Hormuz.

Nour News, affiliated with Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said the meeting showed a "gap between diplomatic claims and realities in the field." Iranian reformist paper Etemad suggested the "zero hour" of another intense round was approaching. Analyst Reza Nasri wrote on X that Iran "will no longer negotiate under bombardment." The IRGC has threatened seabed internet and communication cables if civilian infrastructure is targeted again. Axios reported on Saturday that Iran has "substantially increased" efforts to strike American officials in the Middle East and elsewhere.