Tankers hit in Hormuz; Trump again says conflict to end soon
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says two crude oil tankers have caught fire after hitting mines in the Strait of Hormuz, as Gulf nations condemn Friday’s attack on a Qatari LNG carrier.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says talks with mediators over a two-day plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz are ongoing, and expresses hope that the US has “enough sense to choose diplomacy“.
US President Donald Trump says the war on Iran will end “very soon, one way or the other”, warning that Tehran will either make a deal or “we’ll just end it”.
Trump says US can ‘close down’ Iran at any time
The US president has been speaking at his 30th – and final – midterm rally in Salina, Kansas, where he told the audience that Washington has “dominated” Iran and that “we can close them down anytime we want.”
Trump added, “We’re trying to be nice – sometimes you don’t do that.
We’re trying to be a little nice but I think, you know, it’s going to be very close. We’re just going to close them down. That’s going to be the end of it.”
What are Iran’s 7 conditions for peace talks?
As we’ve been reporting, Iran is insisting that the US meet seven conditions before the Strait of Hormuz can reopen and peace talks can begin.
Mohsen Rezaei, Iran’s security chief, said Tehran set out the conditions in September, though he described only some of them.
Speaking to us on Saturday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi provided more detail. He listed the conditions as:
• Lifting the sanctions the US imposed on Iran after the collapse of the Islamabad memorandum of understanding (MoU) in July
• Reducing the US military presence in the region
• Reinstating the oil waivers granted in June as part of the MoU
• Releasing frozen Iranian funds, including those held in Qatar
• Formally recognising the new shipping route in the Strait of Hormuz, set by Iran and Oman, and closing all other routes
• Ending the war on all fronts, particularly Israel’s attacks on Lebanon.
Rezaei had in September also called for an end to the US naval blockade of Iranian ports and US interference in Iran’s internal affairs, including its cooperation with “the opponents of our revolution”.
Khamenei’s aide hails Iran’s resilience at pro-government rally
Saeed Jalili, the supreme leader’s representative on Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, says the country’s self-reliance has left major world powers in a state of desperation.
Speaking at a pro-government demonstration, Jalili said: “A nation that develops its own potential multiplies its strength. That is why the major powers have reached a state of desperation,” according to Iran’s Fars news agency.
He said people across Iran continued to demonstrate the same determination, standing firm and succeeding through what he described as faith and dedication.
His remarks came during one of the daily pro-government demonstrations held across Iran since the US-Israeli attacks began in February. The gatherings have become displays of support for the Islamic Republic and its stance against the US and Israel.
Source: Al Jazeera