Iran Bars US Navy From Gulf Waters as Oil Hits $117

Oil prices climbed to approximately $117 per barrel on Saturday, the highest level since April, as Iran issued a formal warning that United States warships would be targeted if they re-entered the Persian Gulf. This shift in naval policy comes as President Donald Trump indicated that Washington has not yet decided between a fresh large-scale bombing campaign or a continued naval blockade.

Ali Abdollahi, the chief of general staff for Iran's armed forces, stated in a release carried by state media that the US Navy cannot enter Iranian territorial waters or their immediate surroundings. "The US president can only dream of their soldiers and military again entering the Persian Gulf," Abdollahi said. He argued that American claims of having destroyed Iran's military capabilities are contradicted by Washington's decision to keep its aircraft carriers at a distance from Iranian territory.

The conflict has intensified maritime risks in the Strait of Hormuz. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported that seven tankers were attacked or struck mines in the overnight hours leading into Thursday. By Friday, the IRGC claimed two supertankers had hit mines. These incidents have pushed global energy markets to new highs, directly affecting fuel costs for consumers and businesses worldwide.

Trump, speaking to supporters in Florida on Friday, referenced the initial bombing campaign as "Epic Fury" and suggested a similar operation might follow. He weighed the option of ending the fighting quickly with massive strikes against the strategy of letting sanctions and a naval blockade squeeze Tehran. Abdollahi responded by saying Iranian forces intend to trap the US and Israel in a "quagmire" in retaliation for the surprise attack that began the war on February 28.

Fighting has expanded beyond the primary front lines. In Yemen, Iran-allied Houthis struck Riyadh on Saturday, following recent attacks on Dammam's international airport and the Shaybah oilfield. Saudi forces responded by bombing Houthi-held areas in Marib and Taiz. In southern Lebanon, Israeli air strikes hit the area around Nabatieh, while artillery fell near Zawtar ash-Sharqiyah.

In the West Bank, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a lockdown after two soldiers were killed in Hebron. The lockdown is in effect ahead of a general election scheduled for October 27. Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts have stalled. Senior diplomats from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Egypt met with counterparts from the UK, France, Germany, and Italy in Istanbul on Friday. Neither the US nor Iran attended the talks.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned that 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." The four regional ministers present stated that Israeli occupation was the main source of instability and demanded unrestricted passage through the Strait of Hormuz. They backed the memorandum of understanding signed in Islamabad in June.

Iranian media affiliated with the Supreme National Security Council criticized the Istanbul meeting, arguing there is a gap between diplomatic claims and field realities. Analyst Reza Nasri wrote on X that Iran "will no longer negotiate under bombardment." US intelligence, cited by Axios, reported that Iran has substantially increased efforts to strike American officials in the Middle East and elsewhere.

Washington has reportedly ordered many diplomatic staff to leave Saudi Arabia, with others expected to depart other regional countries. The IRGC has threatened to target seabed internet and communication cables if civilian infrastructure is hit again. Iranian state analysts claim Tehran has activated a "dead hand" doctrine that would allow attacks to continue from all 31 provinces if senior leaders are assassinated.

The war has now lasted eight months. The conflict began with a surprise attack on February 28 and has unsettled the entire region. Shipping lanes remain under threat, and the prospect of renewed aerial bombardment continues to drive up the cost of crude oil for global markets.