Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran
Tehran, Nov 2: Tensions in the Middle East escalated further after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said two crude oil tankers caught fire after striking mines in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, while US President Donald Trump renewed his warning to Tehran to reach an agreement to end the ongoing conflict.
The IRGC's statement came amid heightened concerns over maritime security in the Gulf, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining a major flashpoint in the confrontation between Iran and the United States. The waterway is a crucial international shipping route for crude oil and other energy supplies.
Trump said the war with Iran would end “very soon, one way or the other”, warning that Tehran would either agree to a deal or face further action. In remarks shared on social media, he indicated that Washington was prepared to bring the conflict to an end, although he did not provide details of any proposed agreement.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, meanwhile, said diplomatic consultations with mediators were continuing in an effort to prevent a return to full-scale war. He expressed hope that Washington would choose diplomacy, adding that Iran was prepared for both negotiations and defence depending on the response from the US.
Iranian negotiators are reportedly in Qatar discussing a proposal that could lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz within two days, subject to the fulfilment of certain US conditions. Araghchi clarified that there were no direct negotiations between Tehran and Washington, with discussions taking place through intermediaries.
The latest developments came after Qatar's liquefied natural gas shipping company Nakilat confirmed that one of its vessels, Al Mayeda, was struck by unidentified objects in the Persian Gulf on Friday night. The vessel sustained damage but remained operational, and no crew members were injured. The company also reported no environmental impact.
Qatar condemned the incident and said an investigation was under way. The attack has added to concerns among Gulf nations over the safety of commercial shipping and the potential consequences of further escalation in the region.
Meanwhile, Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip killed eight Palestinians, including a four-year-old boy, according to local hospital authorities. Five people were killed in an attack in Khan Younis, while another strike in Gaza City killed three people, including the child, and seriously injured a woman.
The Israeli military said it had targeted militants in Khan Younis and a Hamas militant in northern Gaza. Although the October 2025 ceasefire largely halted major fighting, Israeli strikes have continued. Gaza's Health Ministry says more than 1,570 Palestinians have been killed since the truce came into effect, taking the overall death toll in the war to more than 74,500.
In Yemen, Iran-backed Houthi rebels accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out airstrikes on the medical school of the University of Hodeida. The Houthi-run Al-Masirah television channel reported two strikes, but there was no immediate information about casualties. The Saudi-led coalition confirmed conducting what it described as a precision operation.
The United Nations has also called for an investigation into the death of a staff member from its human rights office who died while in Houthi custody. The employee, Mohammad el Shami, had reportedly been detained since June 2024. UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the organisation had repeatedly sought information about his well-being but had not received proof of life.
The developments underline the growing regional impact of the conflict, with diplomatic efforts continuing alongside military tensions, attacks on shipping and renewed violence in Gaza and Yemen.