Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

Iranian officials warned on Sunday that any renewed war with the United States could last longer than the previous round of fighting, which began on 28 Feb with US-Israeli strikes on Iran. Army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia said Washington would not be able to dictate the timing or conditions of an end, according to Iranian state television. President Donald Trump said the US still had to deal with one or two sites in Iran and could do so within ten minutes. Gulf states are preparing for a possible new escalation, with politicians and experts discussing the risk at the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy says four oil tankers caught fire after striking mines in the Strait of Hormuz, with a fourth tanker hit later on Friday, 30 Oct. The Guards say the ships used unauthorized routes and ignored warnings; one tanker carried more than 2 million barrels of crude. UK Maritime Trade Operations separately reported a tanker struck by a projectile about 40 nautical miles south of Lavan Island, with its crew safe. Reuters could not verify Iran's statements, and the US military did not immediately confirm them.

Vice President JD Vance sent a letter to Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, to revive peace talks, according to the Wall Street Journal. Trump confirmed the outreach but described it as centred on delivering medical supplies, and denied directing it toward peace negotiations. The exchange has focused on a possible framework for talks rather than peace-proposal specifics. Rezaei has said Iran will not negotiate unless its key demands are met first. The US has not struck Iran since early September, but US officials have told Middle East countries to prepare for possible renewed action after the 3 Nov midterm elections. The war began in late February and is in its eighth month.