IRGC Navy Says It Acts Against Violating Vessels in Hormuz Nightly

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy says it moves against vessels it considers to be violating its rules in the Strait of Hormuz every night, according to a statement given to Iran's Fars News Agency. Ali Mohammadi, the force's political deputy, said the IRGC Navy has run operations since the first night of the war aimed at protecting Iranian national interests while exercising full control over the waterway. He added that the effort would continue.

The comments came after Fars reported late Thursday that several heavy explosions occurred at the southern crossing of the strait, which the outlet attributed to tankers it described as "violating" the area striking mines. That account cited unnamed military sources. United States Central Command said Washington and its regional partners remain in control of the waterway and that traffic is continuing to flow.

Oil markets showed modest moves, with Brent crude down 1.16% at 102.92 and WTI down 0.76% at 89.66. Gold rose 1.19% to 4,182.57. The Strait of Hormuz is a chokepoint for global crude shipments, so any disruption to shipping there is closely watched by traders.

Diplomatic activity around the conflict continued. Russian President Vladimir Putin told Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian that Moscow is ready to do everything it can to help Iran settle the situation in the Middle East, and acknowledged what he called Tehran's genuine attempts to end the regional conflict. The two met on the sidelines of a Commonwealth of Independent States summit and a Caspian Sea environmental summit in Turkmenistan to discuss economic and strategic cooperation.

In Israel, Channel 12 reported Thursday, citing a senior United States official, that IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir told American generals a massive strike on Iran could delay Israel's legislative elections, scheduled for October 27, because Tehran would likely respond forcefully and disrupt voting. The same report said striking Iran was not discussed in a conversation between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Trump also denied on Thursday that he had called for Iranian strikes on Los Angeles and San Diego. In a post on Truth Social, he rejected the accusations as fake news, saying he had only compared a short-term rise in gasoline prices with the bombing of major American cities, and that he loves both cities.