US Navy Banned From Gulf as Oil Tops $117

American drivers and importers face higher fuel costs after Brent crude reached approximately $117 per barrel on Saturday. This price point marks the highest level for the benchmark since April. The spike follows renewed threats from Tehran and ongoing attacks on shipping lanes in the Persian Gulf.

Ali Abdollahi, the chief of general staff for Iran's armed forces, issued a directive via state media on Saturday morning. He stated that US Navy vessels are prohibited from re-entering Iranian territorial waters or their immediate surroundings. Abdollahi argued that Washington retains the ability to target any vessel in the region. He described the idea of US military personnel returning to the Gulf as a fantasy for the American president.

President Donald Trump addressed the uncertainty surrounding the next phase of the conflict at a rally in Florida on Friday. He indicated that the US military might execute another 'Epic Fury,' a term referencing the large-scale bombing campaign that initiated the war. Trump suggested Washington has not yet decided between ending the fighting with massive strikes or maintaining pressure through naval blockades and sanctions.

Abdollahi criticized American rhetoric for being contradictory. He pointed to the US refusal to move aircraft carriers closer to Iranian territory as evidence that Iran's military capabilities remain intact. The Iranian chief of staff said forces intend to trap the US and Israel in a quagmire. This response aims to counter the surprise attack launched on February 28, which started an eight-month war.

Shipping disruptions continue to drive market volatility. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported that seven tankers were attacked or hit mines between Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday, the IRGC claimed two supertankers struck mines. The group stated its doctrine has shifted toward more offensive operations. These attacks keep the Strait of Hormuz under constant threat.

Washington has begun reducing its diplomatic footprint in the region. Reports indicate that many diplomatic staff have been ordered to leave Saudi Arabia. Additional personnel are expected to depart from other countries in the area. This movement aligns with increased efforts by Iran to strike American officials, according to US intelligence cited by Axios.

Conflict on other fronts intensified over the weekend. The Houthis in Yemen struck Riyadh on Saturday. This follows recent attacks on Dammam's international airport and the Shaybah oilfield. Saudi forces responded by bombing Houthi-held areas, including Marib and Taiz. In southern Lebanon, Israeli air strikes hit areas near Nabatieh, and artillery fell near Zawtar ash-Sharqiyah.

In the West Bank, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a lockdown following a Palestinian attack that killed two soldiers in Hebron. Netanyahu faces an election on October 27. Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts in Istanbul failed to produce a breakthrough. Ministers from Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Egypt met with counterparts from the UK, France, Germany, and Italy without the presence of the US or Iran.

Turkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned that a new attack on Iran would spread the conflict across the region. He stated that no one is currently endorsing such a move. The four regional ministers cited Israeli occupation as the primary source of instability. They demanded unrestricted passage through the Strait of Hormuz and reaffirmed support for the June memorandum signed in Islamabad.

Iranian analysts claim Tehran has activated a dead hand doctrine. This strategy would allow attacks on US and Israeli interests to continue from all 31 provinces even if senior leaders are assassinated. The IRGC has also threatened seabed internet cables if civilian infrastructure is targeted again. Reformist newspaper Etemad suggested the zero hour for another intense round of fighting is approaching.