Day 199 | New explosions rock Iran's Sirik after midnight

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Read more: Day 200 | Saudi Arabia postpones Hormuz summit with Iran

US Central Command (CENTCOM) denied claims by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps that the Panama-flagged oil tanker Alghaya struck a naval mine in the Strait of Hormuz.

CENTCOM said the tanker was initially hit by an Iranian missile last month, leaving it out of service. It was later targeted by an Iranian drone over the weekend while anchored in waters off Oman.

The command said a regional partner is currently towing the tanker.

CENTCOM described the IRGC’s claim as false, calling it another example of what it characterized as “lies and intimidation.”

It added that the statements and actions came as the IRGC seeks to disrupt commercial shipping and threaten the safety of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said US sanctions are aimed at causing social collapse in Iran, accusing some Iranians living abroad of aligning with Tehran’s enemies and encouraging divisions inside the country.

“The US aims to cause social collapse through the problems and restrictions they have imposed,” Pezeshkian said during an event at the Labour Ministry in Tehran.

He also accused some Iranians abroad of seeking to “incite the public within the country” by aligning themselves with what he called the enemy, according to remarks published on the presidency’s website.

The US Treasury Department announced “Operation Economic Outcast” on August 24, saying the campaign was intended to cut off Tehran’s revenue from foreign trade.

The measures, alongside a US naval blockade and tighter sanctions, have put further pressure on Iran’s oil exports, access to foreign currency and wider economy.

US President Donald Trump said Iran is eager to reach an agreement as soon as possible, while indicating that Washington remains open to negotiations.

Trump said the United States would decide whether to engage in talks, describing negotiations as an option his administration remains open to.

Iranian state television reported that Molavi Yousef Karkij, a Sunni cleric, was killed by unidentified gunmen in Zahedan, the capital of Sistan and Baluchestan province.

Bahrain said commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz must be allowed to pass without fees or permits, as it outlined conditions for any future arrangement governing navigation through the strategic waterway.

In a statement, the Bahraini government said any proposal concerning navigation in the strait must be based on the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and endorsed by the International Maritime Organization.

It also said all Gulf Cooperation Council states must participate in any such arrangement.

Bahrain also condemned Houthi attacks targeting Saudi Arabia.

Manama had said it would not participate in an Iran-planned meeting on control of the Strait of Hormuz, which was scheduled for Monday in Oman but was later canceled.

Bahrain has been among the Gulf states most affected by Iranian attacks since the US and ‘Israel’ launched their war on Iran in February.

Iranian news agency, Tasnim, shared a cryptic message announcing what it describes as an upcoming "major exercise," accompanied by an AI-animated video showing thousands of people gathering across Tehran.

The 48-second video depicts Lego-style figures representing doctors, engineers, students, soldiers and families marching through the streets before gathering at Tehran’s Azadi Square.

The accompanying message refers to a "313,000-strong exercise of Iran's devoted guardians", with the call reportedly linked to mobilization efforts involving the Basij, Iran’s volunteer paramilitary organization.

The video does not provide a specific date for the event but appears to encourage public participation through neighborhood centers, mosques and community gatherings.

The reference to 313 also carries religious significance in Shia Islam, traditionally referring to the number of companions expected to accompany the promised Mahdi.

Austria said a lack of consensus at the UN Security Council led to its decision to bar Iran’s nuclear chief, Mohammed Eslami, from attending the annual meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna.

The Austrian Foreign Ministry said it had sought an exemption from an existing UN travel ban on Eslami through the relevant UN Security Council committee.

Austria was later informed by the council president that the request had been rejected due to a lack of consensus, leaving Vienna unable to permit Eslami’s entry because of its international obligations.

“Austria wants to make negotiations in Vienna possible,” the ministry said, adding that it was acting “on the basis of international law and our international obligations.”

A brief exchange between the foreign ministers of China, Russia and Iran has gone viral online after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi appeared to closely examine a map of Iran displayed on his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi’s clothing.

The footage shows Araghchi standing alongside Wang Yi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in New Delhi. At one point, Wang appears to lift or hold Araghchi’s jacket collar as he looks closely at the emblem near his lapel.

The lighthearted moment has attracted widespread attention on social media, with users focusing on Wang’s apparent curiosity about the detail on Araghchi’s jacket.

The meeting took place during the 18th BRICS Summit, which was held in New Delhi on September 12–13. Iran, China and Russia are all members of the expanded BRICS bloc.

Oman has postponed a regional meeting that was scheduled to take place in Salalah on Monday, with the foreign minister saying the decision was made to preserve consensus.

The minister reaffirmed Oman’s commitment to dialogue aimed at supporting regional stability and long-term cooperation.

In Bahrain, the Cabinet said any arrangement concerning navigation through the Strait of Hormuz must be based on the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and adopted by the International Maritime Organization.

The Cabinet stressed that such an arrangement must safeguard the right of innocent passage for all vessels without discrimination, fees or permits, while involving all Gulf Cooperation Council states.

• Grossi assured Tehran that its national security and facility safety concerns will be taken into account as verification activities resume.
• IAEA acknowledged the severe operational challenges posed by ongoing Middle East conflicts on nuclear safeguards.

International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi has extended a renewed invitation to Iran to resume direct cooperation, aiming to resolve critical outstanding questions surrounding Tehran’s nuclear activities amid heightened regional tensions. This came during the 7th General Conference Plenary of IAEA.

"We extend our hand to Iran once again to work with us to clarify issues related to its nuclear program. I say to Iran that we will take its security concerns into account when we resume our work there," Grossi stated.

Addressing the broader geopolitical backdrop affecting the agency's monitoring missions, Grossi added: "We recognize the difficulty of the situation due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East region."

The diplomatic overture follows a prolonged disruption in agency oversight. The IAEA formally reported losing "continuity of knowledge" regarding Iran's enriched uranium stockpiles, including Material Enriched up to 60% U-235, after losing in-field verification access at declared facilities following military strikes in mid-2025.

While regional hostilities continue to complicate international diplomacy, the IAEA maintains that full compliance with the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Safeguards Agreement remains the only viable path to resolving global proliferation concerns and restoring international confidence in Iran's nuclear program.

• The Iranian foreign ministry asserted that Iran does not interfere in Yemeni affairs. 

Iran's foreign ministry on Monday denied the country had any involvement in the Yemen war.

This follows the Houthi movement's seizure of territory across the Red Sea coast.

"Iran does not interfere in Yemeni affairs," ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told reporters, saying the Houthis are "entirely independent actors who make their decisions based on their own interests".

• The individuals were accused of collaborating with "hostile" countries. 

Iranian judicial authorities have ordered the confiscation of properties and financial assets belonging to 240 individuals accused of collaborating with 'Israel' and hostile Western states, state broadcaster IRIB reported.

According to the Iranian Judiciary, the targeted individuals executed propaganda campaigns and practical sabotage operations targeting national security, resulting in "extensive damage" to vital public infrastructure.

The asset seizures were executed pursuant to Iran's updated anti-espionage legislation, which significantly increased penalties for intelligence operations and subversive activities linked to foreign adversaries.

This is a developing story. 

Read more: Iran's Pezeshkian says Iran, UAE agreed to move past tensions

• This comes following the postponement of Strait of Hormuz talks.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Monday morning that its air defense units intercepted and shot down an advanced US MQ-1 reconnaissance drone while it was operating over the strategic Strait of Hormuz waterway.

According to an official statement issued by the IRGC Public Relations Department, aerospace defense units operating within Iran’s integrated air defense network detected and tracked the unmanned aircraft immediately upon violating the airspace surrounding the maritime corridor.

The drone was targeted and destroyed using a newly deployed, domestically developed advanced air defense system.

Read more: Oman postpones Iran-Gulf meeting on Strait of Hormuz

• US President Trump minimized reports that Chinese entities gave Iran satellite imagery preceding a July missile strike that killed three US soldiers.
• Trump compared Chinese intelligence-gathering to US spying, stating, "They basically do what we do."
• The disclosure precedes a scheduled September 24 White House summit between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

US President Donald Trump has played down reports indicating that Chinese entities supplied Tehran with high-resolution satellite imagery of a military base in the Middle East prior to a deadly Iranian missile strike.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One a day after The Wall Street Journal detailed Beijing’s alleged intelligence sharing, Trump dismissed the security implications by comparing Chinese surveillance practices to those of the United States.

"You know, when they say that China spies on us, I say you’re right, and we spy on them too," Trump said. "That’s what we do. They basically do what we do."

The intelligence controversy threatens to exacerbate tensions between Washington and Beijing just ahead of an expected September 24 state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to the White House.

Beijing demands proof 

The underlying strike occurred on July 17, when Iran launched missile salvos targeting military bases housing US forces across the Middle East, resulting in the deaths of three US Army soldiers.

According to the reporting, unnamed American officials cited in the investigation did not publicly identify the specific Chinese entities involved, nor did they suggest that the Chinese government directly authorized or carried out the intelligence transfer.

When pressed by US diplomats, Chinese officials requested formal proof of the imagery transfer and declined to acknowledge any involvement by Chinese firms.

China remains a critical economic partner for Iran—purchasing a major share of its crude oil output—as well as a key diplomatic backer.

To curb military support, the Trump administration previously warned Beijing against selling weapons to Tehran and imposed sanctions in May against three China-based satellite companies for enabling Iranian military operations.

Despite the revelations, Trump struck a diplomatic tone regarding President Xi, remarking that "he’s behaved reasonably well, and we behave reasonably well."

When asked aboard Air Force One whether he would ever permit Chinese vehicles to enter the domestic market, Trump highlighted his trade restrictions, stating: "I haven’t. I’m the one that kept them out. The tariffs kept them out."

• Austria blocked Iranian nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami from attending the IAEA conference in Vienna following US pressure.
• US Energy Secretary Chris Wright will address the summit, reiterating that Iran must never obtain nuclear weapons.
• The denial follows IAEA reports of activity at Iran's Pickaxe Mountain site, drawing fresh warnings from US President Trump.

The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran has been blocked from attending and addressing the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) general conference in Vienna after Austria denied him an entry waiver following pressure from the Trump administration.

Mohammad Eslami, who also serves as Iran's vice president for nuclear affairs, had been slated to address the UN nuclear watchdog's opening session on Monday. Reports from Iran's Mehr News Agency indicated that Eslami had already departed Tehran on Saturday to attend the gathering.

The denial of a UN-requested sanctions waiver for Eslami followed direct urging from the US government, according to a US official speaking on condition of anonymity. While a lower-level Iranian delegate may speak later in the week, the decision prevents Tehran’s senior nuclear official from taking the stage at the start of the conference.

Eslami's early speaking slot could have been seen as lending credibility to Iran, seven months into a US and 'Israeli' war on the Islamic Republic that President Donald Trump maintains is essential to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons capability.

Pickaxe Mountain activity

With Eslami barred from attending, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright is set to use the forum to reiterate Washington's firm stance regarding Iran's nuclear program.

According to advance speech excerpts, Wright is prepared to tell delegates that the US remains unequivocal: "Iran must never develop or obtain a nuclear weapon". He is also expected to state:

"Iran must fully cooperate with the IAEA, meet its safeguards obligations, and provide the access necessary for the agency to do its job."

The US warning follows recent IAEA observations of renewed construction activity at Pickaxe Mountain, a heavily fortified site in Iran suspected of housing nuclear-related operations.

President Donald Trump cited "a little activity at Pickaxe" last Wednesday, publicly warning Iran "not to get cute, because we will have to hit them very hard."

Wright is also slated to call for a disciplined IAEA focused strictly on its core technical mandate, verifying safeguards, and advancing peaceful nuclear energy.

"As America leads a new era of nuclear energy at home and around the world, we will prove that rapid growth and uncompromising standards go hand in hand," Wright plans to state, pointing to American nuclear leadership and recent technology-sharing initiatives, such as the agreement finalized with Saudi Arabia in July.

Iranian state media reported that several explosions of unknown origin were heard in the coastal city of Sirik, located in the southern Hormozgan province.

For coverage of the previous day, visit the link below.

Read more: Day 198 | Trump claims Houthis requested US non-intervention