Day 214 | Iran says Trump must choose between war or diplomacy

This live thread has ended. Follow our online coverage of day 215 of the war.

Read more: Day 215 | Trump rejects claims of offering Iran sanctions relief

Turkish authorities have issued an enforcement order to seize an Iranian airline aircraft at Istanbul Airport over an outstanding debt owed to a Turkish company.

The debt amounts to $3.4 million and is reportedly linked to airport services provided to the Iranian airline.

The aircraft remains at Istanbul Airport as authorities take legal action over the unpaid amount.

US President Donald Trump said Iran is doing “very poorly” in its ongoing war with the United States, adding that he does not know whether Tehran is prepared to “give up yet.”

Speaking to reporters outside the White House after meeting with AI executives, Trump also repeated his claim that the US Navy has facilitated the passage of more ships through the Strait of Hormuz in recent days than “at any point in history.”

He said the US had enabled the passage of vessels through the strategic waterway even before the war began, when Washington was seeking to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.

Trump has previously said Iran is under severe pressure and rejected an Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, describing Tehran as “losing badly.”

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has directly appealed to Americans to challenge President Donald Trump’s government, urging them to “wake up” and “wrest control back from corrupt politicians.”

In an open letter released Tuesday, the IRGC said the US political system is “at its weakest,” addressing the American public as the US-‘Israel’ war against Iran entered its seventh month.

The letter accused the Trump administration of misleading Americans over the war, Iran’s nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz.

The IRGC claimed Iran had emerged as the victor, arguing that US and ‘Israeli’ attacks failed to achieve their stated objectives.

The letter also sought to distinguish between the US government and the American public, saying Iran and the United States were both “victims” of what it called “corrupt politicians” in the White House.

It further claimed that Iran’s “Death to America” slogan is directed at the US political establishment rather than the American people.

IRGC spokesperson Hossein Mohebbi echoed the message at a press briefing, accusing Trump of telling Americans “big lies” about the conflict.

Mohebbi said many Americans were unaware of what he described as the consequences of the Trump administration’s policies and called on them to pressure the government.

The letter comes five weeks before the US midterm elections and as Washington and Tehran continue diplomatic contacts through mediators.

The IRGC also rejected US claims that Iran has lost leverage over the Strait of Hormuz, while data from Kpler cited by Al Jazeera showed oil flows through the waterway had recovered to about 13.2 million barrels per day over the previous week, around 77 percent of pre-war levels.

Yemen’s armed forces spokesman Majid al-Nuzaili said government forces carried out eight strikes targeting Houthi positions in the al-Wazi’yah district of Taiz governorate.

Al-Nuzaili said the strikes targeted Houthi vehicles, military equipment and personnel.

Yemen’s Armed Forces have urged civilians to stay away from sites used by the Houthis for military activities, warning of potential risks to their safety.

Army spokesperson Brigadier-General Majed al-Nazili said Yemeni forces are monitoring and tracking Houthi military movements and activities across several fronts.

In a statement published by the army’s media center, the forces said locations used by the Houthis for military purposes are considered legitimate targets.

The statement added that any military action against such sites would be carried out in accordance with international humanitarian law.

Iran’s Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Mohsen Rezaei said Tehran has communicated its conditions to the United States, while claiming US President Donald Trump is unable to make a decision.

Rezaei said Trump is “stuck in a quagmire,” arguing that Washington is neither able to negotiate nor wage war.

He also claimed the United States turned to an air blockade because of what he described as its inability to achieve its objectives through military action.

Rezaei said Iran is prepared to help establish peace in the Caucasus region.

He also said the United States has no future in the region, adding that Iran will continue to oppose Washington.

• Brigadier General Akrami-Nia confirmed that Iran's security doctrine has transitioned from defense to an active offensive posture.
• Previous strikes against separatist groups in Iraqi Kurdistan were cited as practical examples of Iran's strategy to neutralize threats before they reach its borders.

Iranian armed forces will engage in preemptive warfare and execute targeted operations if military command determines an enemy attack is being planned, senior military spokesperson Brigadier General Akrami-Nia stated, according to Iran's Fars News Agency.

Akrami-Nia stated that Tehran will not wait to absorb a strike, declaring that any intelligence indicating an imminent threat will trigger immediate offensive action to eliminate the danger before it materializes.

The warning underscores a shift in Iran's military doctrine from a traditional defense posture to an offensive strategy. Akrami-Nia noted that this approach was actively pursued under the late Lieutenant General Seyyed Abdolrahim Mousavi and has already been put into practice through strikes on counter-revolutionary and separatist positions in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Characterizing those regional strikes as a proven model of preemptive warfare, Akrami-Nia stated that neutralizing enemy capabilities before they can cross Iran's borders has successfully deterred attacks to date.

Ebrahim Azizi, chairman of the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, stated on Tuesday that the United States will inevitably withdraw from the Middle East and that the “Zionist regime’s days are numbered.”

In a post on X, Azizi wrote: “The U.S. will inevitably leave this region, and the Zionist regime’s days are numbered. Ultimately, it is we and our neighbors who remain here, face to face. That day will be a day of regret.”

He posted similar messages in Persian and Arabic.

The U.S. will inevitably leave this region, and the Zionist regime’s days are numbered.
Ultimately, it is we and our neighbors who remain here, face to face.
That day will be a day of regret.

— ابراهیم عزیزی (@Ebrahimazizi33) September 29, 2026

US Vice President JD Vance said Iran’s political system is “very confused,” arguing that multiple factions are involved in decision-making.

Speaking to journalist Vince Coglianese, Vance said it would be difficult to identify who is ultimately in charge because Iran has “a number of different constituencies,” including hardliners, conservatives, moderates and clerics.

“I could give you an answer. It would be at best a guess,” Vance said.

He also referred to Iran’s new Supreme Leader, saying he is “very detached” and “not involved day-to-day” in the negotiations with the United States.

The United States has granted Iraqi airlines a conditional sanctions waiver allowing them to operate flights between the Iraqi city of Najaf and Iran, according to an Iraqi government official and an airport source cited by AFP.

“Iraqi airlines have obtained a conditional exemption to operate flights between Najaf and Iran,” the Iraqi official said.

An airport source said authorities were informed of the exemption but that no flight schedule had yet been set.

The Iraqi government had sought the exemption after US sanctions targeting Iran’s aviation sector took effect. Iraq had joined countries including the United Arab Emirates in enforcing the restrictions.

Flights between Najaf and Iran serve Shia pilgrims traveling to holy sites, as well as Iraqi students studying in Iran and patients seeking medical treatment there.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said the new restrictions are intended to economically isolate Iran, including by targeting its airlines and banks.

Turkish enforcement officers seized an Iranian passenger jet at Istanbul Airport on Monday, September 28, 2026, just as it prepared to depart for Iran with passengers already onboard.

The aircraft, a Boeing 737-500 registered EP-KPB and operated by Tehran-based Caspian Airlines, was grounded under a court order enforcing a debt claim of approximately €3 million (about $3.4–3.5 million).

Lawyers representing the creditor, Turkish aviation representation and supervision firm ACM Temsil Gözetim, and court-appointed bailiffs arrived at the plane after it had completed boarding and pre-departure preparations.

Officers ordered passengers and cabin crew to disembark and return to the terminal.

The aircraft remained at the airport under the seizure order and was prevented from taking off.

Majid Akhavan, spokesman for Iran’s Civil Aviation Organisation, confirmed that a Turkish court ordered the seizure on Monday and that passengers were required to leave the aircraft.

He stated that the debt relates to airport services. The creditor is ACM Temsil Gozetim, an aviation services company.

Caspian Airlines described the incident as “an administrative matter in Turkey” that has temporarily restricted the operation of one of its Boeing aircraft.

The carrier said legal and administrative steps to resolve the issue are underway and that it has arranged alternative measures to keep its flights running.

Caspian, founded in 1993 and headquartered in Tehran, operates domestic and limited international routes, including services to Türkiye.

The seizure occurs against the backdrop of intensified US sanctions on Iran’s aviation sector.

On September 8, the US Treasury Department designated 27 Iranian airlines—covering remaining carriers not previously sanctioned—under its “Operation Economic Outcast” campaign.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that from September 23, airports and companies providing fuel, landing services, or tickets to Iranian aircraft risk secondary sanctions that could cut them off from the US financial system.

Many regional countries, including Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iraq, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates, have revoked flight permissions for Iranian carriers.

Türkiye has not formally barred them, allowing limited operations by carriers such as Caspian to continue.

Iranian travelers have increasingly turned to overland routes through Türkiye and Armenia amid the disruption.

Tehran has lodged formal complaints with the United Nations, the International Civil Aviation Organization, and the International Court of Justice over the broader sanctions pressure.

As of Tuesday, the aircraft remained grounded in Istanbul pending resolution of the debt claim.

The legal process between Caspian Airlines and ACM Temsil Gözetim continues, with the airline working to maintain its schedule through alternative arrangements. 

• A vessel was struck by an unknown projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Monday evening.
• The impact sparked a fire that was later extinguished, with all crew reported safe.
• The vessel continued its journey, with no environmental impact reported and damage yet to be assessed.

A vessel was struck by an unknown projectile while crossing the Strait of Hormuz on Monday evening, causing a fire on board, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said on Tuesday.

The fire was subsequently extinguished and the vessel continued its journey, UKMTO said.

“All crew are reported as safe,” the agency said, adding that there had been no reported environmental impact and that a damage assessment had not yet been provided.

Authorities were investigating the incident, while UKMTO advised vessels operating in the area to exercise caution and report suspicious activity.

The incident is the latest in a series of maritime security incidents involving commercial vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global energy supplies.

The strait has remained at the centre of the conflict between Iran and the United States, with heightened security risks affecting shipping traffic through the waterway.

Read more: Iran seizes US submarine in Strait of Hormuz, Iranian media says

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday said there were "indications" that ‘Israel's’ enemies could try to attack ahead of elections scheduled for the end of October, sparking opposition concern.

The warning came shortly before Defence Minister Israel Katz threatened to target Hamas leaders based outside the Gaza Strip.

In recent weeks, Netanyahu and Katz have issued repeated warnings to Iran, Lebanese armed group Hezbollah and even the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority, promising retaliation in case of an attack.

"We have indications that ahead of the elections our enemies will try to attack us. So... I am sending you a message: Don't mess with us, not now and not ever. Our long arm will reach you anywhere, anytime," Netanyahu said at an air force base in a video published by his office.

• A Qatari intermediary met Iranian officials on Tuesday and presented proposals aimed at addressing Iran's conditions.
• The ideas will also be discussed with US officials, with Tehran expecting a response by Wednesday morning.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Tuesday that a seven-point plan had been conveyed to the United States through a Qatari intermediary, according to Iranian media.

Araghchi said the Qatari intermediary had met with Iranian officials again on Tuesday and presented ideas aimed at creating a path toward meeting Iran's conditions.

The proposals would also be discussed with the US side, after which Washington's response would be conveyed to Tehran, Araghchi said.

"I hope this takes place by tomorrow morning," he said, according to Iranian media.

Read more: Iran expects US answer Tuesday on plan to reopen Hormuz, Araghchi says

• The ministry says Doha continues to play its role as a mediator to build common ground between Washington and Tehran.
• Iran's foreign ministry confirmed last week that another round of message exchanges took place through Qatari mediators on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
• Mediators have been shuttling between capitals and exchanging proposals to restart negotiations.

Meetings are ongoing to convey messages between the United States and Iran, Qatar's foreign ministry said on Tuesday, as Doha continues to act as a mediator seeking common ground between the two countries.

Foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said last week that mediators are shuttling between capitals and exchanging proposals in an effort to restart negotiations between the US and Iran, with teams working around the clock to bridge remaining gaps.

Tehran has confirmed the channel. Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Iran held indirect talks with the United States through Qatari mediation on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, exchanging messages and confirming each other's stances. President Donald Trump had said that his son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff discussed pending issues with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi for three hours.

The substance of the exchanges remains contested. Iran said it clarified its conditions for reviving diplomacy, including an end to the US naval blockade and the war on all fronts, the release of frozen assets, and an agreed safe shipping route.

Read more: Iran expects US answer Tuesday on plan to reopen Hormuz, Araghchi says

Russia does not want Iran to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and is counting on Tehran remaining a party to the agreement, the Kremlin said on Tuesday.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded to recent comments from Iranian officials about a possible exit from the treaty, which requires signatories not to develop or acquire nuclear weapons.

“This statement requires further clarification. We would not want Iran to withdraw from the NPT,” Peskov said.

He added that Moscow considers the NPT “the cornerstone of the non-proliferation regime and hope[s] that Iran will remain an important and responsible party to this treaty.”

The remarks came after Iranian First Deputy Parliament Speaker Ali Nikzad indicated that lawmakers are considering a “triple-urgency” bill on withdrawal.

Nikzad said the draft is under review, including its international implications, and could be brought to a plenary session for same-day consideration once registered.

He stressed that Iranian parliamentarians no longer trust the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) or its Director-General Rafael Grossi.

Nikzad accused Grossi of acting in bad faith: “He is one of those people who comes, conducts inspections, praises us, and then leaves and prepares negative reports against us.”

He argued that Iran’s earlier suspension of cooperation with the agency had been in the country’s interest, asking whether Tehran could realistically expect help from the IAEA on nuclear energy matters.

The Iranian comments reflect growing frustration in Tehran amid prolonged disputes with the IAEA and Western pressure over the country’s nuclear program.

Reports also noted that more than 30 former Iranian officials had issued an open letter calling for withdrawal, arguing that continued membership no longer served national interests and urging relevant bodies to begin legal steps promptly.

Russia and Iran maintain close relations under a strategic cooperation treaty.

Moscow has long supported Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear energy under the NPT while opposing any military dimension to the program, and it has repeatedly described the treaty as central to global non-proliferation efforts.

"Just as we defeated them, we will emerge victorious going forward as well, and the US will have no choice but to acknowledge its defeat and withdraw from the region. Our war will conclude with this outcome," says Hossein Mohebi, a spokesman for Iran's Revolutionary Guards, in remarks aired by state TV.

• Tehran reiterates sovereignty over Abu Musa, Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb is "non-negotiable".
• Dispute dates back to 1971, when Iranian forces took the islands as Britain withdrew from the region.
• UAE says the islands were seized unlawfully and has called for negotiations or a resolution via the ICJ.

Iran on Tuesday rejected claims made by the United Arab Emirates at the United Nations General Assembly over three islands in the Gulf, with a senior Iranian diplomat saying Abu Dhabi's repeated assertions do not change the "reality" of Tehran's sovereignty over the territory.

Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran's deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, said on social media platform X that Abu Musa, Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb remain "inseparable parts of Iran's territory," despite claims raised from the UN rostrum.

"Emirati officials should, instead of repeating unfounded claims, adhere to the requirements of good neighbourliness and the historical and legal realities of the region," Gharibabadi wrote.

The three islands, which sit near the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for global oil shipments, have been under Iranian control since 1971, when Iranian forces took the islands shortly before Britain's withdrawal from the region and the UAE's formal establishment as a federation.

تکرار ادعاهای بی‌اساس درباره جزایر ایرانی، حتی از تریبون مجمع عمومی، واقعیت را تغییر نمیدهد.

ابوموسی، تنب بزرگ و تنب کوچک، بخش جدایی‌ناپذیر از قلمرو ایران‌اند.

مقامات اماراتی باید به جای تکرار ادعاهای واهی، به الزامات حسن همجواری و واقعیت های تاریخی و حقوقی منطقه پایبند باشند.

— Gharibabadi (@Gharibabadi) September 29, 2026

The UAE has long disputed Iran's hold over the territory, arguing the islands were seized unlawfully, and has repeatedly called for direct negotiations or a resolution through the International Court of Justice. 

Tehran has consistently declined both options, maintaining the islands are an integral part of Iranian territory not subject to international arbitration.

The exchange is the latest in a decades-long standoff between the two Gulf neighbors that has periodically flared at UN forums and regional summits without resolution.

Read more: Iran asserts full control over Strait of Hormuz as Trump rejects truce deal