Day 217 | Trump vows to hit Iran “very hard” if linked to flydubai attack

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Read more: Day 218 | Trump claims Iran war will end "right after the election" or sooner

Saudi Arabia’s civil defense said Friday that a Houthi “projectile” hit a school in the city of Najran, resulting in material damage.

“Civil Defense in Najran city responded to the fall of a hostile projectile launched by the terrorist Houthi militia onto a school, resulting in material damage,” it said in a statement.

It did not add any further details.

#الدفاع_المدني : سقوط مقذوف معاد على مدرسة في مدينة نجران نتج عنه أضرار مادية. pic.twitter.com/A2hkSxU2Og

— الدفاع المدني السعودي (@SaudiDCD) October 2, 2026

The spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen stated on Friday that coalition forces intercepted and destroyed three ballistic missiles launched by Houthi forces toward the Saudi city of Khamis Mushait.

التحالف :

اعتراض وتدمير عدد 3 صواريخ باليستية أطلقتها الميليشيا الحوثية الإرهابية باتجاه خميس مشيط.

— المتحدث الرسمي باسم قوات التحالف (@CJFCSpox) October 2, 2026

A tanker was attacked on Friday while exiting the Strait of Hormuz, causing a fire on board that was later extinguished, allowing the vessel to continue its journey, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said.

The UKMTO said the vessel’s captain reported that the tanker was “struck by an unspecified projectile while sailing out of the strait,” causing a small fire and a loss of power on board.

“The fire was extinguished, and the vessel is continuing its voyage,” the UKMTO said.

Baghdad announced Friday that Washington had granted it a sanctions exemption allowing Iranian airlines to operate dozens of flights daily to and from Najaf International Airport, days after a similar exemption was granted to Iraqi Airways.

All Iraqi airports began complying last week with US sanctions imposed on Iran’s entire aviation sector, causing major disruptions at Najaf airport in southern Iraq, which serves as a key gateway for Shiite pilgrims visiting religious shrines.

Iranian airlines are primarily responsible for transporting visitors from the Islamic Republic, as well as Iraqis traveling to Iran, whether for religious visits, medical purposes or education.

The office of Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zeidi said in a statement Friday that an agreement had been reached "allowing Iranian airlines, excluding Mahan Air, to operate 40 flights per day to and from Najaf International Airport."

The agreement followed efforts aimed at "facilitating the movement of passengers and visitors arriving in or departing from Iraq, and supporting humanitarian, medical, tourism and educational needs," while praising "the positive response shown by the US government" to the request.

The government announcement came after Iraqi official sources confirmed Tuesday that Washington had granted Iraqi Airways an exemption to operate flights in both directions between Najaf and Iran, specifically to transport Iranian pilgrims to religious shrines.

Washington had given foreign companies assisting Iran's aviation sector until September 23 to comply with the ban, including by stopping the supply of jet fuel to Iranian aircraft.

Failure to comply exposes those companies to the risk of being blacklisted themselves, potentially cutting them off from the dollar-based financial system.

The suspension of flights forced people wishing to travel between Iran and Iraq to seek alternatives, including lengthy overland journeys, as foreign airlines suspended flights to Iran following the start of the US-‘Israeli’ war against the Islamic Republic in February.

Baghdad, which has been a theater of competition between the United States and Iran since the US invasion in 2003, has long sought to balance its relations with the two powers, both of which wield political and economic influence in Iraq.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Friday that ‘Israel’ would impose a “very heavy price” on any power behind the flydubai incident, without offering evidence that any country was responsible.

“As time passes, the picture is becoming clearer: The attacker underwent Islamist radicalisation. He came to crash the plane with all passengers on board,” Netanyahu said in a statement.

“We are investigating whether he was sent, and whoever sent him will pay a very heavy price,” Netanyahu said of the co-pilot assailant.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said a roadside bomb attack in southeastern Sistan and Baluchestan province killed one of its members.

The IRGC’s Quds Headquarters said in a statement that what it described as “enemy-hired terrorists” planted a roadside bomb along a transit route, killing one of its personnel.

The statement did not identify the victim or provide further details about the attack.

The IRGC said its forces would continue efforts to identify and pursue those responsible, vowing to act against what it called terrorist elements and “enemy mercenaries” until their “complete destruction

• France is seeking greater coordination with its European partners on diesel supplies and strategic reserves.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday called on major powers to coordinate efforts to address rising fuel prices and shortages of refined petroleum products, while opposing restrictions on exports.

The Élysée Palace said Macron emphasized the need for Group of Seven countries to work together to ensure supplies of refined products without imposing export restrictions.

Macron also plans to convene a meeting of G7 leaders to discuss measures to ease pressure on global fuel markets, including coordination on the release of strategic reserves.

The move comes as European countries face pressure from Washington to release emergency diesel reserves. EU governments discussed a French proposal on Friday to release additional diesel stocks, while also considering broader measures to increase fuel supplies.

The United States has also raised the possibility of restricting diesel exports, prompting concern among European officials about the potential impact on fuel supplies and prices.

Diesel shortage 

The push comes as global diesel markets face a supply squeeze caused largely by disruptions to refining and fuel shipments rather than a simple lack of crude oil. Refinery capacity and output have been hit in the Middle East and Russia, while disruptions to shipping have reduced the flow of refined products to international markets.

Although crude oil flows through the Middle East have recovered significantly, shipments of refined products such as diesel remain well below pre-war levels. Analysts cited by Reuters said the shortage of refining capacity and output has become a bigger constraint on the market than crude availability.

China has added to the pressure by suspending some fuel exports for October as Beijing seeks to preserve domestic stocks, further limiting supplies available to international buyers.

Read more: Act of sabotage triggers fire along gas pipeline in Syria

• Farshad Ebrahim-Pour said Iran has preserved its political independence despite decades of external pressure.
• He said the country has continued developing its scientific, technological, defence, industrial and infrastructure sectors.

Iranian lawmaker Farshad Ebrahim-Pour said on Thursday that Iran’s power was rooted in preserving its political independence and developing domestic capabilities despite decades of external pressure, state media reported.

Ebrahim-Pour, a member of parliament’s presiding board, told Mehr News Agency that the Islamic Republic had faced political, economic, security, military, cultural and media pressures for nearly five decades.

Despite those pressures, Iran had continued development in sectors including science, technology, defence, industry and infrastructure, he said.

“Despite war, sanctions and external pressure, the Iranian nation has sought to preserve its political independence and domestic capabilities,” Ebrahim-Pour said, according to Mehr.

Read more: Iran says six members of “terrorist group” killed in Zahedan operation

Iran’s foreign minister has privately signaled willingness to restore international nuclear inspectors’ access to facilities damaged in past military strikes in exchange for sanctions relief, according to a Bloomberg report citing diplomats, though Tehran has denied aspects of the account.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi raised the idea during meetings with European and Middle Eastern diplomats at the United Nations in New York while attending the General Assembly, which concluded earlier this week, people familiar with the discussions told Bloomberg.

The diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity.

The suggestion concerns sites bombed in US and ‘Israeli’ strikes, including facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, where the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has sought renewed access to verify nuclear material and activities.

The reported offer comes amid stalled peace talks between Iran and the United States.

Diplomats viewed the suggestion as a potential concession that could help break the deadlock.

Araghchi also pressed European counterparts to reverse a U.N. decision that reimposed broad sanctions on Iran through the “snapback” mechanism set in motion last September, but European officials refused, according to the report.

Iran’s severe economic pressures appear to underscore the outreach.

Inflation is nearly 90 percent year over year, and the rial has weakened about 30 percent against the dollar as sanctions take effect, Bloomberg reported.

A US naval blockade outside the Strait of Hormuz has further restricted oil exports.

Araghchi gave little public detail on the economy’s state during the talks, yet the linkage of inspectors’ access to sanctions relief was seen by diplomats as a sign of the country’s economic pain.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had separately indicated openness to inspections.

In a CBS “Face the Nation” interview last week, he responded “That is absolutely correct” when asked whether Iran would allow U.N. weapons inspectors in.

He added that if inspectors wished to come, “we can reach accords and agreements vis-à-vis that specific topic within the negotiations,” while reiterating that developing nuclear weapons is “haram” under Islamic principles.

The Bloomberg account noted that Araghchi had not previously been known to raise the specific private proposal during his New York stay.

Tehran quickly disputed the Bloomberg reporting.

An Iranian source told the Fars News Agency: “The Bloomberg claim regarding Iran’s proposal to the American side concerning the entry of IAEA inspectors is false.”

The denial focused on any direct proposal to Washington, while the original report described discussions with European and Middle Eastern diplomats.

Diplomatic efforts between Iran and the United States remain stalled over the nuclear program, sanctions and related issues.

Access to the damaged sites has been a persistent point of contention.

The IAEA has repeatedly sought renewed entry after losing the ability to fully verify Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile and activities following the strikes.

Iranian officials have previously conditioned cooperation on new frameworks or broader agreements, citing security concerns at the bombed facilities and the changed circumstances after the attacks.

Tayyebeh Mahroozadeh, mother-in-law of Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, has claimed on Thursday she saw him in “complete health” on the night of his father’s burial at the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad.

In a video interview published by Akhbar Mashhad, Mahroozadeh stated: “I saw him that very night; thank God he was in complete health and soundness.”

Iranian outlets including Asriran carried the remarks, reporting her as saying she saw Mojtaba present at the shrine during the burial of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Mahroozadeh is the wife of Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel and the mother of Zahra Haddad-Adel, Mojtaba Khamenei’s late wife.

Zahra was killed in the February 28 attack on Ali Khamenei’s residential compound.

State-aligned media amplified the comments as confirmation of the current leader’s well-being, though no accompanying photo or recent audio of Mojtaba Khamenei was released.

Ali Khamenei was buried before dawn on Friday at the Imam Reza Shrine following his death in combined US and ‘Israeli’ air strikes.

Official footage from the formal mourning and burial ceremonies showed no sign of Mojtaba Khamenei, while his three brothers appeared beside their father’s casket.

His absence from visual records has long fueled speculation about his condition.

The claim comes amid persistent questions over Mojtaba Khamenei’s health since he was wounded in the February 28 strikes that killed his father and selected as successor in early March.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian recently told CBS News the leader has “no specific ongoing health issues,” describing meetings including one lasting more than seven hours and stating: “From a medical standpoint, he’s completely healthy… He has no issues.”

Earlier Western reports, including from Reuters, cited sources close to the inner circle describing severe facial and leg injuries, with some accounts of disfigurement and the need for further treatment.

Iranian officials have consistently downplayed the wounds as minor or fully healed, and the Supreme Leader has remained out of public view, with authorities citing security concerns.

A member of the Assembly of Experts recently stated that Mojtaba Khamenei was pulled from rubble after a hospital strike and remains “healthy” and capable of governing.

Footage posted by the spokesperson of the Yemeni Armed Forces showing what it says are strikes on Houthi positions in the province of Taiz.

The US military has sent two additional Patriot missile batteries to the Middle East in recent weeks to protect critical oil and gas facilities in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, according to an Axios report citing two American officials and a regional source.

The deployment aims to reassure Gulf allies that Washington will defend their strategic energy infrastructure if President Donald Trump opts to resume major military operations against Iran.

Trump stated Thursday that he is considering restarting bombing campaigns in the coming weeks, declaring that “either Iran signs a deal or it ceases to exist.”

US access to Saudi airspace would be essential for such operations, but Riyadh is unlikely to grant it without confidence that its oil facilities are sufficiently protected, the report adds.

Patriot systems form a core layer of regional air and missile defense, capable of intercepting aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles.

Gulf states have relied heavily on them amid repeated attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen and earlier Iranian strikes, which have targeted energy sites and strained interceptor stockpiles across Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and neighboring countries.

Saudi Arabia and Qatar host major oil and liquefied natural gas infrastructure vital to global energy markets.

Past incidents, including the 2019 attacks on Saudi facilities and more recent Houthi drone and missile strikes, have underscored the vulnerability of these assets and the importance of layered defenses that include US and partner-operated Patriots.

The move comes against a backdrop of heightened regional tensions following periods of intense Iran-related conflict earlier in 2026, during which Patriot batteries—including those operated by US forces and partners such as Greece in Saudi Arabia—intercepted numerous threats.

Officials have noted ongoing efforts to replenish depleted interceptor inventories through large foreign military sales to Gulf partners.

Analysts and officials have long emphasized that robust air defenses help deter escalation while enabling potential offensive options.

Additional systems in Saudi Arabia and Qatar specifically target protection of energy infrastructure rather than solely US bases, signaling a focus on partner reassurance amid Trump administration deliberations on Iran policy.

The Pentagon is preparing to deploy a third aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East, adding thousands of troops amid heightened tensions with Iran, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing US officials.

The USS Theodore Roosevelt and its strike group departed San Diego on Sunday, while the USS Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, carrying Marines from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, left the following day.

The ships, aircraft, and personnel—estimated at 9,000 to 10,000 additional sailors and Marines—are expected to arrive by the end of November.

Two carriers are already operating in the region: the USS George H.W. Bush and the USS George Washington, the latter of which relieved the USS Abraham Lincoln in August.

If the George Washington remains when the Roosevelt arrives, the US would field three carrier strike groups in the Middle East simultaneously for the first time since April, before a fragile ceasefire took hold after fighting began on February 28.

The buildup would expand options for US Central Command as President Donald Trump weighs whether to resume military strikes against Iran after the November midterm elections.

More than 50,000 American troops and about 20 Navy vessels are already in the theater.

One US official said the additional forces “give US commanders more options if President Donald Trump chooses to escalate attacks on Iran.”

Addressing the United Nations General Assembly last week, Trump said he faced a decision over whether to pursue a deal with Iran or drive it “into hell,” adding that he might “annihilate” the Iranian regime.

In a subsequent interview, he called ramped-up bombing after the midterms “possible,” while rejecting Tehran’s latest ceasefire proposal.

The deployments come as the Navy confronts extended operational demands, supply-line disruptions from Iranian strikes, and reports of severe strain on earlier crews, including multiple suicide attempts during the Abraham Lincoln’s lengthy deployment.

Senior officials have prepared the Roosevelt’s crew for a potentially prolonged stay.

Whether the third carrier ultimately reinforces or rotates existing forces remains unclear, but the move signals sustained US resolve to maintain pressure on Tehran while diplomatic efforts stall ahead of the midterms.

The Pentagon and the US Navy announced Thursday a multiyear contract valued at up to $24.4 billion awarded to Raytheon, an RTX business, to accelerate production of the Standard Missile-6 (SM-6).

The five-year agreement, which includes two additional option years, targets faster output, higher manufacturing throughput, and cost savings for the critical anti-air and anti-surface warfare munition.

Officials framed the deal as essential for rebuilding stockpiles depleted by Iran and ensuring US forces maintain superiority.

“Our mission is to ensure our warfighters never enter a fair fight,” said Michael P. Duffey, Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment.

“This multi-year award locks in the magazine depth and lethal dominance our forces need to prevail, while demanding our industrial base produce at war-speed.”

Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao emphasized the operational urgency.

“Maritime strength demands weapons at speed and scale,” Cao said.

“This investment expands production and delivers the firepower our warfighters need to fight, win, and come home safe.” Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle added that combat credibility depends on sufficient weapons produced at the required scale, noting the award provides industry the demand signal to expand production and build fleet magazine depth.

The SM-6 is described by Raytheon as the only combat-proven weapon capable of anti-air warfare, anti-surface warfare, and ballistic missile defense.

It has been successfully fired from US Navy ships and land-based launchers, offering versatile defense against a range of kinetic threats.

Raytheon President Phil Jasper stated: “SM-6’s multi-mission capability is vital to our customer, and Raytheon is intensely focused on meeting the demand. By continuously investing in our operations and facilities, we are removing constraints and boosting capacity to ensure we deliver this critical capability our sailors depend on.”

The contract builds on earlier framework agreements between Raytheon and the Department of War aimed at expanding production capacity.

Company officials noted investments in workforce growth, facility upgrades, automation, and industrial partnerships to support significantly higher output for both near- and long-term needs.

The multiyear structure is intended to give industry the predictability required to expand capacity and secure supply chains.

This award follows other large munitions contracts this year, including a $20.7 billion provisional multiyear deal for Raytheon’s AMRAAM missiles and a $58.6 billion Patriot interceptor agreement with Lockheed Martin.

Officials said such long-term commitments, alongside a recent Tomahawk award, form part of a broader push under the Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Munitions to accelerate delivery of critical weapons and strengthen the defense industrial base.

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

Read more: Day 216 | Iran says it has received US counterproposal to 7-day ceasefire plan