Day 234 | Houthi projectile injures six in Saudi's Najran

• Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's visit to Tehran on Oct. 19, 2026, forms part of regular diplomatic talks between the two nations
• The meeting served as a platform to coordinate stances on regional stability and international developments

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with his Iranian counterpart, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, in Tehran on Monday to conduct high-level diplomatic talks focused on expanding bilateral cooperation and reviewing regional developments, as stated by Tasnim news agency.

During the meeting, Araghchi described the relationship between Iran and Russia as "strategic," adding that ties have taken on new dimensions following the implementation of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement.

According to statements from the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, discussions covered practical measures to enhance political, cultural, and trade cooperation, with both officials noting positive progress in bilateral economic collaboration.

Lavrov also expressed support on Monday for Tehran's willingness to utilize diplomatic channels to lower regional tensions, stating that Russia stands ready to help resolve the ongoing Middle East crisis.

 The talks form part of broader Russian diplomatic efforts to position Moscow as a potential mediator amid heightened regional instability and stalled international negotiations.

• Rubio reported that daily transit through the maritime corridor has reached approximately 13 to 14 million barrels of oil
• Iranian military officials say that the strategic waterway remains subject to their security control

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Monday that Iran no longer exercises control over the Strait of Hormuz, noting that international oil shipments through the strategic maritime passage continue at substantial volumes.

Speaking on regional maritime security, Rubio highlighted that roughly 13 to 14 million barrels of oil per day are currently transiting through the waterway.

He asserted that despite recent regional escalations and threats to commercial shipping, Iranian forces have been unable to halt global energy transit through the choke point.

The remarks come amid heightened security measures in the Persian Gulf, where US military assets have monitored and guided commercial vessels through designated shipping channels.

In response to previous US assessments, Iranian military spokespersons have maintained that Iranian armed forces retain full surveillance and security authority over the strait, rejecting claims regarding a loss of operational influence in the corridor.

• Washington renewed calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all detained embassy personnel and other held individuals
• US officials condemned the Houthi authorities for continuing the detentions

The United States issued a statement marking the five-year anniversary of the detention of more than twenty current and former local staff members from the US Embassy in Sanaa by Houthi authorities in Yemen.

In an official statement, US officials condemned the continued holding of the Yemeni personnel, stating that the employees were carrying out diplomatic, humanitarian, and development work aimed at supporting local communities.

The statement said, "for five years, these innocent people and their families have endured separation, intimidation, and abuse," adding that "their only “crime” was working honorably to build peaceful relations and shared prosperity for Americans and Yemenis"

The US government called for the immediate and unconditional release of all US Mission personnel and others currently held in custody.

The statement criticized the Houthi leadership's reliance on detentions and intimidation against local residents, highlighting the ongoing strain in relations between Washington and the Sana'a-based authorities as international efforts to resolve the Yemeni conflict continue.

Saudi Arabia's General Directorate of Civil Defense said that the immediate threat in Al-Kharj Governorate has passed.

Civil defense authorities instructed residents to remain cautious, adhere strictly to safety guidelines, and avoid gathering or filming near affected areas.

Officials reminded the public to contact emergency services at 911 in the event of an emergency as responders monitor the situation.

Saudi emergency management authorities activated cellular emergency broadcasts across the Al-Kharj governorate and surrounding regions, advising residents to follow comprehensive safety instructions in response to potential regional threats. This comes amid regional tensions with Houthis.

The directive instructs citizens and residents to remain calm, take immediate shelter inside interior rooms away from windows, and refrain from leaving buildings until official all-clear announcements are made.

A renewed call urging Yemeni citizens to "abandon military camps affiliated with Saudi-backed coalition forces," was issued by a Yemeni Houthi source quoted by the Saba news agency.

The Houthi source appealed to all Yemenis to withdraw from recruitment sites and encampments established by coalition forces, stating that "the occupying Saudi enemy is mobilizing, as it places no value on any Yemeni other than using them as fuel for its war and aggression," the statement said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has arrived in Tehran for his first visit to Iran since the outbreak of the war, Russia’s TASS news agency reported.

Lavrov arrived from Bahrain, where he held meetings with officials from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. He is scheduled to meet Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

The visit follows Russian President Vladimir Putin’s earlier pledge to Pezeshkian that Moscow was prepared to contribute to mediation efforts aimed at ending the US-led war on Iran.

Around 40 people were killed or injured in a Houthi ballistic missile attack on Al-Alam military camp in Yemen’s Shabwa Governorate, according to a deputy governor of the province.

The strike targeted the camp in the Jardan district, though an exact breakdown of the casualties was not immediately available.

Demining teams in Yemen cleared 3,542 landmines, unexploded ordnance and explosive devices during the first 16 days of October, reclaiming 501,985 square metres of land, according to Project Masam, the Saudi project for landmine clearance in Yemen.

The project said in a statement that the items removed included 3,356 pieces of unexploded ordnance, 106 anti-tank mines, 74 anti-personnel mines and six explosive devices.

Yemen remains among the countries most severely contaminated by landmines and unexploded ordnance, posing continued risks to civilians and hindering the safe use of affected land.

Mohammad Reza Naqdi, an adviser to the commander-in-chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), warned that any renewed aggression against Iran would be met with a far more devastating response.

According to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, Naqdi said the United States and other adversaries of the Islamic Revolution had misjudged the Iranian people, adding that Iran would use all available weapons and resources to thwart their objectives.

He claimed that Iran’s adversaries had been reduced to launching missiles and carrying out indiscriminate bombardments, while praising what he described as a crushing response by Iran’s forces.

Naqdi warned that any new attack would trigger a response “many times more crushing and impactful,” adding that Iran’s adversaries were fully aware of the consequences.

Twenty-four missiles and projectiles fell in Yemen’s Marib Governorate as airstrikes intensified against Houthi positions in the southeast, according to local reports.

Meanwhile, Yemeni government forces made advances in Taiz Governorate, taking control of the Sanamat area.

Air and ground attacks also intensified in the districts of Al-Shamayatayn and Al-Misrakh, targeting Houthi movements in the area and seeking to restrict their field operations.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned the United States against launching another war against Iran, saying Tehran had emerged stronger from the previous confrontation.

In a post on X, Araghchi challenged those considering renewed military action, writing, “Want to try your luck again? Be our guest. But be careful; we have unfinished jobs too.”

He also accused 'Israeli' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of driving Washington toward another war to avoid imprisonment, warning of the potential consequences for the United States and ‘Israel’.

The US Embassy in Riyadh has urged American citizens currently in the Middle East to exercise extreme caution amid the region’s complex security situation.

In a security advisory, the embassy called on Americans to remain vigilant as regional security conditions remain uncertain.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused French President Emmanuel Macron of welcoming atrocities against Iranians, saying the French leader had contributed to the war.

In a post on X, Araghchi wrote, “Mr. Macron made his bed when he assured POTUS that he welcomes atrocities against Iranians.”

He added that it was “too late to blame the war his ilk helped cause,” arguing that the French people were demanding sweeping change, including freedom of assembly.

“Listen to the future of France, Mr. President,” Araghchi concluded.

• Investigations allege Chinese firms are the largest source of seized goods for Houthis, supporting them as a counter to the US
• Houthis allegedly use Chinese components, precision tools, and raw materials to locally build parts of Iran's 1,000+ km range Khaibar Shekan missile.
• Report claims Beijing supplies dual-use goods under commercial pretexts to ensure safe Red Sea transit for Chinese ships and allegedly distract US naval forces from the Indo-Pacific.

Chinese enterprises have emerged as the primary source of interdicted materials and illicit goods bound for Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen, according to allegations by UK-based investigative organization Conflict Armament Research and United Nations reports.

The research claims that Beijing is supplying the Iran-backed group with critical dual-use items to exert indirect strategic pressure on the United States.

Among the key developments is a significant effort by the group to manufacture components locally for the Iranian-designed Khaibar Shekan ballistic missile series, systems capable of striking targets at ranges exceeding 1,000 kilometers (620 miles).

Investigators claimed identifying custom-manufactured missile parts, raw materials, testing apparatus, and specialized tooling within recently interdicted shipments, accompanied by documentation identifying Chinese suppliers.

This technological transfer represents a notable leap in Houthi domestic production capabilities -a level of advanced manufacturing possessed by only a small number of nations- and points toward growing operational independence from Iran.

"Dual-use" commercial trade 

Despite calling for regional stability and asking Tehran to intervene regarding Red Sea maritime attacks, China supplies the Houthis with dual-use equipment, materials that serve both civilian and military functions.

This mirrors Beijing's strategy in supporting Russia's defense sector, allowing Chinese officials to claim these shipments are standard commercial transactions.

In addition to direct supply lines, Beijing maintains Iran's economic foundation by purchasing sanctioned oil and providing Tehran with drone parts and rocket-fuel precursors, thereby indirectly sustaining Iran's proxy network.

"Chinese support for the Houthis is best understood as a combination of diplomatic protection, selective enforcement, and strategic opportunism," said Mohammad al-Basha, founder of the US-based advisory group Basha Report.

Al-Basha noted that Beijing tolerates the Houthis' use of commercial Chinese artificial intelligence, satellite services linked to state-affiliated firms, and critical dual-use shipments—including precision tools, fertilizer for missile propellants, specialized metallurgy, and drone electronics.

Diverting US naval assets 

The Houthis have actively cultivated deeper ties with Beijing, drawing on established Yemeni trading channels in China and selecting members to learn Mandarin to streamline communication.

In return, China has secured guarantees from the Houthis for the unhindered passage of Chinese merchant vessels through the Red Sea—a critical corridor for the world's top exporting economy.

Beyond commercial safety, analysts emphasize that Beijing views the Houthis as a strategic asset in the context of great power rivalry. Should China move to invade Taiwan, the Houthis could threaten major maritime choke points and force the US Navy to divert assets away from the Indo-Pacific theater.

"For Beijing, the Houthis could represent a relatively inexpensive means of exerting indirect pressure on the US and its regional partners without committing Chinese military forces or openly confronting Washington," al-Basha concluded.

Ebrahim Rezaei, a member of the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, strongly rejected rhetoric regarding Iran's destruction from Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, asserting that Iran cannot be destroyed and warning both leaders to prepare for a major defeat in politics and on the battlefield.

The Saudi Civil Defense activated the National Early Warning Platform to issue an urgent hazard alert for Jizan city on Sunday, before issuing a follow-up statement eight minutes later confirming that the threat had passed and strictly warning the public against gathering or taking photographs.

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

Read more: Day 233 | Houthis claim 53 Saudi air strikes hit several sites across Yemen