World Briefing: Iran War Widens to the Red Sea as Oil Nears $100 and US Pulls Bombers From Britain

The war with Iran spread across more fronts on Monday. Fighting moved deeper into the Red Sea, oil prices stayed high, and the conflict reached as far as a British air base. Here is what happened around the world in the past 24 hours.

Hormuz: Tankers Hit, Blockade Tightens

A maritime monitor reported that three tankers were struck in the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend. On Tuesday morning, UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported another vessel hit by a projectile. Its crew is reported safe, and it is not yet known who fired. US Central Command says its forces had redirected 130 commercial vessels as of Oct. 5 as they enforce the naval blockade of Iran.

Iranian officials say Tehran is preparing a response after Washington rejected its conditions for reopening the strait. A spokesperson for Iran's army also said the country will develop missiles with a range of more than 1,000 kilometers to reach "enemies at a greater distance."

Red Sea: Battle for Bab el-Mandeb

Yemen's Saudi-backed government and the Iran-aligned Houthis fought for control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The Houthis said they attacked King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, the Aramco refinery at Rabigh, and military sites in southern Saudi Arabia with drones and ballistic and cruise missiles. A Houthi-affiliated group also warned airlines against flying in Saudi airspace.

Illustration: US bombers have been moved from RAF Fairford.

Britain: Bombers Moved Over Suspected Plot

US officials ordered B-1 bombers moved out of RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. The Wall Street Journal reported concerns that Iran was planning a "complex" drone attack on the base, and British authorities have pointed to Iran in a suspected terror plot. President Trump said "threats" led to the decision.

Diplomacy Stalls

Iran's president called negotiations with the United States "meaningless," according to state media. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, however, said only talks, not military moves, can end the war. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday while flying to Iceland.

Illustration: Higher energy prices are reaching consumers.

Markets: Oil Near $100

Brent crude stayed near $100 a barrel. Major oil exporters agreed to keep production steady in November. According to the analytics firm Kpler, Middle East oil exports from countries other than Iran passed pre-war levels in September as producers sent cargo through the Red Sea, a route the new fighting now puts at risk. In the United States, Trump blamed Ukraine and Democrats for rising gasoline prices.

Inside Iran and Israel

Iran executed two men convicted over the deaths of four police officers during the January protests in Isfahan, the judiciary's Mizan news agency reported. In Israel, a bereaved father interrupted a speech by Netanyahu marking the anniversary of the October 7 attacks.

What to Watch

Over the coming days, watch for Iran's promised response on Hormuz, whether the Houthis carry out their threat to civil aviation over Saudi Arabia, and how energy markets react if Red Sea shipping is disrupted.