Symbolic imageIran says Hormuz offer stands as ship attacks continue and Lavrov visits Tehran
Iran says its Hormuz offer stands if its conditions are met, even as attacks on shipping continue. Russia's foreign minister arrived in Tehran on Monday.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday, 18 October, that Iran's offer of a seven-day ceasefire and gradual reopening of the strait still stands. Yet Iran has attacked at least 15 container ships in ten days, the Guardian reports, using drones and mines. The Revolutionary Guards say they may hit any ship crossing without permission or with its transponder off, and reported a third tanker hit late on Sunday. Brent crude hit a five-month high of $110 on Friday and traded near $108 on Monday.
Lavrov offers Russian help
Sergey Lavrov met President Masoud Pezeshkian and Araghchi after a stop at the Gulf Cooperation Council ministerial in Manama. He said Moscow is ready to help find a settlement and urged a return to the pre-crisis situation in Hormuz, including freedom of navigation.
Calls for a bomb
The Financial Times reports that Iranian hardliners say the time for nuclear weapons has come, after the killing of Ali Khamenei, who had prohibited them.
Other opinions
TASS calls the war unprovoked US-Israeli aggression, while The American Conservative cites reports that Russia gave Iran satellite intelligence for targeting US forces.