Morning update Good morning Middle East Eye readers, Here are the latest developments: A senior adviser to the command of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force indicated that Tehran's missile industry is self-sufficient and is able to rely on its own domestic production and resources. Ali Bilali said the missile industry was now "more homegrown than Persian carpets". US president Donald Trump said that renewed attacks on Iran could be "five times bigger" than previous ..

Iran's missile industry 'more homegrown than Persian carpets',IRGC adviser says A senior adviser to the command of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force indicated that Tehran's missile industry is self- sufficient and is able to rely on its owndomestic production and resources. Brigadier General Ali Bilali said the missile industry was now "more homegrown than Persian carpets", adding that the industry had reached a level of maturity where it can continue based ..

Trump says hits on Iran could be 'five times bigger' than previous US attacks US president Donald Trump said that renewed attacks on Iran could be "five times bigger" than previous strikes on the country. He made the remarks during a phone interview with C-SPANs Washington Journal Primetime, where he also boasted about having "wiped out" Iran's navy, air force,anti-aircraft and their leaders. "They want to make a deal. They dont say that, you know, publicly," Trump said. "In speaking with Qatar ..

US issues warnings against travel to six countries in the Middle East The US State Department has warned its citizen against travelling to six Middle Eastern countries, including Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Syria and Yemen. In a post on X, the department said all six countries remained under its highest travel advisory, Level 4, which instructs Americans not to travel for any reason. "We assign Level 4 based on local conditions and/or our limited ability to help Americans there," it said. ..

US aircraft evacuated from second UK base due to alleged Iran threat: Report The US military evacuated aircraft from an airbase in the UK after an alleged threat from Iran, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.

Trump says war on Iran could be 'ending fairly soon', but warned that US is 'locked and loaded' US President Donald Trump suggested that the war on Iran could end "fairly soon", but warned that the US is militarily "locked and loaded". "Were seeing momentum toward the end of this conflict. I think its going to be ending fairly soon," he said during a news conference. Trump expressed that Tehran was "talking very politely", but reiterated that its forces are ready to strike. "I dont guarantee ..

Saudi-led coalition intercepts drone over Eastern Province The Saudi-led coalition saidintercepted and destroyed a drone over Saudi Arabia's oil-rich Eastern Province. The Eastern Region, which is the economic powerhouse of Saudi Arabia, contains the majority of the kingdom's oil and gas reserves and is home to oil giant Saudi Aramco's 2222.SE headquarters.

Netanyahu calls for unity government without 'Hamas supporters' In a video statement released on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said forming a unity government was an "absolute necessity". "Two days ago I called for the formation of a unity government, and this is the need of the hour," Netanyahu said. "You cannot form a government with Hamas supporters," he added. "You cannot fight Iran and the rest of its followers within extremist Islam if, inside the government, you rely ..

Two Houthi missiles launched towards Riyadh destroyed, Saudi-led coalition says The Saudi-led coalition said that it intercepted and destroyed two missiles launched by Yemen's Houthis towards Riyadh. Earlier,Saudi Arabia's civil defence authorities warned of apotential threat in the capital, later lifting the alert after the danger was assessed to have passed.

Saudi-led coalition says it intercepted Houthi missile The Saudi-led coalition said that air defences have intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by Yemens Houthis towards southern Saudi Arabia.

Iranian senior official: 'STOP manufacturing FAKE NEWS about imaginary talks' Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said in a post on X late on Monday that the US government is "wrecked" by the war on Iran. "The war on Iran has already wrecked the US government. But Washington flails like a desperate gambler," Rezaei said. "FOLD YOUR HAND. STOP manufacturing FAKE NEWS about imaginary talks," he added. He also called on the US to recognise the "West Asian NEW ..

Qatari prime minister says discussions with Trump were 'positive' In a post on X, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said his discussions with US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance were "positive." "It was great meeting President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance in Washington," Sheikh Mohammed said. "Grateful for the positive discussions on reaching a deal and bringing peace to the region," he added.

Trump: 'We are seeing positive momentum toward an end to this conflict' In a post on Truth Social following his meeting with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, US President Donald Trump said there was "positive momentum toward an end to this conflict". "I had an excellent conversation with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, the Prime Minister of Qatar, wherein much was discussed with respect to the Islamic Republic of Iran," Trump said. "Should ..

US, Qatar talks on Iran negotiations were 'positive': Reports The talks between US President Donald Trump and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on Monday were "positive", a source familiar with the matter told Axios. Sheikh Mohammed held separate meetings with Trump and Vice President JD Vance, both of which saw "good progress", an informed source told Al Jazeera.

Trump says US ready to strike Iran 'if necessary', Reuters reports US President Donald Trump told Reuters in a brief phone interview on Monday that Qatar and Saudi Arabia are eager for a peaceful solution on the Iran conflict but the US is ready to resume military strikes if necessary. Trump, who met Qatar's prime minister earlier on Monday, said "Qatar would rather see a peaceful solution" but "we're ready to go anytime we want" with strikes. Reporting by Reuters

Saudi-led coalition says it destroyed Houthi missile facilities In an official statement, the Saudi-led coalition said it destroyed several facilities used by the Houthis in producing ballistic missile components. "We destroyed a factory belonging to the terrorist Houthi militia that was used to assemble and produce ballistic missile components," the statement said. "We destroyed a chemical factory belonging to the terrorist Houthi militia used to produce ballistic missile fuel... and an ..

Trump, Qatari prime minister discuss Iran negotiations in 45-minute meeting: Report The meeting between US President Donald Trump and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on Monday lasted 45 minutes and focused mainly on the negotiations with Iran, a source familiar with the meetingtold Axios.

Senior UAE official says Gulf faces 'prolonged uncertainty' with no settlement to Iran war A senior UAE official warned that the Gulf must be prepared for a long period of uncertainty in which the US and Iran are not able to come to a political settlement to end their war , leaving the region in a state of limbo. "We should... prepare for a long period of uncertainty in which neither a decisive resolution nor stable regional order can be taken for granted, Anwar Gargash, the diplomatic advisor ..

Three injured as wall collapses on displaced family's tent in Gaza, Al Jazeera reports Three Palestinians were injured when a wall collapsed on a tent sheltering displaced people in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, a source at al-Awda hospital told Al Jazeera.

Iranian ambassador summoned over alleged cyberattacks on French supermarket fridges French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Monday that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corpswas responsible for the cyberattacks on the refrigeration systems of French supermarkets that took place last month. France summoned the Iranian ambassador to the foreign ministry over the attacks. Barrot said that Iran would face consequences, which could include further EU sanctions.

Saudi energy ministry: East-West Pipeline hit in Madinah region In an official statement, the Saudi Ministry of Energy said the East-West Pipeline in the Madinah region was targeted on Monday. "Emergency teams extinguished the fires resulting from the strike without any injuries, death, or disruption to operations, praise be to God," the statement said.

Saudi, Omani foreign ministers call for continued diplomacy Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Omani counterpart, Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, stressed in a phone call on Monday the need to continue the diplomatic efforts aimed at containing the regional crisis, according to a statement issued by the Saudi Foreign Ministry. These efforts would help maintain the security of navigation and regional stability, the statement added.

Iran says no plan for US talks unless Washington meets seven conditions Iran has no plans to negotiate with the United States unless Washington takes practical steps to meet Tehran's seven conditions, which Iran set out in a June interim agreement with the United States, a senior security official told Iranian state media. Reporting by Reuters

Netanyahu calls for unity government without 'Hamas supporters' In a video statement released on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said forming a unity government was an "absolute necessity". "Two days ago I called for the formation of a unity government, and this is the need of the hour," Netanyahu said. "You cannot form a government with Hamas supporters," he added. "You cannot fight Iran and the rest of its followers within extremist Islam if, inside the government, you rely ..

More than 200,000 join Amsterdam march against Gaza genocide Submitted by MEE staff on Mon, 11/09/2026 - 14:35 Protesters want the Netherlands to halt arms sales to Israel, tighten sanctions and recognise the Gaza genocide Demonstrators take part in a "Red Line" protest demanding "government action to stop the genocide in Gaza" in Amsterdam on October 5, 2025. (Koen van Weel/ANP/AFP) Off Tens of thousands of people marched through Amsterdam on Sunday, demanding that the Dutch government end ..

Iran war: Will Trump's midterm defeat end or entrench the conflict with Tehran? Submitted by Seyed Hossein Mousavian on Fri, 11/06/2026 - 16:29 The greatest victory for both nations would be neither military triumph nor the humiliation of the other, but the achievement of a lasting peace An Iranian demonstrator holds a flag denouncing US President Donald Trump, in Tehran on 4 November 2026 (Atta Kenare/AFP) Off The US midterm elections delivered a historic defeat to President Donald Trumps ..

Syria denies it has forces fighting in Yemen Syria's foreign minister on Monday insisted that his country has no troops deployed in Yemen and was not planning on sending any, after Yemeni sources told AFP that Syrian soldierswere in Yemen and Saudi Arabia. "There is no deployment of troops to Yemen nor is there a plan for such deployment in the near future," Asaad al- Shaibani said during a press conference. Reporting by AFP

Herzog warns Netanyahu of 'highly explosive and dangerous reality' amid rising settler violence Israeli presidentIsaac Herzog warned prime ministerBenjamin Netanyahu other senior officials of a "highly explosive and dangerous reality" in the West Bank amid increasing settler violence. "The IDF commanders, the police officers and the Shin Bet personnel present a worrying picture of limited tools and a shortage of manpower," Herzog wrote in the letter sent to Netanyahu, defence minister Israel ..

US midterm elections 2026: Record number of hijabis elected to statewide and national offices Tuesday's midterm elections saw a remarkable wave of firsts that may have been unthinkable if US President Donald Trump had not spurred such backlash across the country. Among them were victories for four state senators-elect and one US congresswoman who all wear the hijab - a record for the country, and certainly a stunning outcome given the rabid anti-Islam rhetoric and threats that have taken hold ..

Irans IRGC says two tankers, tugboat were ablaze in Hormuz Strait Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)announced thattwo oil tankers and a tugboat caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz. According to the statement, the separate incidents occurred after the vessels were attempting topass through an "unauthorised route", One large oil tanker was passing through what the IRGC described as an "illegal southern passageway", hitting a mine and catching fire. Another supertanker, leaving ..

Trump's midterm defeat gives the Gulf a chance to escape America's forever wars Submitted by Andreas Krieg on Wed, 11/04/2026 - 16:07 Regional leaders must use their influence in Congress to prevent another attack on Iran and negotiate a non-aggression pact with Tehran on their own terms US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance in the Oval Office on 16 March 2026. Vance said on 4 November that the war on Iran was 'the reason we lost' the midterms (Annabelle Gordon/AFP/File photo) ..

Report: South Korea's anti-piracy unit to expand operations closer to Hormuz Strait South Korea's anti-piracy Cheonghae unit will expand its operations into waters nearby the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by the Yonhap News Agencyciting the Korean Defence Ministry. The government is set to submit amotion to parliamentto extend the period of the unit's deployment to the region, which is expected to expire at the end of this year.

Watch: Trump admits Iran war caused election losses US President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters at the construction site for the ballroom on Wednesday, said that the Iran war was responsible for his Republican Party's resounding midterm election defeat. Asked whether he agreed with Vice President JD Vance earlier remarks that the Iran war was "the reason we lost", Trump told reporters outside the White House ballroom construction site that his comments were "largely true because it drove ..

US hands out sanctions over accusations of supplying Iran with air defence systems The US sanctioned two individuals and another entity accused of aiding Iran in sourcing man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS). The statement said that sanctions"close off more of the channels Tehran uses to try to rebuild its arsenal and raise the risk for third-country brokers and suppliers". "The United States will keep exposing the networks that arm Irans military and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ..