Ballistic missiles, air defense systems and unmanned aerial vehicles are on display in Baharestan Square as part of Iran’s “Holy Defense Week” as tensions continue in Tehran on September 29, 2026.
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A senior Iranian security official warned Sunday that Iran is preparing new response plans in case of new U.S. and Israeli attacks, after maritime authorities reported several separate attacks on merchant vessels around the Arabian Peninsula.
“Iran’s military is preparing to respond to new adventures that will be far more destructive than a 12-day or 40-day war,” Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme Council for National Security, said in a post on X, referring to the June 2025 Israeli attack and the conflict between the United States and Israel in February.
“Iran’s new operational plans will not follow the rules to which Iran is accustomed,” Rezaei said in comments translated by Google.
President Donald Trump said last week that he has no intention of using nuclear weapons against Iran or deploying ground forces to Iran.
“I would not use nuclear weapons. There is no need to use them. We are the largest nuclear power in the world,” he said in an interview with Newsmax aired Thursday evening.
The right-wing cable station asked President Trump about reports that Washington is considering using the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB), widely known as the “mother of all bombs.”
Iranian state media IRNA quoted Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi as saying that Iran would not give up its sovereignty even under pressure, but remained ready for dialogue.
Vessels exposed to fire
Meanwhile, in recent days, transport ships sailing in waters around the Arabian Peninsula have reportedly been hit by shelling.
The Royal Navy’s UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Sunday that a tugboat sailing south-northeast of the United Arab Emirates was hit by two unknown projectiles.
UKMTO said on Saturday that the captain of a liquefied natural gas tanker in southwest Yemen reported being “approached by a small vessel with seven people on board.” The small boat fired twice, and the tanker’s security team responded with two warning shots.
On Friday, another tanker in northeast Saudi Arabia reported being hit by a rocket-propelled grenade fired from a small boat.
Brent crude oil price, USD per barrel, year-to-date
Oil prices soared on Friday amid rising tensions in the Middle East, with Ukraine vowing to continue attacks on Russian oil refineries.
Brent futures hit a session high of $110 per barrel for the first time since May, before retreating slightly to settle at $109.86, up 3.7%.
US West Texas Intermediate rose 3.5% to settle at $101.41 per barrel. WTI rose more than 10% last week and Brent rose nearly 5%.
Saudi Arabia intercepted several missiles fired over the Red Sea on Friday, including one headed for the oil export terminal Yanbu, a military spokesperson said. Three drones were also destroyed in Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh and southern regions, the military said.
Yemen’s Iranian-allied Houthi militants fired repeatedly at Saudi Arabia last week. The Saudi Energy Ministry said oil giant Aramco came under attack on Tuesday when gunmen stormed one of its administrative buildings in Dhahran.
