Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps lashes out at 'liar' Trump

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with U.S. senators at the Capitol on Tuesday as the Iran war continues to strain Saudi Arabia and disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

The meeting included discussion about the importance of restoring freedom of navigation through the critical waterway, according to a post on X from Senate Foreign Relations Committee Democrats.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., took part in the talks, which also addressed challenges Saudi Arabia is facing as a result of the Iran war.

The deteriorating situation in the West Bank was also discussed, according to the committee.

Iran’s rial crossed a new threshold Tuesday, trading at more than 2.5 million to the U.S. dollar as economic pressure on Tehran mounts during the war, The Associated Press reported.

The currency has repeatedly fallen to record lows since fighting began in February. Its previous low of 2.2 million rials to the dollar was set just 27 days ago.

The decline comes as the U.S. continues a naval blockade targeting Iranian oil exports while imposing additional sanctions aimed at restricting Tehran’s access to money and military supplies.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday that Iran was heading toward an economic “cataclysm,” arguing that the pressure is limiting funds available to Tehran.

The Trump administration also imposed new sanctions Tuesday against individuals and entities accused of procuring weapons and components for Iran’s military.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of “fearmongering” Tuesday after receiving a security briefing about potential threats ahead of the country’s Oct. 27 election.

Lapid said in a post on X that he would not disclose confidential information from the briefing but argued that security threats should be addressed by professional agencies rather than through campaign messaging.

“Security threats are something that must be addressed professionally and responsibly; Israel's security and IDF bases are not props for election campaign videos,” Lapid wrote.

Lapid also said the Israel Defense Forces, Shin Bet and police are prepared for the election and that “there is no reason to put the public into a panic.”

He called for a meeting with Netanyahu, the head of Shin Bet and the chairman of Israel’s Central Elections Committee to ensure officials are coordinated ahead of the vote.

Netanyahu earlier said Israel had indications that its “enemies” could attempt an attack before the election but did not publicly provide details about the potential threat.

Pakistan is prepared to use its military capabilities to help Saudi Arabia respond to attacks from Iran-backed Houthi rebels, Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said Tuesday.

The commitment comes under a mutual defense pact signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey in August that treats an attack against one of the three countries as an attack against all of them, The Associated Press reported.

“Any enemy of Saudi Arabia is enemy of Pakistan. That should be very clear,” Asif told reporters in Rome.

Asked whether Pakistani forces had already taken part in strikes against Iranian operators in Yemen, Asif did not confirm any involvement.

He said, however, that “whatever means are available at our disposal” would also be available to Saudi Arabia under the defense arrangement.

The comments come as the Houthis have stepped up missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia and expanded their control along Yemen’s Red Sea coast.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Qatar’s prime minister said the White House gave Doha as little as a few minutes’ notice before the U.S.-Iran war began, despite Qatar’s efforts to prevent a military confrontation.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said in an interview with Piers Morgan that he was at home asleep when he was awakened with word that military action was imminent.

“From the US administration. I got a call from the White House,” Al Thani said when asked how he learned about the operation.

Al Thani estimated the warning came between several minutes and half an hour before the campaign began.

Qatar had been pushing for a diplomatic agreement between Washington and Tehran before the fighting erupted and remains involved in efforts to broker an end to the conflict.

Al Thani said Doha believes private negotiations offer the best opportunity for progress, arguing that public statements and leaks can complicate mediation.

U.S. Marines conducted maintenance on an MV-22B Osprey aboard the USS Boxer as American military operations against Iran continue, U.S. Central Command said Tuesday.

CENTCOM shared an image on X showing Marines working on the aircraft inside the amphibious assault ship’s hangar bay.

The photo shows personnel performing maintenance around the Osprey’s engine and rotor assembly aboard the USS Boxer.

The update comes as U.S. forces remain engaged in Operation Epic Fury against Iran, which has now entered its seventh month.

The State Department is offering up to $15 million for information that could help uncover financial networks tied to senior members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force.

The Rewards for Justice program announced the offer Tuesday in connection with Ahmed Ja’farabadi, Abdollah Mehrabi and Ali Asghar Norouzi.

“Somewhere between Iran's missiles, drones, and victims is a money trail. Help us disrupt it,” Rewards for Justice said in a post on X.

The State Department said the IRGC Aerospace Force is involved in developing and deploying Iran’s missiles and drones as well as procuring equipment for the IRGC.

Information about the three officials or financial mechanisms, organizations and activities associated with the Aerospace Force could qualify for a reward and relocation, according to the department

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid received a security briefing from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu late Tuesday after seeking more information about a potential threat ahead of Israel’s Oct. 27 election.

Netanyahu earlier said Israel had “indications” that its enemies could attempt an attack before the vote but did not publicly identify a potential attacker or provide details about the threat.

Lapid requested an emergency briefing following the warning, seeking information about the threat and preparations to ensure the election proceeds without disruption.

“There’s no reason to put the public in a panic,” Lapid said after meeting with Netanyahu.

Lapid said security threats should be handled “professionally and responsibly” and maintained that the election would take place on schedule.

President Donald Trump said during a gaggle with reporters Tuesday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was able to develop nuclear weapons because previous U.S. presidents failed to stop him.

Trump was asked why North Korea can possess nuclear weapons while he has repeatedly said Iran cannot.

“Oh, that's interesting. You know why? Because he had a different president and they could have stopped him,” Trump said.

“He happens to be a friend of mine, Kim Jong Un. He's a friend of mine. He likes Trump, doesn't like a lot of other people. He I'm about the only person in the entire world that he likes, and I like him. I get a lot of heat when I say that. People say that's terrible,” Trump continued.

“He does have a nuclear capacity, a large nuclear, pretty large nuclear, not like us, but he has a nuclear capacity. Kim Jong un. And you know why? Because they had presidents that didn't do what I did,” Trump added.

An Iranian-American political analyst says she has faced years of threats and intimidation that she believes are connected to Iran’s regime, including being followed in Los Angeles and having private photographs stolen by hackers.

Lisa Daftari, editor-in-chief of The Foreign Desk, wrote in a California Post op-ed that she believed a man who followed her through Westwood Village in 2006 was an operative of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Daftari also described an alleged hacking incident in which her websites, email and social media accounts were compromised. She said hackers accessed private photographs and sent pictures of her in a bikini to her husband.

She said the threats have led her to work closely with the FBI, which has conducted routine patrols around her home because agents recognize her as a target.

Daftari connected her experiences to a recent Iran International report about Alaj, a platform that reportedly asks people to identify Iranians abroad whom Tehran considers national security threats. Iranian state media say the platform has identified and monitored 1,600 people, including 600 identified through public submissions, according to the report. 

Iranian security forces have stepped up their presence in Tehran and other cities, with motorcycle patrols, checkpoints and forces positioned across major urban areas as authorities brace for possible unrest, multiple sources inside Iran told Fox News Digital.

The security buildup comes as university students have returned to the streets in Tehran, protesting compulsory hijab rules, rising education costs and political repression, videos published on Iran International show.

Sources inside Iran confirmed to Fox News Digital that motorcycle units have been operating across Tehran and other cities during events surrounding Iran’s annual "Sacred Defense Week," while members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Basij and law enforcement have been positioned at major squares and other locations.

The sources also said security personnel have stopped pedestrians, searched some individuals and examined mobile phones, including material authorities consider "anti-regime."

The accounts follow a report from the National Council of Resistance of Iran’s (NCRI's) Committee on Security and Counterterrorism alleging that Iranian authorities ordered a "100%" state of readiness for the Army, IRGC, Basij and law enforcement and canceled leave through Sept. 27. The NCRI also claimed 51,000 personnel had been deployed across Greater Tehran, including 30,000 IRGC and Basij members and 21,000 law enforcement personnel. The reported preparations are taking place as signs of public unrest have begun resurfacing on university campuses. Fox News Digital has not independently confirmed those claims.

This is an excerpt of an article written by Fox News Digital's Efrat Lachter.

Iranian authorities reportedly sent a tank, drones and dozens of security vehicles into the southeastern city of Iranshahr on Tuesday amid clashes with unidentified gunmen.

Roads leading to the Gharibabad area were blocked as fighting involving light and heavier weapons unfolded, Iran International reported, citing the Baluch rights group Haalvsh.

Haalvsh also reported rocket-propelled grenade fire during the confrontation.

The circumstances surrounding the fighting remained unclear. The gunmen had not been identified, and there were no immediate details about casualties or damage.

Sistan and Baluchestan has experienced several armed confrontations involving Iranian security forces in recent weeks, including fighting in Saravan earlier this month.

A top Iranian security official claimed Tuesday that President Donald Trump is struggling to determine his next move in the U.S.-Iran war, according to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency.

“Trump is trapped in a quagmire where he can neither negotiate nor fight,” Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei said during a meeting with Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev.

Rezaei claimed Trump has been unable to decide how to respond to conditions put forward by Tehran.

He also characterized U.S. restrictions on Iran’s air links as an “aerial blockade,” claiming Washington turned to the measure after failing to accomplish its objectives militarily.

Rezaei previously served as commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Iraq has begun importing gasoline through Syria under a new agreement aimed at securing fuel supplies as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupts energy trade, The Associated Press reported Tuesday.

Iraqi fuel trucks loaded gasoline at Syria’s Baniyas port, providing Baghdad with another route to meet rising energy demand.

Before the war, about a fifth of the world’s traded oil and gas passed through the Strait of Hormuz, according to the AP.

Iraq was already using Baniyas to move its oil to foreign markets by truck. Under a new three-month agreement with Syria, the route is now being used in the opposite direction to bring gasoline into Iraq.

The first gasoline shipment under the agreement arrived at the Syrian port Thursday, according to the AP.

The Associated Press contributed to this post.

The Treasury Department sanctioned 10 individuals and entities Tuesday over their alleged involvement in procurement networks supplying Iran’s military with weapons and components.

The targets include a representative of Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics in Beijing and procurement networks spanning Iran, China, Hong Kong, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

Treasury said the networks supplied electronics used in Iranian drones and ballistic missiles and served as intermediaries for the procurement and distribution of weapons.

The sanctions are part of the Trump administration’s Operation Economic Outcast campaign against Tehran.

The designations block U.S.-linked assets of those sanctioned and could expose foreign financial institutions that conduct certain transactions with them to secondary sanctions.

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the Iranian regime is “failing very badly” and that Operation Epic Fury should be “over with very soon.” 

“Iran will not have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said during an event at the White House about an AI-powered website. “And they're failing very badly. Very badly. That will be over with very soon. It will be over with very, very soon. They will not have a nuclear weapon, and oil prices are going to be tumbling down, just like they were before I had to make that little excursion to the Islamic Republic of Iran. 

“I think in the years to come, they'll be writing books, they'll be writing the history of our country, and they'll say, that's one of the most important things that we did,” Trump added. “That is actually one of the most important things that we've done.” 

The Trump administration said Tuesday that it is releasing up to 40 million barrels of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, as fuel prices remain elevated around the world. 

“The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for an exchange of up to 40 million barrels of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), continuing DOE’s execution of the 172-million-barrel release previously announced by President Trump in coordination with the International Energy Agency (IEA) member nations’ overall 400-million-barrel commitment,” the Energy Department said in a statement. 

U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said that “with today’s actions, the United States continues to lead the coordinated efforts to stabilize oil markets for the benefit of Americans and people around the world.” 

“While the United States and Japan are delivering on their commitments, several European member countries have released only a fraction of the crude oil and petroleum products they pledged. We urge every member country to fulfill its commitments. Thanks to President Trump, these exchanges will also ensure America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve continues to be refilled, while saving taxpayers more than $3 billion,” he added. 

“Thanks to President Trump, DOE has advanced a series of large-scale SPR exchange solicitations at record speed. These actions have moved critical crude oil supplies into the market to address short-term supply disruptions and bolster energy security for the United States and its allies,” the Department also said. “Under DOE’s exchange authority, participating companies will return the 40 million borrowed barrels with additional premium barrels, ensuring immediate market supply while increasing the SPR’s long-term inventory at no cost to taxpayers.”

Ebrahim Azizi, the chairman of the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, said Tuesday that the U.S. "will inevitably leave this region" and Israel's "days are numbered."

"Ultimately, it is we and our neighbors who remain here, face to face," he added in a message on X. "That day will be a day of regret."

Azizi made the remark as the Trump administration's Operation Epic Fury campaign passed the 7-month mark.

Vice President JD Vance said in an interview with Vince Coglianese that aired Tuesday that Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is “very detached” when it comes to running the country. 

“It’s a very confused system, honestly,” Vance said when asked who is running Iran. Mojtaba Khamenei, who became supreme leader earlier this year after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed at the beginning of Operation Epic Fury, has not appeared in public.

“I could give you an answer. It would be at best a guess because you have a number of different constituencies. You have the hardliners, you have the conservatives, you have the moderates, you have the clerics and all of these people are involved in the decision-making process,” Vance said. 

“And then of course you have the new supreme leader, who is very detached,” Vance continued. “He’s not involved day-to-day; he’s not going on American Sunday shows and talking about these negotiations.

“We think that he is alive. I don’t know of course, I’ve never seen him, I haven’t seen him on camera recently, but the best evidence that we have suggests that he is alive,” Vance also said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that Israel has indications that its “enemies will try to attack us” ahead of the country’s elections on Oct. 27. 

“So from here, from the Air Force base, from the long arm of Israel, I am sending you a message: Don’t mess with us — not now, and not ever. Our long arm will reach you anywhere and at any time,” Netanyahu said in a video posted on X, according to The Times of Israel. 

The Oct. 27 parliamentary elections in Israel are the country’s first national vote since Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023. 

Israel also has been trying to counter threats from Hezbollah, an Iran-backed terrorist group in Lebanon.

Fox News Digital’s Efrat Lachter contributed to this post. 

The United Nations envoy for Yemen said Tuesday that he met with negotiators from the Iran-backed Houthis following what he described as a “unprecedented” and “dramatic” escalation by the terrorist group in the Middle East. 

Hans Grundberg told The Associated Press that his meeting in Oman over the weekend with the Houthis’ chief negotiator, Mohammed Abdul-Salam, aimed to explore “if there are ways of how to avoid seeing the current escalation go even further.” 

The Houthis, in recent weeks, have been launching attacks against Saudi Arabia and gaining territory in Yemen along the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. 

Grundberg said the instability in the region, and the “influence of regional parties, including Iran, and also other neighbors to Yemen” has impacted the course of the Yemen conflict. 

Grundberg said the current escalation in Yemen has become more complicated compared to previous bouts of violence over the course of the civil war. He said battle lines have shifted to the Red Sea coast, where “the most sensitive front lines” are threatening maritime corridors crucial for global trade. 

“We’ve seen attacks also on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, and it’s a development that is alarming and that should be a concern for the Security Council,” he said. 

The Associated Press contributed to this post. 

The Israel Defense Forces announced Tuesday that a Hamas commander who “posed an immediate threat to IDF forces and civilians of the State of Israel” was killed in a “precise strike” in the Gaza Strip.   

“IDF and Shin Bet forces attacked in northern Gaza Strip tonight and eliminated the terrorist Azz al-Din Bik, commander of the Northern Brigade in the military wing of the terrorist organization Hamas,” the IDF said overnight. 

“In the framework of his role, Azz al-Din Bik was responsible for managing the activities of the brigade's terrorists and directing them to advance and carry out terror plots against IDF forces and civilians of the State of Israel,” it added. “In addition, he acted with the aim of trying to rebuild the brigade's force structure, which suffered a severe blow throughout the war.”  

Qatar Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansar said Tuesday that any threat to infrastructure is a “violation of international law,” after Iran’s parliament speaker suggested potential strikes. 

“Both the Americans and other countries should know that, as we have said before, in a region where we do not sell oil, no one will sell oil, and if our security is not ensured, no infrastructure will be safe,” Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf was quoted as saying by Iranian state media. 

Al-Ansari, when asked about Ghalibaf’s remarks, said “With respect to infrastructure and institutions, any threat is a violation of international law and good neighborliness” according to Al Jazeera. 

“Every mediation is a herculean effort,” Al-Ansari also said about efforts to end the war between the U.S. and Iran. 

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf suggested Tuesday that Iran could further disrupt the worldwide flow of energy if it is not allowed to sell oil. 

“Both the Americans and other countries should know that, as we have said before, in a region where we do not sell oil, no one will sell oil, and if our security is not ensured, no infrastructure will be safe,” Ghalibaf said, according to Iran’s Tasnim news agency. 

Ghalibaf made the remark as the U.S. military continues to enforce a blockade of Iranian ports. The Treasury Department also has launched an Operation Economic Outcast campaign against Tehran to increase pressure on its economy. 

“The leaders of the White House must know that the proud and history-making Iranian nation will never retreat in the face of threats, rhetoric, or an air and commercial blockade,”  Ghalibaf reportedly added. 

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO) said a ship caught fire after being hit by a “suspected unknown projectile” while traveling in the Strait of Hormuz. 

“The fire has since been extinguished and the vessel is underway,” the UKMTO said Tuesday, noting that the incident happened last night.  

“Crew are safe, there has been no reported environmental impact or damage assessment. Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO, whilst authorities investigate,” it added. 

The UKMTO said in a report last week that the threat level is “severe” for ships traveling in the Strait of Hormuz. 

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday that a suspected terror plot thwarted at RAF Fairford in the U.K. over the weekend posed a “very serious threat” and appeared to involve a foreign actor. Five people were arrested and later released on bail.

Rubio also said more information about the incident would emerge in the coming days.

“What could have happened in the UK over the weekend is a very serious situation. It’s one that clearly involves the hands of a foreign actor,” he said on "Hannity" without going into details.

“And that is we are dealing with elements in the world.

“And in the case of Iran, for example, who have openly threatened to attack American interests globally, we're going to always take that very seriously.

“There will be repercussions for that if it ever were to happen or even attempted.

“And but what happened this weekend could have been and was, I think, a very serious threat.”

Rubio also thanked the U.K. for its cooperation and assistance.

“There's a lot more news that will come out on this in the days to come, but there's only so much I can say right now at this point about it, other than this is a very serious thing. And it was — it was responded to appropriately," he said.

Yesterday's Fox News Digital live blog offers additional coverage of the conflict with Iran.

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) spokesperson Hossein Mohebbi claimed Tuesday that President Donald Trump has been a “big liar” during the U.S.-Iran war, a report said. 

"The enemy [U.S.] knows that Iran is not after nuclear weapons," Hossein Mohebbi was quoted by Reuters as saying. "Their issue with Iran is not its nuclear program but rather its vastness, which they want to destroy." 

"The fact that the Americans might manage, at great expense, considerable trouble, and high risk to sneak a small vessel through the Strait of Hormuz under cover of darkness to export, say, 100 or 200 barrels of oil does not mean the Strait is open," Mohebbi reportedly added. 

Trump, over the weekend, repeated his vow that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. 

“They want to make a deal where they open the strait immediately because they're losing so badly,” Trump also said Saturday. "We’re winning tremendously. We have total control of the Hormuz Strait, massive amounts of oil are coming out of the Hormuz Strait.” 

Reuters, citing data from analytics firm Kpler, reported that oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz in September were near 10 million barrels a day, about half the volume prior to the war.