Senior Iranian security official says Tehran will not separate Netanyahu from Trump

A senior Iranian security official says Tehran will not distinguish between Netanyahu and Trump in any military escalation. Iran would treat action by either capital as a trigger for the same response.

On Tuesday, Iran's foreign minister said the Strait of Hormuz could reopen within six days if US demands ease. Tanker traffic remains depressed by mines and attacks. The representative of Iran's Supreme Leader in Khuzestan said any reopening must happen within Iran's arrangements and conditions.

Trump has publicly pledged no strikes before November 3. Reports say Trump has ordered plans to hit Iranian energy sites with the Mother of All Bombs if combat resumes. Asked about embassy staff told to leave the Middle East, Trump said he does not know whether that has happened and does not know about a move of embassy personnel. Reports say Israeli fighter jets have been exercising in Iraqi airspace near the Iranian border, and that any renewed action is expected to wait until after the Israeli and US midterms. Netanyahu has separately pushed for earlier action. Israel's Katz said the Iranian regime is at its weakest point ever. The State Department said Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia are increasing, naming civilian airports and critical infrastructure as targets.

Since late September, Trump's no-strike pledge has been the main reason crude oil's risk premium has stayed low. If Tehran treats Washington and Jerusalem as equally liable to retaliation, the split traders have relied on, with Washington confrontational and Jerusalem at times open to mediation, no longer holds. Any Israeli move before the election could then draw a direct Iranian response against US assets too. That would close the timing gap that has kept the premium down.