After ​a months-long naval blockade on Iran, ‌the US military is setting up a task force to bolster Washington's efforts to restrict Tehran's movement ​of advanced weapons systems and other ​sanctioned material across its land borders and ⁠the Caspian Sea. The announcement of the ​task force, which has not been previously reported, ​will be made later on Saturday by the US Central Command, according to a statement seen by ​Reuters ahead of its release. Task Force Iron ​Gate, as it will be called, will be based ‌in ⁠Tampa, Florida, and will coordinate with other US government agencies. Beyond the movement of weapons, it will also focus on dual-use and ​illegal revenue streams. "Strengthening ​CENTCOM’s ⁠collaboration with US interagency partners will further constrain Iran’s ability to ​finance terrorism, rebuild weapons factories, and ​replenish ⁠their military," Admiral Brad Cooper, the commander of Central Command, said in a statement. Central Command ⁠estimated ​that its naval blockade has ​prevented Iran from exporting more than $25 billion in crude ​oil. Iran navy says tanker hits mine, catches fire in Hormuz Iran's navy said an oil tanker caught fire after hitting a naval mine in the eastern Strait of Hormuz, Iranian media reported on Saturday. This comes as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday that he held phone calls with 12 foreign ministers over the past 48 hours to discuss regional developments. In a post on the US social media platform Instagram, Araghchi said he outlined Tehran’s “fundamental positions” and discussed the need to "respect national sovereignty, end aggression and threats, avoid harmful foreign interference" and prevent "the spread of insecurity." Iran's top diplomat added that he also called for establishing "regional security arrangements without the involvement of powers from outside the region." Araghchi said the discussions included separate phone calls with his counterparts from Türkiye, Pakistan, Qatar, Oman, Egypt, Jordan, the Greek Cypriot administration of Southern Cyprus, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Tunisia, and Iraq. Qatar says its mediation efforts between US and Iran continue to prevent escalation Qatar's Prime Minister said the country's mediation efforts between the US and Iran were continuing to prevent the situation in the region from spiralling out of control, Al Jazeera reported on Saturday. The US administration remained willing to find a solution even after the midterm elections, signalling that Washington's interest in reaching an agreement had not changed, Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said. Significant progress had been made, and Al-Thani expressed confidence that a settlement could be reached. "We cannot wait to reach a perfect agreement; we hope to reach a good agreement," he said. Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency said on Saturday that initial reports indicated two missiles had struck Qeshm Island, adding there was no official information on possible damage. The United States has not yet announced any attack on targets inside Iran. Earlier on Saturday, Trump said his administration was talking to representatives from Tehran, adding "we are doing very well with Iran." Countries in the region had been anticipating that US President Donald Trump, who has held off on strikes on Iran during the weeks leading up to Tuesday's midterm elections, could restart attacks once the voting is over. Iran has repeatedly said it would respond to new attacks by striking at US and Israeli targets in neighbouring countries. Iran has been proposing its own seven-day plan since September, so far rejected by Trump. It calls for Washington to lift a blockade of Iranian ports, unfreeze assets and approve an Iranian-backed route through the Strait of Hormuz, after which the contested waterway would be reopened. US offers up to $20m reward for information on Iran's nuclear program: CENTCOM The US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Friday that the Rewards for Justice program is offering up to $20 million for information about Iran's nuclear program. "Rewards for Justice is offering a reward of up to $20 million and possible relocation for information about Iran’s nuclear program," CENTCOM said in a post on US social media platform X. Rewards for Justice is offering a reward of up to $20 million and possible relocation for information about Iran’s nuclear program, including its facilities, equipment, and associated personnel, such as those in the scientific community, or the movement of any of the above.… pic.twitter.com/ruTNlZxqFh — U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) November 7, 2026 It said the information could cover facilities, equipment, and associated personnel, including those in the scientific community, as well as their movements. CENTCOM also shared a link on the Rewards for Justice website where people can submit tips. Trump says US "could be an occupier" in Iran US President Donald Trump on Friday suggested that Washington "could be an occupier" in Iran, claiming it controls the Strait of Hormuz and is extracting record amounts of oil from the strategic waterway. Speaking to reporters after a speech at a NASA facility in the state of Florida, Trump contrasted the US war with Iran with the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which he claimed killed 25,000 in October. "That’s called a war," Trump said, referring to fighting between Moscow and Kyiv. He argued that the war with Iran, now in its ninth month, could not be called a war because "nobody's even wounded" in several months. "All we are is maybe an occupier. (We) could be an occupier," he added. Trump again claimed the US controls the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for global energy supplies. "We control the Hormuz Strait," he said. "We’re taking out more oil now than we have at any time in the history of the Hormuz Strait." Asked whether US forces carried out reported strikes near Iran's Qeshm Island on Friday, Trump initially declined to discuss it but acknowledged limited military operations. "I don't want to talk about. We do minor strikes," he said. He added that Iranian forces had constructed an anti-aircraft installation that the US destroyed within minutes. Vice President Vance leads quiet push for new US-Iran deal: Axios US Vice President JD Vance has been personally involved in indirect talks with Iran for the last two weeks to secure a new ceasefire and restart nuclear negotiations, according to a report on Friday. Axios, citing two sources with knowledge of the matter, said Vance has been speaking almost daily with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and other mediators. White House envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential adviser Jared Kushner are also involved. Sources said Vance and the mediators have discussed holding a working-level technical meeting between the two sides in the coming days, but it has not yet taken place. Two weeks ago, Vance sent a letter to Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, proposing a return to direct negotiations, it said. Iranian officials said the letter created positive momentum. Iran says air defence downed US MQ-9 drone above Qeshm Island The Iranian army said on Friday that its air defence force shot down a US MQ-9 drone above Qeshm Island. The army's public relations office said the drone was targeted and destroyed by "advanced systems" operating within the integrated air defense network, Tasnim news agency reported. The statement described the aircraft as belonging to the "invading American enemy" and the US military as a "terrorist army." The US did not comment on the claim. Qeshm, Iran’s largest island, is located in the southern province of Hormozgan, near the northern approaches to the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway connecting the Gulf with the Gulf of Oman. US warns Americans in Middle East of heightened threat from Iran-related attacks The US State Department urged Americans in the Middle East on Friday to exercise heightened vigilance, citing an increased threat of armed attacks by Yemen's Houthi group. "Americans currently in the Middle East should exercise heightened vigilance due to the increased threat of armed attacks by Iranian-supported Houthis and Iranian efforts to target US government officials in the region," it said in an advisory on US social media platform X. 🚨 US urges Americans in Middle East to exercise heightened vigilance over alleged threats from Yemen's Houthis and Iran ✈️ State Department warns of potential flight cancellations, airspace closures and travel disruptions https://t.co/sVmghXR4mb pic.twitter.com/bqdN34aeE7 — Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) November 7, 2026 Iran’s army warns of possible renewed US attack despite reported naval withdrawal Iran warned on Friday that the US could launch another military attack against the country despite the reported withdrawal of American naval vessels from the region, the ISNA news agency reported. Army spokesman Brig. Gen. Mohammad Akraminia said the possibility of renewed US military action could not be ruled out, suggesting Washington might resort to another attack because of its political difficulties. He warned that any renewed US attack would face a decisive response from Iran’s armed forces. Citing instructions from the supreme leader, Akraminia said the military’s response to any attack must be immediate, effective and without geographical restrictions. He added that US bases and interests beyond West Asia and the Gulf were within range of Iranian missiles and drones, and could be targeted in the event of another attack. The spokesman said the Strait of Hormuz remained under Iran’s strategic control and would not reopen until its conditions were met. He stressed that Iran’s armed forces remained fully prepared to defend the country.