Diplomatic response remains unclear
Iranian officials said they received an official U.S. response to Tehran’s latest proposal for ending the seven-month war. However, they did not reveal its contents or confirm whether Washington rejected the offer. President Donald Trump had publicly dismissed the plan days earlier.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi presented the response to President Masoud Pezeshkian during a Cabinet meeting. Pezeshkian said Iran would pursue an agreement while defending its people’s rights. Moreover, he argued that any settlement must follow a win-win strategy.
The meeting followed Araghchi’s return from the United Nations General Assembly in New York. There, Iranian and U.S. officials held indirect talks. In addition, Iranian representatives met with Qatari and Pakistani mediators during the gathering.
Regional security incidents continue
Meanwhile, a copilot allegedly stabbed the captain of a FlyDubai flight carrying 174 people to Israel. The attacker then apparently tried to crash the aircraft. Passengers and crew restrained him, allowing the plane to land safely in Saudi Arabia.
Three passengers received treatment for minor injuries after the emergency landing. According to Netanyahu, the attacker was an Omani citizen who remained under interrogation in Saudi Arabia. Israel had scrambled warplanes because officials initially feared a possible hijacking.
Elsewhere, Israeli strikes killed five Palestinians and wounded 19 in Gaza. One attack killed a woman in Gaza City, while another struck a bus. Gaza’s Health Ministry says Israeli airstrikes have killed more than 1,400 Palestinians since the ceasefire began.
The U.S. military also completed its troop withdrawal from Iraq after a 12-year mission against the Islamic State group. Baghdad presented the departure as evidence of greater sovereignty. Nevertheless, some Iraqis, especially in the Kurdish region, expressed concern about the change.
Shipping recovers as economic pressure persists
Alternative routes have restored Gulf oil and fuel exports to nearly prewar levels. These options include Red Sea and Suez Canal routes. They also include a pipeline to Fujairah and a U.S.-protected nighttime corridor through the Strait of Hormuz.
Kpler reported average weekly shipments of 21.8 million barrels per day. Before the war, the comparable level was 23.3 million barrels. Although exports have recovered, the replacement routes remain slower and more expensive.
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi said Suez Canal revenue has fallen by a cumulative $20 billion since the Gaza war began. He linked the loss to regional conflict and disrupted maritime traffic. As a result, Egypt faces tighter budgets and higher food and energy prices.
Finally, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said the kingdom could deter threats from any source. His remarks followed advances by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. The group has also targeted Saudi oil facilities and disrupted exports near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
References
The Associated Press. (2026, September 30). Iran indicates it received a US response on its war-ending proposal, with details still unclear. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-saudi-arabia-uae-war-september-30-2026-449f9e378b8c9bc66fe36712efdfa6b5