The statement said the vessel struck a mine, triggering an explosion and leaving it on fire.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has ordered the country’s armed forces to respond immediately to any enemy threat without geographical limitations, as tensions with the United States and Israel continue alongside reports of renewed diplomatic efforts.

In a statement published on his official Telegram account on Saturday, Khamenei said Iran would determine the timing and conditions for ending any renewed military or alleged terrorist attacks by its enemies.

He also ordered an update of the country’s military target list to include US and Israeli physical and non-physical assets within the reach of Iranian forces.

Iran Accuses US of Attacking Fishing Boats Near Qeshm Island

Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB, citing an official in Hormozgan province, reported that US forces attacked two fishing boats near Qeshm Island on Saturday.

The incident reportedly left two fishermen missing and another wounded. There was no immediate confirmation or response from the United States.

The reported attack came as Iranian Army spokesperson Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia warned that any renewed US military action alongside Israel could expand the conflict across a much wider geographical area.

In a statement posted on X, Akraminia said another military operation by US President Donald Trump, allegedly under pressure from Israel, would cause the flames of war to spread beyond the current region.

He added that the outcome of any conflict would not be determined by Trump.

Citing what he described as Washington’s history of betraying diplomatic efforts, Akraminia said Iran’s armed forces were continuously strengthening their combat readiness and closely monitoring US military movements in the region.

Iranian Delegation Arrives in Qatar for Reported Talks

Meanwhile, an Iranian delegation, including a deputy to Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, has arrived in Doha for discussions following reported progress in indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington.

Qatari newspaper Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, citing an Iranian source, reported that the delegation had travelled to the Qatari capital to facilitate engagement with the country’s mediators.

The visit followed intensive discussions between a Qatari negotiating delegation and Iranian officials in Tehran, which reportedly resulted in progress in indirect negotiations with the United States.

The Iranian source said discussions with Washington were taking place indirectly through the mediator rather than through direct negotiations.

Sources familiar with Qatar- and Pakistan-led mediation efforts told the newspaper that a US delegation was also expected to join the diplomatic process in Doha, potentially allowing direct discussions between American and Iranian representatives.

Trump Could Consider Major Iran Strike Amid Midterm Election Pressure: Report

A report by Axios suggested that Trump could become more inclined to approve a major military operation against Iran if Republicans perform poorly in the US midterm elections.

A US official quoted by the publication said Trump might take a bold step if he felt politically embarrassed or marginalised. The official also suggested Iranian authorities were being told that the current period offered their best opportunity to reach an agreement.

However, a White House official rejected the suggestion that election results would influence Trump’s decisions on Iran.

According to the report, Qatari mediators spent more than 12 hours in Tehran on Friday, maintaining regular contact with the White House as efforts continued to revive negotiations.

A diplomatic source described the discussions as showing positive progress, with further talks scheduled for Saturday in Doha.

Negotiations have reportedly stalled over competing demands. Washington wants nuclear concessions from Tehran before returning to negotiations, while Iran is demanding that the United States lift its naval blockade, release frozen Iranian funds and allow oil sales.

The report also said Qatar was urging Iran to permit United Nations inspectors to access its bombed nuclear facilities in exchange for limited sanctions relief.

It highlighted differences within Trump’s administration, with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly sceptical about an agreement and favouring further pressure on Iran.

Vice President JD Vance and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were described as supporting a return to negotiations.

The developments come amid heightened tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important route for global energy shipments.

Araghchi Warns Europe Over Cost of Iran War

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also issued a warning in response to remarks by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz concerning the economic impact of the conflict.

Araghchi said that “red lines” were a thing of the past and warned that the cost of the war to Europe, estimated at 100 billion euros, was insignificant compared with the potential response by Iran’s armed forces against those threatening its people.

According to Clash Report, Merz had attributed the increase in costs over the previous eight months to higher energy prices resulting from the conflict.

The German chancellor reportedly said Europe had an economic interest in bringing the conflict to an end as quickly as possible.

Araghchi also accused Merz of supporting US-Israeli attacks on Iran, claiming that the operations amounted to the United States doing Europe’s “dirty work”.

Tanker Hit by Unidentified Projectile in Strait of Hormuz

Maritime security tensions also intensified after a crude oil tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile while completing an outbound transit through the Strait of Hormuz.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said it had received information about the incident from a verified source.

The agency did not disclose the vessel’s name, the precise location of the incident or the condition of its crew.

Authorities were investigating the incident, while UKMTO advised vessels operating in the area to exercise caution and report suspicious activity.

IRGC Reports Another Tanker Fire in Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy claimed that a fourth oil tanker had struck a mine and caught fire while attempting to pass through an unauthorised route in the Strait of Hormuz.

According to the IRGC’s public relations office, the supertanker was carrying more than two million barrels of crude oil and had ignored repeated radio warnings against using the southern passage.

The statement said the vessel struck a mine, triggering an explosion and leaving it on fire.

The IRGC described the route as unauthorised and claimed the incident was the fourth tanker fire in the strategic waterway since early Friday.

Oman Evacuates Injured Crew Member From Indian Boat

Separately, Oman said it had medically evacuated an injured crew member from an Indian boat that came under attack in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Royal Air Force of Oman carried out the evacuation in coordination with relevant authorities, according to a statement issued by the military’s Directorate of Moral Guidance.

The injured crew member was transferred from Khasab Hospital in the Musandam Governorate to Khawla Hospital in Muscat for specialised medical treatment.

Earlier, the Royal Navy of Oman said it had evacuated 25 crew members from a commercial vessel that caught fire after an attack approximately 1.6 nautical miles off the coast of Musandam.