★ IRAN
Trump Vows ‘Total Victory,’ Taps Vance For Iran Talks
At Arlington on Wednesday, President Trump said the United States had won militarily against Iran but wanted “total victory” before ending the war. The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump authorized Vice President JD Vance to pursue renewed negotiations, including a possible meeting with Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei in Doha. No meeting has been scheduled, and Iranian officials deny talks are underway.
Iran Refuses Uranium Transfer, Threatens Wider Strikes, Demands Concessions
Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei said “not a single particle” of enriched nuclear material would leave Iran, including for Russia, and threatened U.S. bases in Europe if Iran were attacked again. Chief of Staff Ali Abdollahi claimed missile and drone production could continue under bombardment and warned of asymmetric strikes against perceived threats. Defense Ministry spokesman Reza Talaei-Nik said Washington must accept Iran’s demands or surrender. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf conditioned renewed talks and reopening Hormuz on seven terms, including ending the U.S. naval blockade, lifting sanctions, withdrawing additional American forces, and securing a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Iran Strikes Omani Island Navigation Aids; Damage Remains Unclear
Three sources told Reuters that Iran attacked ship-navigation equipment on Oman’s Didamar Island in the Strait of Hormuz. Reuters verified smoke in video and satellite thermal activity but could not confirm destruction. An Omani official separately denied that navigation aids had been struck. Maritime sources expected limited shipping disruption because alternative systems remain available. U.S.-assisted commercial transits and tanker transfers near Oman and the UAE continue to support Gulf oil exports.
G7 Endorses Hormuz Demining With One Tanker Incident
UK Maritime Trade Operations issued warning 202-26 on November 11 concerning a tanker transiting the Strait of Hormuz; crew status and damage remained unclear. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard separately claimed a tanker struck a mine and caught fire, but officials had not confirmed whether the reports described the same vessel. In a declaration that day, G7 foreign ministers endorsed CENTCOM’s maritime escort and demining operations and a separate French-British initiative. They opposed Iranian transit restrictions or fees and pledged continued coordinated pressure absent a diplomatic agreement.
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★ THE GULF
Saudi Arabia Intercepts Houthi Barrage; Yanbu Attack Unconfirmed
Saudi authorities reported intercepting seven Houthi missiles and drones on Wednesday, including three cruise missiles toward Riyadh, two drones and two ballistic missiles over western Saudi Arabia. Civil Defense said debris from intercepted missiles fell near Mecca, with no immediate reports of casualties or damage. The Houthis denied targeting the holy city and separately claimed an attack on an oil pumping station at Yanbu, a Red Sea export hub. Saudi officials have not confirmed a strike on the facility.
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★ IRAQ
Iraq Probes Alleged Oil Smuggling In Militia Stronghold
Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi ordered an investigation Wednesday into suspected petroleum-product smuggling in Jurf al-Sakhar, a stronghold of Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah. An intelligence report alleged pipeline tapping and tanker movements; Babil’s governor denied the accusations. Parliament separately opened an inquiry into reported routes carrying oil from Kirkuk and the Kurdistan Region through Iran to Afghanistan. The investigations have not established the allegations.
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★ YEMEN
Houthis Claim Ballistic Missile Attack On Aden Headquarters
Two explosions were heard in Aden late Wednesday, Al Jazeera reported. The Houthis claimed ballistic-missile strikes on a command headquarters and operations room in the city’s al-Buraiqa district. Independent confirmation of impacts at the claimed targets, casualties and damage was not immediately available. The announcement came during a wider wave of Houthi missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia.
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★ ISRAEL
Israeli Broadcaster Reports Preparations For Possible Iran Strike
Israel’s public broadcaster KAN reported Wednesday that security-cabinet directives instructed the military to increase readiness for a potential attack on Iran. The cabinet last met October 5; the report did not establish a new strike authorization or date. Gadi Eisenkot, tasked with forming the next government, urged caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to avoid military operations that could be postponed.
Israel Confirms Five-Year Phaseout of U.S. Military Aid
Netanyahu’s office said Wednesday that Israel would gradually end U.S. military assistance, contradicting President Trump’s timetable for ending it this year. Ynet reported a five-year phaseout and negotiations over a replacement agreement that could increase joint missile-defense funding. The existing U.S. agreement provides $3.8 billion annually and expires in September 2028.
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★ Disclaimer: This publication is a digest of various news sources compiled by the Early Phoenix team and edited by Rania Kisar. The items are curated, concise summaries of news items hyperlinked within each story. The items and summaries presented do not necessarily represent the views of the American Center for Levant Studies.