Iran claims another tanker hit a mine in Hormuz · Trump says strikes could come “maybe tomorrow” · Russia sends 153 drones at Ukraine

Risk stays high into Sunday, Oct 25. The Strait of Hormuz remains mostly shut to commercial traffic, Washington and Tehran are trading mixed signals on talks, and the Houthi missile campaign against Saudi Arabia keeps widening.

Middle East: Iran's Revolutionary Guard Navy says another tanker carrying about 2 million barrels struck a mine early Sunday on a southern route Tehran does not allow. The ship has not been named and no maritime authority has confirmed it; it is the fourth such claim in about a week, and the Joint Maritime Information Center has found no confirmed mine strike this year. Confirmed attacks continue, though: UK maritime monitors count 119 vessels damaged this year. On diplomacy, Iran's ambassador to Pakistan said Saturday that Tehran had offered through Pakistani mediators to reopen the strait if the U.S. lifts its naval blockade, while the Guard-linked Tasnim agency called reports of a new offer fabricated. President Trump said Saturday that a strike on Iran could come "maybe tomorrow," while also leaving room for a deal.

Saudi Arabia/Yemen: The Saudi-led coalition says it shot down Houthi ballistic missiles aimed at Riyadh, Taif and Yanbu on Saturday, plus a drone over the Eastern Province. Civil Defense briefly issued alerts for Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah and other cities, and missile debris fell near Makkah, Jeddah, Taif and Rabigh. No casualties were reported.

Ukraine/Russia: Russia launched 153 drones overnight, 92 of them jet-powered Shaheds, plus Banderol cruise missiles. Ukraine says it downed 119, with hits at 15 locations. A drone hit an apartment building in Vinnytsia, injuring six and causing a partial blackout, and Kharkiv shopping centers were struck. Local officials report 8 killed and 51 injured across Ukraine over the past day.

Energy/U.S.: Oil markets are closed for the weekend; Brent's last settlement was $116.72 on Friday, its highest close since April. Early voting for the Nov. 3 midterms is under way.

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