Iran claims four tankers hit mines in Hormuz; UKMTO reports another tanker struck · Qatar-brokered US-Iran talks move to Doha · Oil ends October at six-month high

Risk stays high on Saturday, Oct 31, three days before the Nov. 3 midterms. Shipping attacks and diplomacy are both picking up.

Strait of Hormuz: Iran's Revolutionary Guard says four tankers, including a supertanker carrying more than 2 million barrels, struck mines and caught fire on what it calls "unauthorised routes." These claims have not been independently verified. UK maritime authorities (UKMTO) separately report a crude tanker hit by an unidentified projectile during an outbound transit, and Oman says it evacuated 25 crew from a damaged vessel. Thursday's attack on the Panama-flagged Louise 1 is the first known successful use of limpet mines in the strait since the war began; its crew is safe. CENTCOM insists the southern shipping lanes are safe and open.

Diplomacy: President Trump said Friday the war will "get wrapped up soon" but gave no timeline, repeating that Iran must never get a nuclear weapon. Qatari mediators held more than 12 hours of talks in Tehran on Friday, and Axios reports talks continue in Doha today with "positive progress." Iran's foreign minister warned of an "earth-shattering blow" if Iran is attacked again. Earlier reports that Gulf allies were told to prepare for strikes as soon as Nov. 4 have not been confirmed by Washington.

Saudi Arabia/Yemen: Saudi Arabia intercepted a drone near Riyadh, and the Houthis launched new missile attacks on Aden.

Ukraine/Russia: Russia launched 134 drones overnight; 105 were downed or jammed, with hits at 20 locations. Strikes on energy sites left much of Dnipro without power and parts of Kyiv without water. One person was killed in the Dnipropetrovsk region and five were injured in Kharkiv.

Energy: Brent settled Friday at $117.64 a barrel, its highest close since April, up 13.6% for October and a fourth straight monthly gain. WTI settled at $104.12.

For USL readers: no new action needed. Keep fuel topped off, expect price swings around the election, and check State Department advisories before any