US hits Iranian air defenses on Qeshm as Qatar pushes nuclear-inspection plan · Iran says Hormuz stays shut until its terms are met · Russia pounds Kyiv grid days before Abu Dhabi talks

Risk stays high on Saturday, Nov. 7. Limited US strikes on Iran and active Qatari mediation are running side by side, the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed, and Russia hit Kyiv's power and water systems hard ahead of next week's peace talks.

Iran and the Strait of Hormuz: President Trump confirmed what he called "minor" US strikes on Friday that knocked out an Iranian air defense site on Qeshm Island in the strait; Iranian state media reported two explosions there and said its air defenses downed a US MQ-9 drone. Trump also said the US has made "a lot of progress" in talks with Tehran. Qatar, the lead mediator, is pressing a proposal under which Iran would let UN inspectors visit its bombed nuclear sites and the US would lift its naval blockade, according to The Guardian; Qatar's foreign ministry on Saturday rejected reports that talks have failed. Iran's army spokesman said Hormuz will stay closed until Washington accepts Tehran's conditions. Iran's navy said on Saturday that another oil tanker struck a mine and caught fire in the eastern strait after entering a zone Tehran declared off-limits; that is Iran's account and the ship was not identified. US Central Command offered up to $20 million for information on Iran's nuclear program.

Ukraine/Russia: Russia launched 172 drones and 36 ballistic missiles overnight, Zelenskyy said, hitting Kyiv's Northern Bridge and energy sites in the Kyiv region and an electricity substation in Zhytomyr. Kyiv's mayor described power, heating and water supplies as "extremely difficult" with overnight temperatures near freezing; Ukrainian officials reported one killed and at least eight wounded. Putin confirmed US-Russia-Ukraine talks begin Tuesday, Nov. 10, in Abu Dhabi; Ukraine lists security guarantees, a Black Sea de-escalation, an energy ceasefire and prisoner swaps as priorities. Beijing says a Xi-Trump-Putin meeting at this month's APEC summit is under discussion.

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