Iran and US trade Hormuz strikes as New York talks continue; Houthis hit Yanbu

Daily sitrep, 25 September 2026

HEADLINE

First reports through the day pointed to further Iran–US exchanges around Hormuz vessels and IRGC Navy targets, alongside Houthi missile claims against Saudi oil sites at Yanbu and Riyadh, while New York diplomacy produced a reported Iranian seven-day reopening proposal.

TODAY IN REVIEW

The Strait of Hormuz remained the centre of the day's fighting claims. Reporting cited Iranian anti-ship cruise missiles and drones toward vessels, with three explosions reported in the strait [388]. Overnight and earlier coverage had already logged an IRGC strike on the bulk carrier MV Cape Dao, which was assisted by a tug while VLCCs continued along a designated route [230]; that incident should not be read as a fresh Friday-only development. Separate reports said US combat aircraft from the USS George H. W. Bush struck IRGC Navy targets, with explosions near Qeshm Island [398]. Iranian missiles were also reported from Sirik and Urmia toward the strait and the wider Gulf, with flight disruptions recorded across UAE and Gulf airspace [307][283]. CENTCOM said it had redirected 122 commercial vessels while enforcing the US blockade [14]. UKMTO figures for 20–23 September put US-facilitated transits at 117 [330]. Transit tallies remained contested: some midweek accounts cited around 60 crossings [42][362], against lower single-digit snapshots in other reporting [212][189].

In parallel, Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi said Tehran had presented the United States a proposal to reopen the strait within seven days if accepted [147][200], alongside a plan to halt hostilities and start nuclear talks [231][264]. President Pezeshkian said the offer awaited Trump's approval [31] and told Fox News that agreement could lead Iran to give up highly enriched uranium [235][260]. Washington described the talks as fruitful, while an Iranian official cited distance to an agreement [361], and US and Iranian negotiators were reported to have held a 120-minute session in New York [406]. An Iranian official separately said strait closure continues until conditions are met and that there would be no nuclear talks [19]. Trump said "all options on the table" at what he called a decisive turning point [183].

The Houthis claimed strikes on Aramco facilities in Yanbu and a "sensitive target" in Riyadh [354][353]. A Greek air defence system was reported to have intercepted a ballistic missile and drone over Yanbu [346], and Saudi Arabia was reported to have intercepted a wave of Houthi missiles [218]. Macron announced France would deploy soldiers, radars and air defence systems to protect the Yanbu site [365][347]. Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan convened an urgent chiefs-of-staff meeting under the Mecca joint defence pact [194], and the Saudi Grand Mufti called on troops to ready for sacrifice against the Houthis [239].

At the UN, Netanyahu addressed the General Assembly amid walkouts [355][394]. Iranian airline flights were suspended across Iraqi and UAE airports under US sanctions pressure, with Najaf among the first reported cuts and Baghdad, Muscat and UAE moves following in regional coverage [173][203][149].

BY REGION

Strait of Hormuz and Gulf

  • Reporting cited Iranian anti-ship cruise missiles and drones at vessels; three explosions reported [388]
  • Earlier/overnight reports already logged an IRGC strike on bulk carrier MV Cape Dao [230]
  • US aircraft from USS George H. W. Bush were reported to have struck IRGC Navy targets near Qeshm Island [398]
  • CENTCOM said it redirected 122 commercial vessels while enforcing the blockade [14]

Saudi Arabia and Yemen

  • Houthis claimed strikes on Aramco facilities in Yanbu and a target in Riyadh [354]
  • Greek air defence reported intercepting a ballistic missile and drone over Yanbu [346]
  • France said it would deploy troops and air defence to protect Yanbu [365]
  • Saudi, Turkish and Pakistani chiefs of staff met under the Mecca pact [194]

Iran and diplomacy

  • Araghchi presented a seven-day plan to reopen Hormuz and start nuclear talks [231]
  • US and Iran were reported to have held a 120-minute negotiation in New York [406]
  • Pezeshkian said Iran could give up highly enriched uranium under an agreement [235]

Lebanon

  • Israeli warplanes were reported to have raided Mansouri, Bani Hayyan, Qantara and Kfar Tibnit [308]
  • Lebanese PM Salam called for war's end and Israeli withdrawal in his UN address [69]

Gaza

  • Two Israeli reservists were killed when an explosive drone detonated at a post [196]
  • IDF halted all armed drone operations across all units following the incident [192]

MARKET IMPACT

Brent crude was 96.89, down 3.88%, and WTI was 91.02, down 3.03%, both live as at 17:35 UTC. Gold was 4,286.71, up 0.27%. The shekel was 0.3279, down 0.08%. At last close, ZIM shipping was 29.72, up 0.51%, and the aerospace and defence index was 213.95, up 0.56%. Absurd or clearly broken dollar-index and broad equity prints from the generator were omitted. We do not link these moves to any single event.

TONIGHT / TOMORROW

Watch for a US response to Iran's seven-day proposal after the New York session [406][147], and whether the Hormuz clashes continue overnight following the reported George H. W. Bush strikes [398]. Track further Houthi launches at Saudi oil infrastructure and the interception picture around Yanbu [354][346], the outcome of the Mecca pact chiefs-of-staff meeting [194], and the practical effect of the France deployment announcement [365]. The Yemeni Presidential Council's amnesty offer to Houthi defectors takes effect 26 September [7]. Airspace disruption around Gulf airports and the suspension of Iranian flights remain live variables [283][203].

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