Iran's Security Chief Says New War Plan Is Ready as Ships Report Attacks Around Arabian Peninsula

Since the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran began in February, the fight has moved from missiles to chokepoints, blockades and oil prices. Today, Oct. 18, the rhetoric moved again, this time toward the infrastructure that carries the world's data.

Rezaei's warning

Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said in a post on X that Iran's armed forces have prepared a response to any new "act of adventurism" that would be "far more devastating than the 12-day and 40-day wars." He was referring to Israel's strikes in June 2025 and the conflict the U.S. and Israel started in February.

"Iran's new operational plan will not follow the rules with which they are familiar," Rezaei wrote.

He did not say what the plan involves. He did say, according to Iranian state media, that undersea cables, data centers and AI facilities in the region, which he valued at $2 trillion, would be "within range" if war resumes.

In comments to Press TV, Rezaei also called Washington's response to Iranian demands over the Strait of Hormuz "inadequate." "We are not in the process of responding to the Americans. They have responded to us, and we consider their response inadequate," he said.

The Iranian conditions and the U.S. position

Tehran is pressing the U.S. to accept seven conditions for reopening Hormuz and resuming negotiations. They include lifting the American naval blockade and easing restrictions on Iranian oil sales.

Rezaei claimed Washington had accepted some of the demands but did not say which. The Trump administration has not publicly acknowledged agreeing to any of them.

Trump has said, "I reject their proposal." He has also described recent exchanges with Tehran as "productive discussions," while keeping the blockade in place and insisting Iran not obtain a nuclear weapon.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, quoted by IRNA, said Iran will not give up its sovereign rights under pressure but remains ready for dialogue.

On Thursday, Trump told Newsmax, "I wouldn't use nuclear. We don't have to. We're the greatest nuclear power in the world." He was asked about reports that the Pentagon was weighing the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb. He also said he does not foresee deploying ground troops in Iran.

Breitbart reported that Trump said last week he did not intend to launch new attacks before the November midterms, though he has kept military action on the table if talks fail. "We're going to win," Trump said of the negotiations.

A new authority aimed at Gulf business

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf announced on X that a "Persian Gulf Data Authority" is coming. He told governments, funds and firms in the region not to give "finance, equity, land and energy" to any AI or data company "aiding invasions or killing children."

"Assist them and face our enforcement," Ghalibaf wrote.

He offered few details. What the body would be, and how it would enforce anything outside Iran, is unstated. The announcement points to a possible effort to penalize companies operating across the Gulf.

Ship attacks around the peninsula

The UK Maritime Trade Operations center, which is affiliated with the British Navy, logged three incidents in three days.

• Friday: A tanker northeast of Saudi Arabia reported being hit by a rocket-propelled grenade fired from a small boat.
• Saturday: The master of a liquefied natural gas tanker southwest of Yemen reported a skiff with seven people aboard approaching. The skiff fired twice, and the tanker's security team answered with two warning shots.
• Sunday: A tug traveling south, northeast of the United Arab Emirates, was hit by two unknown projectiles.

UKMTO did not identify who fired in any of the three cases.

On Friday, Saudi Arabia's military spokesman said it intercepted several missiles fired over the Red Sea, including one heading toward the Yanbu oil export terminal. Three drones were also destroyed over Riyadh and the kingdom's southern regions.

Oil reacts

Brent futures touched $110 a barrel Friday, the first time since May, before settling at $109.86, up 3.7%. U.S. West Texas Intermediate settled at $101.41, up 3.5%.

WTI gained more than 10% over the week, and Brent rose nearly 5%. U.S. markets are closed for the weekend, so Monday's open will show whether Rezaei's data-infrastructure threat adds to the premium already built into prices.

The open question is whether Washington answers Iran's seven conditions. Trump has rejected one Iranian proposal and left talks open. Tehran says it will not go back to its old negotiating framework.

The blockade, the shipping attacks and the threat to $2 trillion in regional infrastructure all remain in play.