Talks between the U.S. and Iran have stalled despite the two countries signing a memorandum of understanding in June, aimed at ending the war that began with joint American-Israeli strikes on the country in February.
The two sides have since exchanged strikes. The U.S. says it is enforcing a blockade preventing any Iranian ships from entering or leaving the country, while Iran claims control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz and continues to claim attacks on shipping transiting the waterway.
Meanwhile, intensified fighting between Saudi-backed Yemeni forces and Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen has seen the latter repeatedly attack Saudi military and oil infrastructure facilities.
Intel finds Iran has 'substantially increased' efforts to target US officials abroad
The U.S. intelligence community has gathered information through various channels indicating that Iran has "substantially increased" efforts to target American officials abroad, according to a memo sent from Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
"The lethal plotting efforts by the Iranians against U.S. citizens have reached advanced stages in both the Middle East and certain other countries," Clayton wrote.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio looks on as he speaks with members of the media at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026.
Kylie Cooper/Pool Reuters via AP
Clayton also said that senior members of Rubio's staff had been briefed on the matter and that he would make every effort to downgrade as much of the intelligence as possible so that it could be shared more widely within the State Department.
A U.S. official confirmed the authenticity of the memo, which is unclassified and dated Oct. 23.
"When it comes to our staffing at embassies, we constantly evaluate new information about the security environment," the official said. "The threat of Houthi attacks and of Iranian terror plots targeting U.S. officials are informing our decisions on staffing adjustments for embassies on restricted operating status in the region."
The existence of the memo was first reported by Axios.
-ABC News' Shannon Kingston
Oct 23, 2026, 4:36 PM EDT
Tanker hit by projectile near Oman, UKMTO says
A tanker reported being hit by an unknown projectile while transiting in the Strait of Hormuz Thursday afternoon local time, according to the UKMTO.
The tanker was able to continue its voyage to the next port of call, according to the UKMTO.
-ABC News' Desiree Adib
Oct 23, 2026, 12:07 PM EDT
Trump says there is more oil coming out of Strait of Hormuz now than there was a year ago
Asked about whether a the stalemate between the U.S. and Iran could continue for a year and if the U.S. is preparing for an extended conflict, President Donald Trump told reporters the U.S. "could end it very quickly."
"Iran is a failing nation. We're taking all the oil out that we want," Trump told reporters on Wednesday. "Everybody is taking oil out. In fact, last week we took more oil out than we have ever taken it out even before the war."
"They have no money, the question is do we want to finish it off or do we let it do we just want to let it wither because we're getting everything we want," Trump said.
Trump also pointed to Iran's rising inflation.
"Iran is not able to do much now. And we could if we wanted to just take all of the oil, we could take the whole country, we could take all of the oil," Trump said.
Oct 22, 2026, 11:08 AM EDT
US, Israel draw up plans to renew Iran strikes after midterms, sources say
The Israel Defense Forces and the U.S. military have drawn up plans to renew joint strikes on Iran in the coming weeks, two Israeli sources familiar with the plans told ABC News.
The Israeli sources said the strikes would almost certainly take place after the U.S. midterm elections, citing President Donald Trump’s reluctance to further destabilize oil markets in the final days of the campaign.
"Hunting season is open as soon as the elections end and it's obvious that they're not going to wait long," one source said.
The New York Times was first to report on the renewed planning. The White House did not respond to a request for comment on the reporting and the Pentagon declined to comment.
U.S. Navy Command Master Chief John Shubert, assigned to Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 115, conducts leadership training aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, Oct. 20, 2026.
US Navy
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is firmly in favor of renewed action against Iran, but both sources said the decision for joint strikes to resume is “only for Trump to decide.”
One Israeli source did not rule out Israel striking unilaterally should the U.S. choose not to participate, but added Israel would still require U.S. consent.
The plans to renew joint strikes were discussed during Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s unannounced visit to Israel earlier this week, according to one Israeli source, who added that new intelligence was shared between both sides.
Joint strikes would aim to further erode Iran’s economy and build on the ongoing U.S. blockade, with targets to include the petrochemical facilities crucial to Iran’s oil industry, the sources said.
One source also said that striking Iranian nuclear facilities, such as those at Pickaxe Mountain, is a part of the new plans, but added there are no plans to strike civilian infrastructure like power plants.
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One source added that regime change in Iran, and not a negotiated deal, is the Israeli government’s top goal. “The only question is the timing,” they said.
The White House said Thursday that the U.S. would not attack Iran prior to the midterm elections in response to reports Israel and the U.S. had drawn up new plans to strike Iran in the coming weeks.
"As President [Donald] Trump stated, Iran is in very bad condition, both economically and militarily, and the blockade will remain in full force and effect, with oil flowing in record numbers of barrels through the Hormuz Strait," White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement. "The United States will not be attacking Iran at any time prior to the midterm elections."
-ABC News’ Matt Rivers, Jordana Miller and Katherine Faulders
