Strait of Hormuz shut until Tehran's conditions met, Ghalibaf says
The Strait of Hormuz remains a flashpoint with peace talks stalled.
President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting military, government and infrastructure sites.
Delegations from the U.S. and Iran entered negotiations in June aimed at a war-ending deal based on a memorandum of understanding signed by both countries.
Those talks broke down as the U.S. and Iran continued to exchange strikes, with the strategic Strait of Hormuz as the primary flashpoint. Trump then said in August that the U.S. would launch a "crushing economic operation" to force Tehran into submission.
Key Headlines
- Strait of Hormuz won't open until Iranian conditions met, Ghalibaf says
- State Department advises Americans to 'seriously reconsider' travel in Middle East, citing Houthi hostilities in Saudi Arabia
- Iran’s security chief calls for end to Saudi-Yemen war, says future nuclear policy depends on US conduct
- Saudi Arabia confirms Houthis tried to attack Riyadh with a ballistic missile
Qatar warns Bab el-Mandeb Strait closure would be 'catastrophic'
Qatar warned Tuesday that the closure of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait would have “catastrophic” consequences for global trade, amid the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and recent advances by Ansarallah along Yemen’s Red Sea coast.
"The world is suffering enough with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, so we cannot also afford to add the Bab el-Mandeb into that equation," Qatari Foreign Ministry official Ibrahim al-Hashmi told reporters.
He said closing the southern entrance to the Red Sea would be "catastrophic for the entire world," adding that Qatar is pushing for "diplomacy, dialogue" as the regional situation continues to escalate.
-ABC News' Desiree Adib
Saudi authorities issue safety warning in Mecca
Saudi Arabia's General Directorate of Civil Defense on Tuesday issued a rare public warning of a "potential danger" for the holy city of Mecca, as well as for the Jeddah and Taif regions.
The alerts instructed motorists to stay away from bridges, urged residents to avoid gatherings and to stay away from high-rise buildings.
The alerts lasted for around an hour, after which time the directorate said the danger to all three areas had passed. The warnings came amid intensified cross-border attacks between Saudi forces and the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
-ABC News' Lama Hasan and Joe Simonetti
Tanker attacked in Strait of Hormuz, UKMTO says
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Centre on Tuesday reported that a vessel was "struck by an unknown projectile" in the Strait of Hormuz.
The incident occurred on Monday evening, the UKMTO said in its alert. "There is no reported damage or environmental impact. Authorities are investigating," the message read.
13 civilians injured in Houthi strikes, Saudi Arabia says
Thirteen civilians were injured in Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia on Monday, according to the spokesman for the Saudi Coalition Forces.
Civilian infrastructure in the cities of Khamis Mushait, Abha and Taif were struck by ballistic missiles and drones, with seven homes damaged, the spokesman said.
The Saudi military will "deal with these attacks responsibly and decisively," the spokesman said.