# Iran war updates: US and Iran locked in standoff > As the eight-month US-Israel war on Iran continues, both sides dig in: Tehran closes the Strait of Hormuz and warns of stronger responses; Washington prepares for further military action. - Title: Iran war updates: US and Iran locked in standoff · Al Jazeera - Summary: As the eight-month US-Israel war on Iran continues, both sides dig in: Tehran closes the Strait of Hormuz and warns of stronger responses; Washington… - Keywords: breaking, iran, united states, israel, strait of hormuz, military conflict, diplomacy, yemen, houthis, saudi arabia, iraq, palestine - Source: Al Jazeera — https://aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2026/10/20/draft-3?traffic_source=rss - Read time: 4 min - Topics: breaking, iran, united states, israel, strait of hormuz, military conflict, diplomacy, yemen, houthis, saudi arabia, iraq, palestine ## Hormuz stays closed until US yields Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until Washington accepts Tehran's conditions. The strait will naturally remain closed before any agreement is reached. > The American side must accept our conditions for the strait to open to ships and vessels. ## Iran proposes Seven-Day Plan for reopening Araghchi says Washington agreed with Iran's Seven-Day Plan, which would fully reopen Hormuz on the sixth day, but the US wants additional clauses on issues from earlier negotiations. ## US must fulfil past commitments first Araghchi says the US must fulfil all commitments under the previously signed Islamabad memorandum of understanding before talks on other issues can begin. ## Iran rejects sanctions and military threats Araghchi says Iran will not surrender to economic sanctions or military threats. The only appropriate solution is diplomacy and a negotiated solution, he said. > Iran will in no way surrender to either economic sanctions or military threats. ## US prepared for further military action US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says Washington is prepared to take further military action against Iran if President Donald Trump orders it, having already done historic devastation to Iranian military capabilities. > We've done historic devastation to their military capabilities, but if they're not willing to give it up and the president asks to go even further, we're prepared. ## Hegseth confirms Israel visit with Netanyahu Pentagon boss Pete Hegseth confirms he visited Israel and spoke to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Uvda airbase in the southern Negev desert region about regional threats. > I was there visiting our troops and had a chance to talk to the prime minister. ## Peace deal with Iran extremely difficult US Secretary of State Marco Rubio tells CNBC that reaching an agreement with Iran is extremely difficult. Washington will continue economic pressure until Iran stops targeting commercial shipping in Hormuz. ## Oil transit through Hormuz above eighty percent Rubio says the transit of ships transporting oil through the Strait of Hormuz is above eighty percent compared with pre-war levels, something Iran has repeatedly denied. ## Iran's army chief warns of stronger response Iran's armed forces chief of staff Major-General Ali Abdollahi warns that any renewed attack on the country will meet a more forceful response, citing expanded drone production capabilities. ## Iran prolonging talks to weaken Trump Reuters reports that unnamed senior Iranian officials say Tehran is deliberately prolonging talks to try to weaken President Trump politically before November's US midterm elections. > Iran is preparing for renewed Israeli and US attacks, not for a deal with America to end the war. ## Iran convinced US will resume bombing Iranian officials told Reuters they believe the US leader is ready to relaunch attacks on Iran to break the deadlock in the eight-month war, despite Trump saying the US will not bomb Iran before November… > The clerical establishment is determined not to give Trump a political victory. ## Iran's mediation offer gets no response Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Iran has not received a response from Saudi Arabia or Yemen's Houthis to its offer to help mediate talks to end the fighting between them. ## Egypt delays vote on Yemen intervention Egypt has said it is ready to provide all necessary and possible support to Saudi Arabia following intensified Houthi strikes. The Egyptian parliament delayed a vote authorising armed forces support until October twenty-six. ## Iraq closes border crossing with Iran Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has ordered the indefinite closure of the Sheeb border crossing with Iran, closed to transport of individuals and goods from Wednesday until further notice. Several other crossings will close gradually. ## Israeli forces raid West Bank, arrest Palestinians Israeli soldiers and settlers continued attacks across the occupied West Bank. Israeli forces arrested six Palestinians in Tulkarem, prevented Palestinians from reaching lands near Jenin, and closed entrances to Salfit city. ## Settlers cut electricity to Palestinian lawyer Settlers cut off electricity to anti-settlement Palestinian lawyer Montaser Hamayel's home south of Nablus for the third day in a row, as part of ongoing attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank. ## Houthis strike Yemen's Taiz province Houthi-affiliated media reported three air strikes targeting the al-Nashma area in the al-Ma'afer district of Taiz province in Yemen, part of ongoing fighting in the region. ## Oil prices slip from five-month high Brent crude futures fell sixty-seven cents, or zero point sixty-one percent, to one hundred eight dollars eighty-eight cents. ## Market pricing in significant risk premium ING analysts say oil prices remain well-supported, suggesting the market is pricing in a significant risk premium given the situation's volatility. At least eighteen vessels were reportedly attacked over two weeks. > Oil prices remain well-supported … This suggests the market is pricing in a significant risk premium, given the situation's volatility. ## Key takeaway Iran and the US remain deadlocked in an eight-month war with no peace deal in sight, as Tehran closes the Strait of Hormuz and Washington prepares for renewed military strikes.