TOP STORIES
Trump Weighs Easing Restrictions on Russian and Iranian ‘Shadow Fleet’ | Financial Times
“The US is considering moves to ease restrictions on ‘shadow fleet’ tankers linked to Russia and Iran as it struggles to bring down soaring diesel prices ahead of November’s midterm elections. The moves include potentially allowing the sale of blacklisted vessels to legitimate operators and lifting sanctions that would allow them to operate without restriction, people familiar with the matter told the FT.”
Iran Boosts Air Defenses as It Braces for Fresh US Attacks | Bloomberg
“Iran said it’s strengthened its military defenses against a potential resumption of US strikes, the latest sign that the Islamic Republic is bracing for a return to all-out war as its tense standoff with Washington continues. . . . The army has repaired a ‘significant portion of the defensive equipment damaged during the war,’ and ‘new equipment’ has also been acquired to expand air defense coverage, [an army spokesperson] added.”
“Iran-aligned Houthi rebels carried out a deadly attack on the presidential Al-Maashiq Palace in Aden, the headquarters of Yemen’s internationally recognized government, on Thursday, killing five people, including two members of Prime Minister Shaya Al-Zindani’s security detail. The missile and drone attack also injured 16 people, according to Yemen’s Health Ministry, while the Houthis claimed they were targeting an alleged Saudi military operations center inside the compound.”
UANI IN THE NEWS
Iran Ships Some LPG, Jet Fuel Despite US Blockade, Data Shows | Reuters
“Iran has managed to export some liquefied petroleum gas and jet fuel since July, despite a US naval blockade, shipping intelligence showed and people involved in security said. . . . Analysis by US advocacy group United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), which monitors Iran-related tanker traffic using ship and satellite tracking, shows at least eight gas tankers carrying Iranian LPG have left the Gulf of Oman since mid-July.”
“The US and its allies—not least Britain—should impose immediate consequences on Kuala Lumpur for enabling Iran’s Dark Fleet to evade sanctions and generate billions in revenue that fund the IRGC’s repression at home and terrorism abroad.”
Iran Shipped Jet Fuel to Myanmar Despite US Blockade—Reuters | Iran International
“At least eight gas tankers carrying Iranian LPG left the Gulf of Oman since mid-July, according to analysis by United Against Nuclear Iran, which tracks tanker movements using ship and satellite data. The cargoes totaled an estimated 4.1 million barrels, UANI senior research analyst Jemima Shelley told Reuters.”
UK Arm of Iran’s ‘Hate’ TV Channel Reported to Police Under National Security Law | The National
“United Against Nuclear Iran (Uani) says HispanTV ‘serves as an arm of Iran’s public diplomacy outreach to Latin America, a region in which Iran has invested significant political capital.’ ‘The UK continues to harbour a permissive environment for these media arms of the Iranian regime,’ Jason Brodsky, Uani’s policy director, told The National. ‘HispanTV is part of the Irib, which is under US sanctions for its ties to the Iranian intelligence services. PressTV has those ties as well. Former Irib executives are under UK sanctions. At a time when the Islamic Republic is plotting terror on UK soil, the UK government should be cracking down on these networks' freedom of movement on British soil. There must be a reassessment as to how these networks are using UK soil as a platform.’”
UK Charity Trustee Belonged to Sanctioned Iranian Morality Council | The National
“A member of a sanctioned Iranian morality body is taking legal action in the UK to appeal a ban which would prevent him from being a trustee of a charity for 12 years. Ahmad Vaezi is also the head of an Iranian propaganda body but has sought to cover up his links to the regime, a tribunal heard. . . . The tribunal was told that a group called the Islamic Student Associations of Britain (IASL), which is part of the Union of Islamic Associations of Students in Europe, reportedly organised a remembrance event for Qassem Suleimani, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force, who was assassinated by the US in Baghdad in 2020. The student group allegedly live-streamed events featuring current and former IRGC officers, including Gen Saeed Ghasemi, in 2020 and 2021. Gen Ghasemi falsely claimed the Holocaust was ‘a lie and a fake’ and said British students could ‘bring an end to the life of the oppressors and occupiers, Zionists and Jews across the world.’ The video was shared at the time with the BBC by the US-based campaign group United Against Nuclear Iran.”
Iran’s Sanctioned Press TV Finds a New Platform in UK-Based Sovereign Media | Jewish Onliner
“Responding to Jewish Onliner’s findings, Jason Brodsky, policy director of United Against Nuclear Iran, called for scrutiny of Iranian state-media activity in Britain and the use of UK corporate registrations for foreign influence operations. ‘The UK has long had a permissive environment for Iranian regime media outlets. This is despite IRIB and PressTV executives being under UK sanctions,’ Brodsky said. ‘IRIB and PressTV are not purely media organizations. They have connections to the Iranian security services. IRIB has long endeavored to expand its geographic reach. Africa is one such priority region for the Iranian regime.’”
SANCTIONS, BUSINESS RISKS & OTHER ECONOMIC NEWS
“In March 2026, as the US and Israel carried out military operations against Iran targeting its missile capabilities and military infrastructure, specialists from Russia’s sanctioned BARL corporation were scheduled to travel to Iran to service the Khayyam satellite system. The timing coincided with Operation Epic Fury, the US military campaign aimed at degrading Iran’s military capabilities, and Israel’s parallel Operation Roaring Lion. Documents reviewed by UNITED24 Media reveal how BARL maintained its role in Iran’s space infrastructure despite US sanctions—and pursued new satellite deals worth hundreds of millions of dollars.”
US Targets Iranian-Linked Offshore Banks and Oil Networks in New Sanctions Round | IranWire
“In a new round of sanctions against the Islamic Republic, the US Department of the Treasury has added two offshore banks affiliated with Bank Mellat and Bank Shahr, an Iraqi bank, and a network of exchange houses, commercial companies, and revenue transfer intermediaries involved in Iranian oil sales to its sanctions list. . . . The US Treasury stated that these two banks operate in free trade zones under licenses from the Central Bank and the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, utilizing foreign exchange transactions to assist the government’s financial network in evading international sanctions.”
US Alert Puts Iran’s Overseas Religious Finance Networks Under Scrutiny | Iran International
“The US Treasury’s latest warning over Iran’s alleged abuse of religious charities puts renewed attention on religious and charitable organizations outside Iran that have separately faced criminal, regulatory or government scrutiny over financial or institutional links to Tehran. The Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) on Thursday issued an alert asking financial institutions to report potential Iranian government abuse of religious charity networks, including the diversion of khums, a religious levy paid by Shiite Muslims. Treasury said organizations collecting such payments may act on behalf of prominent Iranian ayatollahs with ties to the government and may use informal financial channels, including hawala networks and cash couriers, to transfer money to Iran or Iran-linked actors.”
US Issues Fresh Iran-Related Sanctions, Treasury Website Shows | Reuters
“The Trump administration has issued fresh Iran-related sanctions targeting 16 individuals and 10 entities, according to a notice posted on the US Department of Treasury website on Thursday.”
Lebanon Revokes License of Iran’s Bank Saderat amid US Pressure | Bloomberg
“Lebanon’s central bank this week revoked the local license of Bank Saderat, one of Iran’s biggest lenders, as the US raises pressure on nations to cut commercial ties with the Islamic Republic.”
Iran Speaker Says Government Overstepped on Anti-Terror Finance Rules | Iran International
“Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has ruled that part of the government’s anti-terror financing regulations violates Iranian law, saying decisions on who is designated as terrorist must remain with the Supreme National Security Council.”
MILITARY MATTERS & SHIPPING
Trump Muses on Future Iran Strike with ‘Mother of All Bombs’ | Bloomberg
“President Donald Trump declined to rule out using a weapon known as the ‘Mother of all Bombs’ on Iran after the US midterm elections. ‘Well the mother of all bombs is not nuclear,” Trump said . . . ‘It’s not nuclear at all, just an extremely large bomb. It’s like a tiny nuclear bomb. But the mother of all bombs is one big bomb, but it’s not nuclear,’ Trump said. ‘I wouldn’t use nuclear. We don’t have to,’ he said.”
“Security collaboration between Israel and Ukraine is expanding, particularly in the study of Iranian weapons and Russian drones, according to former Israeli ambassador to Ukraine, Michael Brodsky.”
Iran’s Navy Says ‘Violating’ Oil Tanker Detected on Fire in Gulf of Oman | Reuters
“Iran’s navy says it has detected an oil tanker on fire as it attempted to cross a prohibited area east of the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf of Oman, according to state media. The navy describes the tanker as ‘violating,’ saying it switched off its tracking systems. It gives no indication of what caused the fire.”
Iran Cleric Praises Forces for Targeting Ships in Strait of Hormuz | Iran International
“Tehran’s interim Friday prayer Imam praised Iranian forces for targeting three vessels in the Strait of Hormuz after the Tehran-Washington memorandum of understanding, saying the ships had violated a designated route.”
TERRORISM & PROXY WARS
Teenage Assassin Sent to Britain by Iranian Proxy Jailed for 20 Years | Telegraph
“A teenage Norwegian hitman has been jailed for 20 years for attempting to assassinate a target in the UK at the behest of an Iran-backed crime gang. Johannes Kongsnes Natland, a 19-year-old aspiring footballer, was promised €25,000 (£21,500) by the international drugs syndicate Foxtrot to kill a target in England.”
Hamburg Court Jails 2 Men over Plot to Attack Jewish Leaders | Deutsche Welle
“On Thursday, a Hamburg court sentenced two men accused of plotting to target Jewish leaders in Germany on behalf of Iran's secret service to multiple years in prison. Both were found guilty of espionage and attempted murder. One defendant was given a four-and-a-half year sentence, while the other received an eight-and-a-half year sentence as the mastermind of the planned attacks. Prosecutors said that one defendant, a 54-year-old Dane with Afghan roots, had received his orders directly from Iran's al-Quds Brigades, the foreign arm of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.”
“A man accused of plotting an attack on Iran International journalists told a London court on Thursday that a man he identified as a Revolutionary Guards officer living in Britain threatened to kill him and his mother unless he obeyed. Giving evidence at Woolwich Crown Court, Mostafa Sepahvand said the man, whom he named as ‘Ebi’ and described as living in Wolverhampton, contacted him by video call in 2024.”
“The Iranian regime told Hezbollah leaders in Lebanon to be prepared for the United States to resume the war with Iran, following Wednesday's report that Iran currently estimates that ‘an American attack is only a matter of time,’ two diplomatic sources told The Jerusalem Post on Thursday.”
Saudis Accuse Iran of Encouraging Houthi Attacks on Riyadh | Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty
“A Saudi Foreign Ministry official on October 14 accused Iran of encouraging Yemen’s Houthi rebels to intensify attacks on Saudi Arabia, saying Tehran continues to arm, train, and support the group. ‘Iran continues to arm, train, and support the Houthi militia in violation of UN Security Council resolutions,’ Rayed Krimly, deputy minister for public diplomacy at the ministry, said during a virtual briefing with reporters. ‘We think the escalation of Houthi attacks in this latest phase of the conflict is being encouraged by Iran,’ he added.”
IRANIAN INTERNAL DEVELOPMENTS
Armed Suspect Arrested over Alleged Plot to Kill Ex-Minister, Reformists Say | Iran International
“An armed man was arrested over an alleged plot to assassinate a former Iranian minister after a gathering attended by Mohammad Khatami, the former president associated with efforts to reform the Islamic Republic from within, Iran’s Reform Front said.”
Pro-Basij Cleric and Mosque Imam Murdered in Home in Sari, Iran | IranWire
“Iranian media outlets report that Yaser Taheri, a member of the Clerical Association of Central Mazandaran and the congregational imam of a mosque in the Rahband district of Sari, was murdered in his home on Thursday, October 15, 2026. Initial reports indicate that the cleric was killed with a ‘cold weapon’ (bladed weapon), though details regarding the motive behind the killing or the identity of the perpetrators have not yet been released. . . . Yaser Taheri served as the head of the Mahdavi Neighborhood Headquarters in southern Sari and was among the clerics who placed strong emphasis on the role and position of the Basij.”