Iran Reports Attacks on 7 Oil Tankers in Strait of Hormuz, Raising War Fears

Iran reported Thursday that seven oil tankers were hit or damaged in the Strait of Hormuz overnight, either by Iranian attacks or naval mines, raising fears of renewed all-out war. The incident marks the highest number of ships affected in a single event since the conflict began. The report, aired on Iranian state television and attributed to the Revolutionary Guard Corps navy, could not be independently confirmed by the Associated Press. It comes ahead of Israel's Oct. 27 election and next month's U.S. midterms, with analysts warning a Netanyahu victory could trigger an attack on Iran. Iran repeated threats to strike U.S. bases if Washington continues guiding ships through the strait, while the U.S. has deployed a third aircraft carrier to the region. Tehran says it remains open to diplomacy but has warned of expanded targets, including undersea cables, as mediators push for talks.