Live: Iran warns US of 'harder and broader' response after US strikes on southern Iran

Good morning Middle East Eye readers, 

Here are the latest developments: 

• An Iranian military spokesperson has warned that any renewed attacks by the US will be met with a "harder and broader" response compared to Tehran's past retaliations. He said that if a new war broke out, then the "geography of the conflict will not remain limited to the West Asia region", adding that US "facilities, equipment, personnel, and interests in any location within reach could become targets".

• Iran's parliament speaker and chief negotiator in talks with the US said that the ball was in Washington's court to "prevent war". "The countries of the region should know that, just as the Islamic Republic of Iran stands ready for battle with its finger on the trigger, it has also given the American side a powerful and rational response," Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said in a televised speech. 

• Explosions were heard overnight in southern Iran's Qesh Island and Bandar Lengeh. Later, reports confirmed that the US military was responsible for the strikes. The strikes come despite US president Donald Trump's remarks saying he would not launch attacks against Iran after the midterms. 

• Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi indicated that talks between Tehran and Saudi Arabia are ongoing. "In my interview with Al Jazeera network, I affirmed that we harbour no hostility toward the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and we appreciate the positive role played by Qatar and Oman, and we continue the dialogue with Saudi Arabia," he said in a post on X.

• US President Donald Trump said that Washington may need to "go after" a suspected underground nuclear complex in Iran, known as Pickaxe Mountain, if there is no deal reached. "We might have to go after Pickaxe, we can do that in one hour, as soon as we want, at any time we want," Trump told Fox News. Trump also did not rule out the possibility of resuming the war on Iran.

• The Yemeni army said that it launched 951 operations targeting Houthi positions over the past 24 hours as part of Operation Dawn of Yemen. Army spokesperson Majed al-Nuzaili claimed in a post on X that the operations had "neutralized" around 332 Houthi field commanders and fighters.

• One Indian was killed after an attack on a commercial vessel near Limah in Oman, the Indian foreign ministry said on Tuesday. Among the 14 Indian nationals on board the MSV AL JUSUFI, 13 were rescued after the incident occurred on Monday.

Iran and the US are far from reaching a deal to end the conflict, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Tuesday.

The official added that Tehran would not accept Washington's "excessive demands".

Iran's parliament speaker and chief negotiator in talks with the US said that the ball was in Washington's court to "prevent war".

"The countries of the region should know that, just as the Islamic Republic of Iran stands ready for battle with its finger on the trigger, it has also given the American side a powerful and rational response," Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said in a televised speech. 

"The ball is now in America's court to prevent war."

US President Donald Trump said that Washington may need to "go after" a suspected underground nuclear complex in Iran, known as Pickaxe Mountain, if there is no deal reached.

"We might have to go after Pickaxe, we can do that in one hour, as soon as we want, at any time we want," Trump told Fox News.

Trump also did not rule out the possibility of resuming the war on Iran, saying: "It could happen if they don’t make a deal, but they want to make a deal very badly and there is a very good chance we make a deal."

"If I can make a deal, I would rather do it, [it would] save a lot of lives," he added.

One Indian was killed after an attack on a commercial vessel near Limah in Oman, the Indian foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

Among the 14 Indian nationals on board the MSV AL JUSUFI, 13 were rescued after the incident occurred on Monday.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi indicated that talks between Tehran and Saudi Arabia are ongoing.

"In my interview with Al Jazeera network, I affirmed that we harbour no hostility toward the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and we appreciate the positive role played by Qatar and Oman, and we continue the dialogue with Saudi Arabia," he said in a post on X.

"Our goal is to reach new regional security arrangements carried out by the countries of the region themselves, away from any foreign military presence."

An Iranian military spokesperson has warned that any renewed attacks by the US will be met with a "harder and broader" response compared to Tehran's past retaliations.

He said that if a new war broke out, then the "geography of the conflict will not remain limited to the West Asia region", adding that US "facilities, equipment, personnel, and interests in any location within reach could become targets".

Middle East Eye's James Schneider speaks with Ofer Cassif, a member of the Israeli Knesset, who says that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies' claims of foreign interference and voter fraud are typical tactics used by a defeated "dictator".

Cassif added that Netanyahu is resorting to incitement and scapegoating to maintain his grip on power, calling the accusations directed at Arab Palestinian citizens a "racist blood libel".

MEE’s James Schneider speaks with Ofer Cassif, a member of the Israeli Knesset, who says that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies’ claims of foreign interference and voter fraud are typical tactics used by a defeated “dictator.” https://t.co/lSzdTv1GZy

— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) November 3, 2026

The internationally recognised Yemeni government says its troops have recaptured positions from Houthi forces in Lahij governorate, located south-west of the country.

"Our armed forces have succeeded in recapturing positions in the al-Khazzan al-Ahmar area on the al-Nusayrah front in the al-Sawalihah sub-district of the al-Maqatirah district in northern Lahij governorate, and have repelled the terrorist Houthi militias" the government forces' media centre said.

The Yemeni army said that it launched 951 operations targeting Houthi positions over the past 24 hours as part of Operation Dawn of Yemen.

Army spokesperson Majed al-Nuzaili claimed in a post on X that the operations had "neutralized" around 332 Houthi field commanders and fighters.

Moreover, the army claimed to have destroyed or damaged 56 vehicles, pieces of equipment and weapons across several fronts, including Al-Jawf, Marib and Al-Bayda.

Forces belonging to Yemen’s internationally recognised government have carried out air strikes against Houthi positions west of Taiz.

The military spokesperson said that warplanes targeted the movement's military vehicles in the Jabal Habashi area, resulting in the killing of Houthi fighters. 

Meanwhile, Houthi-affiliated media reported that a strike north of Taiz targeted a plastic shoe factory, killing three and injuring eight others. 

The US military is responsible for strikes on Iran, according to The Wall Street Journal citing an unnamed US official. 

The newspaper indicated that the attacks were part of a series of limited operations Washington had "secretly carried out" against the country. 

Earlier, several explosions were heard in southern Iran's  Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz as well as in the coastal city of Bandar Lengeh in Hormozgan province.

The strikes come despite US president Donald Trump's remarks saying he would not launch attacks against Iran after the midterms. 

Speaking to David Hearst, Palestinian lawmaker Ahmad Tibi urged Israeli opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot to show political courage and work with Arab parties to end Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s rule.

"I hope Eisenkot will be courageous enough to go forward and form a minority government, which will end this government of Netanyahu immediately," Tibi said.

In the latest episode of the David Hearst Podcast, Ahmad Tibi, founder and leader of the Ta’al party, said there was no democratic justification for ruling out cooperation with Palestinian representatives in the Knesset this time around.    

Tibi’s party is part of the Joint List, alongside two other Palestinian-led parties, Hadash and Balad. Together, they won 11 seats. Another Palestinian party, Ra’am, secured eight, giving the two slates a combined 19 seats - a record for Palestinian parties in parliament.  

The results mean that neither a Netanyahu-led nor an Eisenkot-led bloc can secure a 61-seat majority without Palestinian parties.

Speaking to David Hearst, Palestinian lawmaker Ahmad Tibi urged Israeli opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot to show political courage and work with Arab parties to end Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s rule. https://t.co/EPe8QRL6v7

— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) November 2, 2026

Explosions were heard overnight in southern Iran, according to several local reports. 

The blasts were reported on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz as well as ones heard in the coastal city of Bandar Lengeh in Hormozgan province.

Israeli forces advanced into the village of al-Asbah in rural southern Quneitra with five military vehicles, Syria TV reported.

According to Sijil, a Syrian initiative tracking Israeli violations in the country, Israeli forces committed seven violations on Monday before the latest incursion, including other incursions, checkpoints, and aircraft overflights.