Summary
- Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff has issued a nationwide passive defence plan covering three possible scenarios as the conflict with the United States continues.
- The directive, issued by Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Ali Abdollahi, outlines preparations for the possible end of the war, a ceasefire without a final settlement, and a full-scale conflict.
- In the event that the war formally ends, Iran plans to proceed with scheduled exercises, training programmes and other public activities under its passive defence programme.
The Maritime Security Centre said an oil tanker sailing under the Panama flag was being towed toward an Omani port after an attack triggered a fire in its engine room. The vessel, identified as EL GAIA, was reported about 103 nautical miles northeast of Musandam.
An Omani naval vessel rescued 23 members of the tanker’s crew, while authorities said two others were still missing.
In Lebanon, US Ambassador Michel Issa visited the southern village of Zawtar al-Gharbiya, which recently came under the control of the Lebanese army under a framework agreement involving Israel.
An Israeli drone was reportedly seen surveying the area during the visit. Israeli forces continue to maintain positions in parts of southern Lebanon that they describe as a security zone.
The developments came as Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi prepared to travel to China on September 16 for talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
China has called for political and diplomatic efforts to resolve the US-Iran conflict. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Beijing was closely monitoring developments in the Middle East and Gulf and urged the parties to settle their disputes through diplomatic means.
The UN Security Council is also expected to meet to discuss the situation around the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The meeting was requested by France, according to French diplomatic sources.
Separately, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that its aerospace forces had shot down a US MQ-1 Predator drone over the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian state media said the drone was considered an intruding aircraft and claimed it was intercepted while operating inside Iranian airspace.
