Iran says ships were hit in the Gulf, Trump says it is lying, and Brent holds $115

Iran and the Strait of Hormuz

Two accounts of the Gulf collided on Thursday. Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps said four vessels were struck and caught fire in the Persian Gulf and three more hit mines in the Strait of Hormuz, per the Iranian state-affiliated Tasnim agency as relayed by CNBC. President Trump answered on Truth Social that Iran is "making up fake hits, mines, and everything else" to lift oil before the midterms, and that more oil is moving through Hormuz now than before the conflict began. We could not independently confirm either side's account of the ships. Separately, Iran's army chief was reported to say the military is fully prepared for "asymmetric warfare."

The backdrop is the New York Times report, which CNBC summarized, that U.S. and Israeli forces have drawn up plans for a "short but intensive" strike on Iran after the Nov. 3 elections. The Times says Trump has not approved them, and CNBC notes U.S. and Iranian negotiators are still talking about the nuclear program and Hormuz. Kpler data cited by CNBC show Middle East oil flows through the strait recovered to near pre-war levels. Watch today: any Pentagon or White House statement on the plans, and any shipping-industry notice that confirms or contradicts the Guards' account.

Saudi Arabia and the Houthis

Reuters reported, per CNBC, that Saudi Aramco told staff to evacuate its Dhahran headquarters and work remotely after a series of attacks by Iran-aligned Houthi rebels. CNBC says the Houthis have hit Saudi airports and some Aramco offices in recent weeks, with multiple deaths. Yesterday's State Department order for non-emergency U.S. staff to leave Saudi Arabia is covered in yesterday's brief. Iran has denied directing the Houthis. Watch today: Gulf airport notices and whether the evacuation order spreads to other missions; Reuters says Washington plans to withdraw family members elsewhere in the region.

Russia and Ukraine

Strikes continued overnight even as both sides signal talks. Ukraine's Energy Ministry said a major Russian attack on energy facilities in six regions (Zhytomyr, Volyn, Mykolaiv, Poltava, Khmelnytskyi and Rivne) left more than 500,000 without power, and DTEK said a thermal plant stopped generating after shelling, per CNBC. Russia's Defense Ministry said it destroyed 443 Ukrainian drones overnight. These are each side's own claims. After meeting envoy Steve Witkoff, Putin said Moscow is ready to resume U.S.-mediated talks with Kyiv in November, aimed at a final settlement rather than a temporary ceasefire. Zelenskyy told CNN he is ready for a ceasefire but needs strong security guarantees. The Oct. 11 "energy ceasefire" has produced no meaningful result, CNBC says. Also on the wires: Bloomberg reports Russia held its key rate as Ukrainian strikes feed inflation, and that a ship carrying Russian diesel is signaling a U.S. port after the Trump-Putin deal (we did not read the full text of either). Watch today: a date or venue for the November talks.

Markets box, 7:01 AM ET

CNBC had Brent at $114.49 and WTI at $101.04 at 6:51 AM ET and said Brent is on track for a third straight weekly gain and sits at its highest since early May, while WTI is on track for a 1.1% weekly decline. Feeds differ by a dollar or two, so compare moves rather than levels. ITA and JETS prices are from Nasdaq.com and come from thin pre-market trading; we found no source tying either to today's headlines. Brent's spread over WTI is about $12, wide enough that U.S. and global fuel costs are not moving in step. More: crude oil chart, markets, Before the bell.

Sources: CNBC, CNBC, CNBC, Reuters and Bloomberg as cited, Nasdaq.com, Chronicle markets board. Casualty and damage figures are attributed to the parties that issued them. This is market information, not investment advice.