Iran facing 'one of its toughest periods,' says top security official

Iran's Supreme National Security Council secretary Mohsen Rezaei said the country is going through "one of its toughest periods," emphasizing the need for coordination among various institutions and support for the government in managing the current situation.

Rezaei, as quoted by Asharq, referred to ongoing negotiations, affirming Tehran's commitment to continue talks. He added that the Supreme National Security Council is prepared to provide necessary support and cooperation on economic issues to help manage the current circumstances.

Separately, Scott Bessent said Iran would not be able to export any oil by sea this week, marking the first time since its oil exports began.

According to Axios, he explained that the United States facilitated the passage of 1.1 billion barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran was unable to ship any barrels.

Bessent's remarks follow his confirmation that Iran did not load any crude oil onto tankers during September, a claim supported by preliminary data from tanker tracking firms including Kpler and Vortexa.