Middle EastLiveFuel tanker crashes, explodes in western Iran; 11 killed, 7 injured

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has asserted its naval forces attacked a US-operated drone boat in the Strait of Hormuz, state media noted.

Key points

• US Iran War: Pentagon puts 50 Joint Staff members through polygraph tests over Iran war leaks.
• US Iran War: Iran foreign minister discusses Strait of Hormuz with Saudi, Turkish counterparts.
• US Iran News: Fuel tanker explodes after collision in western Iran, 11 killed.
• Babak Hodaei, head of emergency medical services at Kurdestan University of Medical Sciences, remarked the injured were taken to a medical facility in Sanandaj, Xinhua news agency noted.
• US-Iran War: Tehran claims attack on US-operated drone boat in Strait of Hormuz.

09: 36 (IST) Sep 06.

Meanwhile, the US Pentagon has subjected around 50 military and civilian personnel on the Joint Staff to polygraph tests as part of an investigation into alleged leaks of classified information to journalists, The New York Times documented, citing office-holders briefed on the inquiry. As the report notes, the probe has focused on whether personnel disclosed sensitive details regarding the US military's operations in West Asia, including information on dwindling stocks of critical weapons.

Meanwhile, the tests were conducted in August after a series of reports highlighted shortages of key US munitions, including long-range missiles and Patriot interceptors, during the conflict involving Iran. 09: 32 (IST) Sep 06.

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi held separate phone conversations with his Saudi and Turkish counterparts on Saturday to discuss regional developments, bilateral matters and diplomatic efforts against the backdrop of rising tensions. Araghchi spoke with Saudi foreign minister Faisal bin Farhan and Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan, with the situation in the Strait of Hormuz among the problems discussed, according to a post on Araghchi's Telegram channel.

In practice, the calls came as diplomatic efforts continue alongside heightened tensions in the region, with the strategically significant waterway remaining a key focus of regional discussions. 09: 30 (IST) Sep 06.

US Iran War: Iran preparing coordinated multi-front attack on Israel, JPost reports.

Iran is reportedly working on a coordinated multi-front offensive against Israel involving Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis and Iran-aligned militias in Iraq, The Jerusalem Post documented on Saturday, citing Israeli assessments. As the report notes, Tehran is seeking simultaneous action throughout multiple fronts, a strategy aimed at avoiding the lack of coordination seen during the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.

In practice, the Jerusalem Post remarked Arab media reports indicated that Iran wants a number of allied groups to enter the confrontation meanwhile, rather than opening separate fronts at different stages.

For context, the report additionally cited allegations that senior Quds Force office-holders had held discussions with commanders from Hezbollah, the Houthis and Iraqi militias over a feasible expansion of the conflict. 09: 29 (IST) Sep 06.

At least 11 individuals were killed and seven injured after a fuel tanker exploded after a traffic collision in western Iran on Saturday, state-run broadcaster IRIB documented. The explosion occurred on an intercity road connecting Sanandaj County in Kurdestan province with Hamedan County in Hamedan province, according to IRIB. The blast additionally set a number of nearby vehicles on fire, authorities remarked.

Rescue operations were underway at the site, with authorities yet to provide further details on the circumstances surrounding the collision.

Notably, the incident comes against the backdrop of heightened regional tensions after US strikes on three Iranian crude oil tankers. 09: 29 (IST) Sep 06.

Notably, the force additionally called on Washington to withdraw from the region and end what it described as "evil actions". The claim comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions between Iran and the US, with military activity escalating around the strategically notable Strait of Hormuz.

As tensions between Tehran and Washington continued to escalate, iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has asserted its naval forces attacked a US-operated drone boat in the Strait of Hormuz, state media noted. The claim came after the US struck three Iranian crude oil tankers after what US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated was an IRGC ballistic missile attack on two US Navy warships. Centcom afterwards issued footage showing the M/T Kylo engulfed in flames before sinking in the Gulf of Oman. While CENTCOM commander Brad Cooper stated the strikes were intended to impose a higher economic cost on Tehran, US war secretary Pete Hegseth cautioned that Washington would destroy Iranian oil tankers if Iran attacked US ships. Iran's foreign ministry condemned the tanker strikes as a violation of the UN Charter and a war crime. Separately, the IRGC asserted its forces fired ballistic missiles at the US carrier and destroyer.

Taken together, the developments around middle EastLiveFuel tanker crashes, explodes in western Iran; 11 killed, 7 injured point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.