Morning update

9 October 2026 07:48 BST Good morning Middle East Eye readers, Here are the latest developments: The political deputy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said that its forces have been carrying out nightly operations in the Strait of Hormuz targeting what it considers as violating vessels. "The IRGC Navy has had complete and absolute surveillance over the Strait of Hormuz from the first day of the war," Ali Mohammadi told the Fars news agency, adding that its troops can "impose its will" on ships it deems to have violated its rules. The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier returned on Thursday to San Diego, after it took part in a record 321-day deployment, including time spent during the US-Israeli war on Iran. The vessel, which carried 5,000 sailors and Marines, left its home port in San Diego last November for the Pacific and was redirected to the Middle East after the war on Iran began in late February. Eight Palestinians were killed in separate Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip on Thursday. Gaza’s health ministry said that as of Thursday, Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement had killed 1,471 Palestinians and injured 5,189 others. Since October 2023, Israel has killed over 74,254 Palestinians in the besieged enclave. Thousands more remain missing, likely buried beneath the rubble. Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, on Thursday and promised to "do everything" to help end the war in the Middle East. Putin also noted the "positive evolution" in relations between Iran and Russia. Donald Trump said on Thursday that the United States is having productive discussions with Iran and will not launch an attack on the country before US midterm congressional elections in November. He added that the US blockade of Iranian ports remains in effect and that oil is flowing through the Strait of Hormuz. The United States imposed new sanctions on Thursday targeting what it called "the remnants of Iran's shadow fleet" of oil tankers, the latest step to increase pressure on Tehran. The sanctions target dozens of people, companies and vessels, according to the US Treasury Department.