Gulf tensions rise: Iran warns of strikes on oil and AI hubs, FMs meet in Istanbul, Saudi flights cancelled

Iran has warned that if the United States and Israel attack again, it will strike data centers, artificial intelligence infrastructure, undersea communication cables and oil refineries in the Gulf region. According to the Guardian, the warning came from Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council.

Iran claims seven oil tankers were attacked and damaged in the Strait of Hormuz. According to Al Jazeera, this is the single biggest loss in that waterway since the war began on February 28. The IRGC has also warned that if the US helps move tankers through another part of the strait, American bases in the Middle East could be attacked.

Amid this tension, foreign ministers from Britain, France and Germany, along with Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Egypt, gathered in Istanbul on Friday. The meeting is set to discuss the security of Hormuz and the situation in Yemen and Palestine.

The United States has ordered the families of some diplomats and government employees working in Saudi Arabia to leave the country. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said staff safety is the top priority.

Indian airline IndiGo has cancelled flights to Riyadh until October 31 and to Jeddah, Dammam and Medina until October 27. Himalaya Airlines has also cancelled its Kathmandu-Dammam flight on Kartik 8 and the return flight on Kartik 9.