Iran is "emerging" as a space power capable of challenging United States military operations in the Middle East, despite American strikes on key Iranian space-related facilities, according to a Pentagon intelligence report. The Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) said in the report that Iran took offensive action against US space capabilities during Operation Epic Fury, using land-based jamming systems that could disrupt satellite-based GPS signals. It said that Tehran was expanding its military and civilian space programmes to strengthen its military capabilities, economic development and national prestige. "Space is accessible and affordable today," Brigadier General Todd Benson, commander of Space Forces Central, said at a Mitchell Institute webinar last month. Iran has around a dozen operational satellites, according to the American Enterprise Institute's space data, while the US operates more than 1,000 times as many. Tehran has also reportedly received satellite support from China and Russia to improve its intelligence and targeting capabilities. Despite US claims of achieving "space superiority" against Iran, some American defence experts questioned that assessment. "If Iran can degrade US space capabilities, we don't have superiority" over it, Todd Harrison, an aerospace expert at the American Enterprise Institute, told Axios. The DIA said Iran is also working to improve the resistance of its guidance and navigation systems to electronic attacks. Iranian, Omani foreign ministers discuss regional developments amid Strait of Hormuz tensions Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Omani counterpart Badr Albusaidi discussed regional developments and diplomatic efforts to promote peace and stability during a phone call on Thursday morning, the Iranian government said. The talks came amid escalating tensions over a US naval blockade and maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, as Qatar continued mediating between Washington and Tehran. Between Iran and Oman, the strait is one of the world's most strategically important waterways, carrying large volumes of oil and gas exports from Gulf countries to international markets. Iran said on Monday it was still exchanging messages with the US through mediators and that reopening the waterway depended on Washington ending the blockade. Iran's IRGC says oil tanker struck naval mine, forced to stop Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said an oil tanker operating in violation, travelling through an "unsafe zone" east of the Strait of Hormuz, struck a naval mine, igniting a fire and forcing the vessel to stop on Thursday morning. Army Navy: An oil tanker operating in violation, traveling through an unsafe zone east of the Strait of Hormuz, struck a naval mine, igniting a fire and forcing the vessel to stop on Thursday morning. pic.twitter.com/b78YRDRr5f — IRNA News Agency ☫ (@IrnaEnglish) November 5, 2026 Earlier on Thursday, the IRGC said that two oil tankers and a tugboat had caught fire in separate incidents after attempting to use unauthorised routes through the Strait of Hormuz. In a statement carried by the official IRNA news agency, the Revolutionary Guard said a large oil tanker struck a mine Wednesday night while attempting to pass through an “unauthorised route” south of the strait. The tanker caught fire and stopped, the statement said. In a separate incident, another supertanker caught fire while leaving the route in the eastern part of the strait, it said. A tugboat approaching to help extinguish the blaze also caught fire, the statement added. Read: Americans said no to war, and we endorse this message: Iran's Ghalibaf The Revolutionary Guard also said that its navy's electronic warfare unit had "taken control of two Lucas-type aircraft" that it described as "intruding." The Revolutionary Guard claimed that its navy continued to maintain control over the Strait of Hormuz. It also accused the US of "encouraging vessels to violate restrictions and pass through a mined route," saying the resulting damage would "impose heavy insurance costs on US taxpayers and regional allies." The Revolutionary Guard warned that attempts to violate the rules governing passage through the strait would "lead to further financial losses and political setbacks for Washington." Separately, IRNA reported that the IRGC downed and captured two Lucas-type aircraft. The IRGC Navy's Electronic Warfare Unit took command of two intruding Lucas-type aircraft, steering them down to safe landings and claiming them as captured spoils. pic.twitter.com/m3avotr33Q — IRNA News Agency ☫ (@IrnaEnglish) November 5, 2026 Iran's Ghalibaf accuses US of gambling and losing in response to Vance Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf responded to US Vice President JD Vance on X, accusing Washington of repeatedly gambling and losing while preparing for the next phase of the war, and asking why Vance does not deliver his message directly to his boss. Losing gambler energy, can't walk away from the table. Boss is prepping the next war phase while America teeters on an Israel-First cliff. Skip the TED talk. Why not say this to your boss? https://t.co/wYxvN1NOos — محمدباقر قالیباف | MB Ghalibaf (@mb_ghalibaf) November 5, 2026 "Boss is prepping the next war phase while America teeters on an Israel-First cliff," he said. Tanker struck by 2 unidentified projectiles off Qatar coast: UK maritime agency A tanker was struck by two unidentified projectiles off the coast of Qatar, the UK Maritime Trade Operations said on Thursday. In a maritime warning, the agency said it had received a verified report of an incident approximately 50 nautical miles (93 kilometres) north of Madinat ash Shamal at 0420 PKT on Wednesday. UKMTO WARNING 192-26 Click here to view the full warning⤵️https://t.co/ajUF17Fa2w#MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/lv9hNEFBn6 — UKMTO Operations Centre (@UK_MTO) November 2, 2026 The agency said the condition of the crew, the extent of damage to the vessel and any potential environmental impact remained unconfirmed. It advised vessels transiting the area to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity as authorities continued to investigate the incident. US sanctions individuals, entities over alleged efforts to supply Iran with air defence systems The US on Wednesday sanctioned two individuals and one entity accused of helping Iran obtain man-portable air-defence systems (MANPADS). The State Department said the designations “close off more of the channels Tehran uses to try to rebuild its arsenal and raise the risk for third-country brokers and suppliers.” The department identified the targets as Mohammed Ali Tolibov, the CEO of Belarus-based Armoury Alliance; Nigeria-based Vanguard Tactical Supply Limited; and Russia-based Alisher Domullodzhanov. Read more: Trump says Iran war worth it despite midterm elections losses The department alleged that the network sought to facilitate the procurement of Chinese-origin MANPADS for Iran, including through the use of false end-users. “The United States will keep exposing the networks that arm Iran’s military and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and will keep denying the regime the resources that sustain its destabilising activities,” it said. Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson criticises Germany's justification on Iran invasion Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei criticised Germany's foreign minister for feeling "compelled to justify the military assault on Iran" in a post on X. "Once, Chancellor Merz had enthusiastically declared that Israel was doing "our dirty work" with its attack on Iran...Now his foreign minister also feels compelled to justify the military assault on Iran," he said. Einst hatte Bundeskanzler Merz voller Begeisterung verkündet, Israel erledige mit seinem Angriff auf Iran „die Drecksarbeit für uns“. Doch nur wenige Monate später beklagt derselbe Kanzler, dass dieser Krieg die europäische Wirtschaft 100 Milliarden Euro koste! Nun sieht sich… pic.twitter.com/ZJdBM1FEaY — Esmaeil Baqaei (@IRIMFA_SPOX) November 4, 2026 "He is marked by such indifference and such profound moral decay that he neither acknowledges the human casualties and war crimes committed nor grasps the economic damage that this war inflicts on his own country and Europe."