Iran's military central command announced on Sunday that any U.S. or allied attack would trigger sustained retaliation against American bases and interests in the Middle East. The threat follows reports that President Trump reviewed strike options against Houthi forces at Camp David on Sept. 19, after those forces attacked the Saudi capital of Riyadh for the first time. President Trump has since signaled openness to meeting Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in New York during the UN General Assembly, though the U.S. State Department has restricted travel for government employees to the Saudi cities of Taif and Yanbu.

Regional instability is disrupting energy infrastructure, with QatarEnergy CEO Saad al-Kaabi stating that equipment delays may stall the North Field expansion programme scheduled for 2027 and 2028. Current LNG production is limited to a minute volume due to restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz, where a U.S. blockade has redirected 105 commercial vessels. U.S. Central Command reported that the blockade has held over 30 million barrels of Iranian crude in the Persian Gulf.