President Trump said a land blockade of Iran is in effect as Houthi forces struck a skyscraper in Riyadh, Tehran executed three protesters, and tens of thousands marched in Amsterdam against Israel's Gaza policy.
The president announced Task Force Iron Gate on Sunday to cut off Iran's land-based weapons routes, deploying special forces alongside the existing naval blockade . Trump said renewed strikes on Iran are "highly unlikely" if negotiations on Tehran's nuclear program progress, adding when asked about escalation after the midterms: "Well, I'm not looking to. I don't think there's any reason to" . Iran has named Italy and Germany as missile targets if the US uses NATO bases in a next strike . Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the eight-month war as "necessary" to stop a nuclear threat, calling Iran's negotiation demands "outrageous and ridiculous" .
Houthi militants attacked a skyscraper in the Saudi capital, with loud explosions heard across Riyadh .
In Iran, authorities executed three men who had previously protested against the government .
Tens of thousands of people dressed in red marched through Amsterdam on Sunday for the "red line" protest, demanding the Dutch government take stronger action against Israel over the war in Gaza . Organizers claimed more than 200,000 attended, while other reports put the figure at 20,000 . Protesters carried signs reading "Stop the Genocide" and chanted "Stop sending weapons to Israel," according to Steven Eisinger, a 33-year-old robotics engineer .
The war began on Feb. 28 and has spread to Lebanon and Yemen, disrupting the Strait of Hormuz. Qatari-mediated talks between the US and Iran entered a third day in Doha on Nov. 2, and Trump is scheduled to meet Qatar's prime minister this week as diplomacy faces hurdles .
