The UK Maritime Trade Operations office said more than 30 attacks on merchant vessels were reported in October in the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman and Arabian Gulf, the highest monthly total since the start of the war with Iran. UKMTO has logged 145 related incidents since Feb. 28 and said actual numbers may be higher as many attacks go unreported.

Japan Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said the second G20 foreign ministers' session on energy security has concluded. He told delegates energy security requires multinational cooperation and used the meeting to reintroduce Japan's 'Power Asia' initiative to strengthen regional electricity and energy cooperation. Motegi urged G20 members to step up coordination to ensure stable energy supplies and said Japan will play an active role.

Egypt's foreign minister said on Saturday at the Second International Security Dialogue in Bahrain he was 'extremely concerned' that a new round of escalation between the US and Iran would be more destructive and have significant repercussions.