The proposals come as security around the White House remains under heightened scrutiny following several threats against Trump
Iran Watch
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U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the arm of the Pentagon responsible for the Middle East, confirmed on Wednesday morning that it had engaged in a new round of air strikes against Iranian military missile launch sites after hours of similar targeted attacks on Tuesday.
CENTCOM explained that the objective of the new operations against Iran’s terrorist Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is to erode Iran’s ability to bomb its neighbors and attack random civilian ships in the Strait of Hormuz, a tactic that Tehran returned to with gusto during funeral events for late dictator Ali Khamenei in early June. Adm. Brad Cooper, the commander of CENTCOM, explained in a statement this week that the Iranian terrorist state had escalated its attacks on civilians in an effort to disrupt global commerce in the Strait of Hormuz, necessitating a response.
“Over the past seven days, Iran has intentionally targeted civilians across the region by attacking seven commercial ships resulting in nearly a dozen civilian crew members killed, missing, or injured,” Admiral Cooper detailed in a statement on Tuesday. “Iranian forces have also launched dozens of missiles and drones toward neighboring Gulf countries. U.S. forces are holding Iran accountable for unwarranted aggression that continues to endanger innocent lives.”
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US military has resumed its air strikes against Iran in broad daylight on Wednesday, as Washington said it was intensifying its campaign aimed at limiting Tehran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to US Central Command (CENTCOM), a new 90-minute wave of precision strikes against Iranian targets on Wednesday morning targeted coastal defence systems as well as cruise missile storage and launch sites on Greater Tunb Island.
CENTCOM said the strikes were intended to further reduce Iran’s ability to attack commercial vessels passing through the strategic waterway.
The operation marks a further escalation in the US military campaign against Iran, following Tehran’s repeated attacks on ships in the Persian Gulf.
Iran had struck at least seven commercial vessels over the past week, according to CENTCOM.
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India supplies around 12 per cent of the global seafaring workforce, but Indian crew members have borne a far greater share of the recent dangers at sea.
Take the example of seafarers killed during the shipping crisis in the Strait of Hormuz. According to an analysis by NDTV Datafy, the majority of seafarers killed in attacks on commercial ships appear to be Indians.
Indians accounted for seven of the 16 seafarers – nearly 44 per cent – killed in attacks on commercial vessels during the Strait of Hormuz crisis between March 1 and July 14, 2026.
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Ukraine will produce French-made cruise missiles, precision guided bombs, and air defense interceptor missiles through a license granted by Paris to Kyiv, President Emmanuel Macron announced on Monday.
Macron made the announcement during Monday’s “Coalition of the Willing” meeting in Paris that saw Macron, President Volodymyr Zelensky, and several other European heads of state reiterate their support of Ukraine amid Russia’s ongoing invasion of its territory and reaffirm their calls for a ceasefire and direct negotiations between both sides.
At the meeting, Macron revealed that France has issued a license to Ukraine for the manufacturing of the missiles — marking the first time France has granted such a provision to Ukraine. The license contemplates the production of AASM precision-guided air-to-ground bombs, Aster air-defense interceptor missiles and SCALP, long-range air-launched cruise missiles.
The deal, Macron detailed, stems from a letter of intent signed between Paris and Kyiv in November 2025 that outlined Ukraine’s acquisition of 100 aircraft over the next ten years.
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Iran attacked two tankers belonging to the United Arab Emirates on Monday as conflict reignited across the Middle East.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it attacked two “non-compliant” ships, according to The Hill.
The IRGC added that the “offending supertankers” were disabled in the Strait of Hormuz, according to The Jerusalem Post.
The IRGC claimed the ships ignored warnings and turned off their navigation systems as they sought to pass through the strait.
The statement said the U.S. was “inciting vessels to use an illegal route,” and that cooperation with an “aggressor enemy” would lead to damage and a delay in Iran allowing the strait to reopen.
The UAE said it may respond to the attack.
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Washington — President Trump has been trying to force Iran to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz for months, turning to everything from airstrikes and naval blockades to negotiations and threats to destroy a “whole civilization.”
But restoring oil tanker traffic in the vital Middle East shipping corridor to prewar flows likely will require a much bigger armada of U.S. warships if not tens of thousands of American troops on Iranian soil, experts say. Despite on-and-off fighting, Iran can still target vessels in the slim Persian Gulf waterway with drones and missiles that have been hidden in a country a third the size of the continental United States.
“Iran has been preparing for this type of asymmetric conflict for decades now,” said Jason H. Campbell, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute and a former Pentagon official. “I think they’re starting to demonstrate why no other U.S. president since Reagan has elected to engage at this level of conflict with Iran, because they have that ability to completely disrupt the Strait of Hormuz.”
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In the 26 days between the signing of the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding and the reinstatement of the U.S. blockade, Tehran shipped over $6 billion worth of oil products to foreign buyers.
Iran shipped out over 80 million barrels of crude oil and refined products between June 18, when the first blockade was lifted, and when it was reimposed on July 13, according to TankerTrackers.com, a tanker-tracking research firm. The blockade, however, closed around Iran before Tehran was able to ship out all of its storage capacity, so around 30 million barrels of Iranian crude oil were unable to embark.
TankerTrackers said over 60 million barrels of floating storage capacity remain available within the blockade perimeter, with the shipments and returned ships taken into account.
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Senior Iranian official Ahmad Alamolhoda:
“The fatwa to kill the American dog Trump must be implemented through an organized mechanism, so it is not left unfulfilled like in the Rushdie case. Our revenge will continue until America collapses like the USSR.”
Enough is enough.
Senior Iranian official Ahmad Alamolhoda:
“The fatwa to kill the American dog Trump must be implemented through an organized mechanism, so it is not left unfulfilled like in the Rushdie case. Our revenge will continue until America collapses like the USSR.” pic.twitter.com/Lncf9oV1fB
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) July 12, 2026
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The U.S., early Sunday morning, launched strikes against Iranian military targets as the Islamic Guard (IRGC) claimed that it has closed the Strait of Hormuz “indefinitely.”
U.S. strikes targeted Iran’s coastal region, destroying naval assets, missile installations, and drone facilities in response to ongoing IRGC attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to Central Command (CENTCOM), U.S. forces “completed a third round of strikes this week against Iran, July 11, holding Iranian forces accountable for attacking another commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz.”
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Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said this morning they targeted American military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait, destroyed radar systems in Oman and struck fuel tanks and ammunition depots at Prince Hassan air base in Jordan as part of its retaliatory strikes against the US.
Jordan said a few hours ago that it intercepted and downed four missiles fired from Iranian territory, while Kuwait’s military said it was intercepting “hostile aerial targets” in the country’s airspace.
The strikes marked an escalation in the recent tit-for-tat attacks between the US and Iran as Tehran seeks to assert sovereignty over the strategic strait of Hormuz, which it sees as its biggest leverage in negotiations with Washington.
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Good Monday morning.
Here is what’s on President Trump’s agenda today:
8:00 AM THE PRESIDENT participates in Executive Time
1:30 PM THE PRESIDENT participates in a Freedom 250 Grand Prix Showcase
3:00 PM THE PRESIDENT participates in a Meeting with the Speaker of the House and Chairman of the NRCC
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TEHRAN — The elaborate funeral rites for Iran’s slain supreme leader that drew huge crowds of mourners offered a show of strength by the country’s surviving leadership as key senior officials boldly emerged into public view for the first time since the war. And in its posture toward the United States, Tehran also now seems emboldened.
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America’s fight for independence continues to inspire other people around the world 250 years after the Declaration of Independence.
Exiled Persian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi posted a statement on X on July 9 in which he compared the courage of his fellow Persians who stood up to tyranny in spite of horrendous massacres earlier this year to the indomitable spirit that won the American Revolution and World War II. It is remarkable to note that just after the celebration of America’s 250th birthday, the Founding Fathers are not only still setting an example for American patriots but also for all freedom lovers in many diverse and ancient lands on the other side of the globe.
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The United States and Iran traded some of their heaviest fire since last month’s ceasefire agreement, but the latest round of fighting has exposed just how badly Tehran is struggling to match American firepower.
U.S. forces have landed most of the blows in the latest volley, pounding roughly 170 targets over two days while Iran’s retaliatory strikes on U.S.-linked bases in the Middle East were limited and largely intercepted by air defenses.
The U.S. military said its strikes targeted Iranian military infrastructure tied to Tehran’s attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
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BEIRUT: A United States military delegation has met with Lebanon’s army in Beirut to discuss the implementation of Israel’s withdrawal from one of the “pilot zones” in occupied territory, a Lebanese military official told AFP on Saturday (Jul 11).
Under a framework agreement reached on Jun 26, Israel will gradually withdraw from areas of southern Lebanon where it has sent troops as part of its military campaign against Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Shia movement that has long battled Israel.
As part of the agreement, the long-disempowered Lebanese military will take full control of two small areas dubbed pilot zones.
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An Iranian news agency infamous for its close connection with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) — the regime’s terrorist military and brute squad — has published a direct threat once again against President Donald Trump
Fars interestingly did not apparently post the threat on its English language X channel, at least as of Saturday morning. It did, however, makes the threat its pinned post on its Persian language channel.
The message is allegedly from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, presuming that the son of the late mass murderer Ali Khamenei is actually still alive. The statement does express the official regime position. Grok’s translation of the Persian says, “We pledge to take revenge for the pure blood of the martyred Leader and all the martyrs of these two wars from the criminal and disgraced killers.”
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Oil prices rose on Tuesday morning following a report of an Iranian attack on commercial ships in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
The reported attacks in the waterway, which typically handles around 20% of the world’s oil traffic, reaffirm the fragility of the U.S. and Iran’s interim peace agreement, as they negotiate a permanent end to their war.
International benchmark Brent crude futures with September delivery traded 1.5% higher at $73.09 per barrel, extending earlier gains.
U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures with August delivery advanced 1.5% to $69.56, after closing at its lowest level since Feb. 27 in the previous session.
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President Donald Trump said Monday the United States would either reach a deal with Iran or “finish the job,” renewing his threat of military action as Tehran projects defiance following the funeral of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Indirect US-Iran talks ended last week without any public sign of headway toward a lasting peace.”We’re either going to make a deal or we’re going to finish the job. OK. And it won’t be tough to finish the job. I’d rather make a deal, because I don’t want to affect 91 million people,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
“We can knock down their bridges in one hour, we can knock out their energy supply…. They don’t have any money now. We haven’t given them any money.”Trump spoke after Khamenei’s weekend funeral where, rather than looking weakened by the war, Iranians appeared to be united and determined to shape what comes next.Iranians call for revengeIranians called for revenge Monday during the funeral procession of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and voiced their opposition to negotiations with those behind the supreme leader’s death.
“We don’t want a deal. We want Trump’s head!” they chanted, referring to the US president.His death as a “martyr” has whipped up fervour among Iranians, according to mourner Gholamreza Khanbabai, who was also present in 1989 for the funeral of Ayatollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic republic.“If I had to compare this ceremony to that one, I’d say… the crowd seems more enthusiastic this time,” said Khanbabai.
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An “unknown projectile” struck and caused a fire on an oil tanker off the coast of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, British maritime security agency UKMTO said.
The incident occurred near one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes, despite a memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran and ongoing efforts to secure a lasting peace agreement.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the incident took place eight nautical miles east of Limah, Oman.
Read moreWhy is France betting on Oman amid the Hormuz crisis?
“A tanker has reported being hit by an unknown projectile on the port side causing a fire, whilst travelling southbound,” UKMTO said in a post on X.
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We’ve told you about Calla Walsh, the former staffer for Elizabeth Warren, and her radical views on Islam (she loves it) and America (she hates it).
Turns out Walsh attended the funeral for Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei, the brutal Islamist dictator who killed tens of thousands of Iranian protesters and oppressed women for years. That doesn’t seem to matter to Leftists like Walsh, however, because her desire to destroy America outweighs all concerns.
Ex-Dem activist Calla Walsh attends Khamenei’s funeral in Iran, hails him as ‘greatest anti-imperialist leader’ https://t.co/5fd72K0MBR pic.twitter.com/wpCjPRSeuy
— New York Post (@nypost) July 5, 2026
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Iran is likely to face challenges in clearing its oil inventories even after restrictions on its exports are lifted, as its biggest customer tweaks its energy strategy while oil from other suppliers floods the market, according to analysts.
China, the world’s top crude importer, has not been particularly enthusiastic about purchasing Iranian oil, despite traditionally being the main buyer of the country’s energy. “In fact, the Chinese do not show any enthusiasm to buy much oil from anybody,” Fereidun Fesharaki, chairman emeritus at FGE NexantECA, said on CNBC’s “Squawk Box Asia.”
China’s crude imports have dwindled since the Iran war started in late February, depressing oil demand. In May, they plunged 29% from a year earlier to 7.82 million barrels per day, the lowest level since February 2018, according to Wind Information.
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According to their most religious clerics, it is an Islamic ‘deligious duty’ to kill US president and Israeli PM.
This is Islam.
Hamshahri, a major Iranian newspaper, ran a front page with Mr Trump’s face in the crosshairs of a rifle scope beneath the banner headline “Revenge is certain.”
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A cargo vessel in the Red Sea has reported coming under attack, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre, a British maritime security alert service, said Sunday, amid a fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran.
The body said it received a report of the incident 30 nautical miles (56 km) southwest of the port city of Al Hudaydah in Yemen.
“A cargo vessel has triggered a distress alert stating that they are under attack by unknown assailants,” the UKMTO said in a post on X, adding that authorities are investigating the incident.
It urged vessels to “transit with caution”.
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Iranian state media outlets reported Wednesday, July 1, that two members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were killed in the western city of Paveh in Kermanshah Province.
The incident occurred on the evening of June 30, near the border with Iraq’s Kurdistan region. State television described the event as “a terrorist and cowardly act.”
It added that “exact details of this incident and the measures being taken to identify those responsible are under review.” Two additional IRGC members were wounded in the shooting at the victims’ homes.
