US completes 13th night of strikes on Iran, CENTCOM confirms

Tehran activated its air defenses, while explosions were reported in the islands of Qeshm, Larak, and Hengam, as well as the Iranian cities of Ahvaz and Bandar Abbas.

US forces completed the 13th night of attacks against Iran early Friday morning, US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced in a post on X/Twitter. The strikes "targeted Iranian military command centers, drone storage facilities, communication networks, coastal surveillance sites, and maritime capabilities to further diminish the threat Iran poses to civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz," it said in the post.

CENTCOM also confirmed that the strait remains open for transit "despite recent attacks from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps," and that "commercial vessels continue to freely navigate with US military support." Earlier on Friday, CENTCOM had announced in a post on X strikes "aimed to hold Iran accountable and diminish threats from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to commercial shipping."Meanwhile, Iranian air defenses were activated in the capital city of Tehran Friday morning to counter the US's "hostile threat," Iran's semi-official Nour News reported.

IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency had said the explosions were caused by American missiles. Iranian media also reported explosions in Ahvaz, a city in southern Iran, and in an area west of Bandar Abbas, a port city occupying a strategic position in the Strait of Hormuz. (Read More)

Trump says he is close to launching 'massive attack' on Iran, 'bigger than ever before'

US President Donald Trump is close to making a decision on whether to launch a new major combat operation against Iran, he told Axios on Thursday. "I am considering a massive attack. Bigger than ever before. I am close to making a decision. We are all set for it," he said. Trump added that Israel "would join in two minutes if I ask them to," but that there would be "consequences" to it joining the strikes, and that the United States didn't need any assistance.

His relationship with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said, was very good. "Relations with Bibi are very good. I would meet with him if he is here," he stated. During the interview with Axios, Trump also said that Iran wants to negotiate, but that they "haven't received enough pain yet." Two regional sources corroborated that the Iranian leadership was "not being helpful" in negotiations, and had not accepted the latest proposal. (Source)

National Infrastructure Targets Selected: Israel Plans Aggressive Operational Objectives for Next War Stage

The Israeli defense establishment elevated its operational readiness to maximum levels following intelligence assessments regarding potential Iranian miscalculations or preemptive strikes. While Home Front Command directives for the general public remain unchanged, municipal authorities across the country have proactively prepared public bomb shelters. Security personnel are monitoring real time indicators, drawing on lessons from previous military campaigns, including Operations Rising Lion and Lion's Roar, as forces prepare for immediate deployment.

Internal assessments within the defense establishment indicate that maintaining the current status quo represents the preferred immediate strategy for Israel. This approach relies on an effective blockade of Iran combined with sustained US military pressure on Tehran. However, defense planners express concern that Washington may seek to avoid strategic stagnation, potentially leading to a diplomatic agreement that does not address Israel's core security requirements.

Should active war resume, Israeli defense officials advocate for a significantly more aggressive targeting strategy than that used in Operation Lion's Roar. Senior commanders maintain that any renewed campaign must encompass strikes against Iranian national infrastructure assets. Defense analysts note that expanded targeting does not guarantee regime collapse or surrender, while raising the risk of Iranian retaliation against regional energy infrastructure. (Read more)

Iran avoiding strikes on Israel over fear of Hezbollah's collapse, former intelligence officer says

Iran is refraining from striking Israel partially due to fears of Hezbollah's collapse in Lebanon if fighting resumes with Israel, according to retired military Lt.-Col. (res.) Or Horowitz, a senior fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI) and former head of the military intelligence Hezbollah desk.

The US State Department announced earlier this week that activity had begun in three "pilot zones" in Lebanon, in the villages of Froun, Srifa, and Zawtar al-Gharbiya. According to the American announcement, the move is being carried out under the tripartite framework between the US, Israel, and Lebanon, and under the auspices of the military coordination group established to implement the understandings.

Horowitz argued that he is seeing a significant weakening of the Hezbollah terrorist organization. "A historic change is taking shape in Lebanon. Hezbollah is in a weaker state than ever before, Horowitz said. "On the other side, there is a brave president; he wants to end the hostility once and for all. At the end of the day, he is a politician; he wants to avoid a civil war and being murdered himself, and despite that, he is making very brave moves." He then analyzed the expansion of Lebanese Armyactivity in the area alongside Hezbollah's weakening. (Read More)

Iran warns of strikes on Tel Aviv if Trump expands campaign to Tehran

Iranian officials tell New York Times that Iran will attack Tel Aviv and urge Houthis to block the Bab al-Mandab if Trump acts on threats to strike Tehran and key infrastructure.

Iran threatened to strike Israel again should US President Donald Trump expand the strikes on Iran to include the capital, Tehran, the New York Times reported Thursday, citing two Iranian officials. The two officials told the newspaper that Iran’s Armed Forces are anticipating and preparing for the possibility of the war expanding if Trump carries through with recent threats to strike Tehran and critical infrastructure.

The officials further said that If Trump does follow through with said threats, Iran will expand the fight regionally, including by striking Tel Aviv and asking the Houthi rebels in Yemen to close Bab al-Mandab, a strategic waterway in the Red Sea. Earlier on Thursday, Trump told Axios' Barak Ravid that he is considering launching an attack on Iran on a scale beyond all previous attacks. "I am considering a massive attack. Bigger than ever before. I am close to making a decision. We are all set for it," Trump said.

Trump added that Israel would join the US military's operation if he asked, but said that the US does not need the help in order to carry out the strikes he is considering. Addressing the attempts to revive talks to end the conflict, Trump said that the Iranian regime has not "received enough pain yet." On Wednesday, the President warned that the US would begin blowing up Iranian bridges and power plants if Iran does not cease its attacks on international shipping. Reports on Thursday indicated that Israeli defense officials increasingly believe that the escalating tensions between the United States and Iran could develop into a broader conflict in the coming days, potentially including missile attacks against Israel. (Source)

Satellite images show Iran rapidly rebuilding sites hit by US and Israeli strikes

WSJ report shows extensive reconstruction at multiple locations; officials lament Tehran’s ability to quickly recover and retain ability to attack, question efficacy of strikes.

Iran has managed to rebuild a significant amount of infrastructure destroyed during its war with the US and Israel in recent months, ranging from bridges to missile bases, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday. The report, based on a review of satellite imagery, suggested that the speed at which Tehran is restoring its damaged capabilities is the reason why it is continuing to hold its own against the US after hostilities renewed earlier this month over disputes relating to the Strait of Hormuz.

One set of satellite images showed that an access road leading to an Iranian missile base had been damaged by strikes in early March, the Journal reported. Several weeks later, a newly paved road could be seen leading to the base’s entrance in Kangavar, western Iran, despite it having also been blocked by the strikes. Other images obtained by the WSJ showed that as of early July, reconstruction efforts were underway at the Bandar Anzali port linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Israel said in March that it had caused significant damage to the port, an IRGC command center located there, and an adjoining shipyard. In a third instance, the newspaper said reconstruction efforts were documented at a missile production plant near Tehran in recent weeks. According to the outlet, Israeli military officials have pointed to these instances as proof that the bombing campaign unleashed on February 28 was ineffective.

One official cited by the outlet suggested that Israel should have focused exclusively on military infrastructure rather than broadening its scope to target regime bodies, believing that doing so would have enabled it to inflict more damage. A second official said Iran was capable of rebuilding almost everything that had been hit, the WSJ added. Satellite images from Planet Labs cited by the newspaper showed that a missile base in Dezful was struck both in June 2025 and again in March 2026, with strikes burying the entrance to the site. Yet just a few months later, the Iranians were already digging out tunnels to regain access, according to images from Airbus. (Read More)

US-Saudi nuclear deal subject to Abraham Accords signing, Trump says

President Donald Trump on Thursday conditioned a deal on civilian nuclear power with Saudi Arabia on the kingdom joining the Abraham Accords, the U.S.-mediated normalization treaties signed or acceded to by Israel and six Muslim countries since 2020. The agreement “pertains only to non-military use such as the ones that Iran and the UAE (and others) already have, will be approved, but is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords. The United States is not opposed to Civil (Non-Enriched) Nuclear Facilities,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The president’s statement comes after the Trump administration announced the previous day that it signed a “peaceful nuclear cooperation agreement” with Saudi Arabia, with no mention of a requirement for normalization of relations with Israel. The agreement provides a “legal foundation for a decades-long, multi-billion-dollar partnership that advances several priority economic and strategic objectives” and allows “great access for American companies in the Saudi nuclear energy program, benefiting American industry, workers and supply chains while helping to meet Saudi energy needs,” the U.S. Department of Energy said. 

The agreement will go to Congress for review, according to the department. Brian Romick, CEO and president of Democratic Majority for Israel, stated that the “decision to provide Saudi Arabia access to American civil nuclear technology without any meaningful progress toward normalization with Israel is a major strategic mistake.” Trump has several times previously called on additional Arab and Muslim countries to join the Abraham Accords. (Read more)

Israel braces for possible Iranian strike this weekend

As US intensifies its military campaign against Iran, Israeli defense officials prepare for possibility of an Iranian attack as early as this weekend.

Israeli defense officials increasingly believe that the escalating tensions between the United States and Iran could develop into a broader conflict in the coming days, potentially including missile attacks against Israel. Israel is therefore preparing for the possibility of an Iranian response as early as this weekend.

Meanwhile the US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Thursday morning completed its 12th consecutive round of strikes on Iranian targets, marking the first use of heavy bombers since the campaign began. The US has also reinstated the maritime blockade on the Strait of Hormuz. Israeli defense officials have warned that the greater the American military pressure on Iran, the higher the likelihood that Tehran will retaliate by attacking US targets in the region, and possibly Israel, if it views the Jewish state as part of the campaign.

According to information obtained by Arutz Sheva - Israel National News, Home Front Command soldiers received phone calls on Wednesday instructing them to remain on heightened alert in the coming days. The calls were described as a precautionary measure in preparation for various scenarios amid concerns over possible regional escalation. At this stage, no new instructions have been issued to the public. (Source)

US launches 12th straight round of strikes on Iranian military targets. Details inside

Directed by President Trump, US forces launched a 12th consecutive round of strikes against Iranian military targets to protect commercial shipping, according to CENTCOM.

The United States launched its 12th consecutive round of strikes on Iranian military targets on Wednesday (July 22), with the operation carried out under the direction of President Donald Trump, according to the US Central Command (CENTCOM). In a post on X, CENTCOM said the latest wave of attacks began at 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time and forms part of Washington's ongoing military campaign against Iran.

"At 5:30 p.m. ET today, U.S. forces began launching more strikes against Iranian military targets at the Commander in Chief's direction. The mission will continue to further degrade Iran's ability to threaten civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting regional waters," CENTCOM said. The military said the operation is aimed at weakening Iran's capability to threaten civilian shipping and commercial vessels operating in regional waters. It did not disclose the locations of the strikes or provide details on the targets hit or any immediate assessment of damage.

The latest action marks the 12th consecutive round of US strikes against Iranian military infrastructure, underscoring the continued escalation between Washington and Tehran amid heightened tensions in the region. There was no immediate response from Iranian authorities regarding the latest strikes. (Source)

Yemen’s Houthis hit tankers in Red Sea as US strikes Iran for 12th consecutive night

Crew safe after Iran-backed rebels say they hit two Saudi ships that violated their blockade; Iran says it targeted US military assets in Kuwait and Jordan in response to strikes.

The Iran-backed Houthis struck two Saudi oil tankers on Thursday that they accused of violating a naval blockade imposed by the group, signaling a potential new front in the US-Iran conflict, as the US military struck Iran for the 12th successive night. The attack came after the Houthis said on Monday that they were imposing a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, a move that could significantly widen the war and strain the US military.

Yemen’s Houthis said they targeted two Saudi oil tankers, identified as Encelia and Laylia, saying the vessels violated their naval blockade. The Encelia was targeted while sailing in the Red Sea, causing a fire at the front of the ship, Saudi state news agency SPA reported, citing an official source at the General Transport Authority. The source said all crew members were safe and that authorities had taken necessary measures to secure the vessel and crew and protect the marine environment.

Disputes over management of the Strait of Hormuz led to the collapse of a preliminary deal reached in April between Washington and Tehran, reigniting the simmering five-month conflict. A Houthi maritime blockade may create a second chokepoint on global oil supplies alongside Iran’s near-closure of the Hormuz. Before the Red Sea flare-up, Trump threatened Wednesday to bomb one Iranian bridge or power plant in return for each attack on shipping in Hormuz, reiterating his longstanding threat to go after Iranian infrastructure. Trump said on Tuesday he would “take care of” the Houthis if they followed through on their own blockade threat against Saudi ports. (Read more)

Iran strikes on CIA facilities in Gulf prompt questions about possible Russian role — sources

Iranian drone attacks on CIA facilities in the Gulf have prompted US intelligence analysts to investigate whether Russia assisted by providing targeting information or advanced drone technology, say four people familiar with US intelligence. These people, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss national security matters, say US intelligence officials have not yet reached firm conclusions about the possible Russian involvement in the attacks on CIA facilities. But they cite the strikes’ effectiveness and apparent precision, as well as Russia’s broader technical support for Iran, as possible evidence.   

Reuters and other media have reported — and US officials have acknowledged — that Russia has provided targeting and other support for Iran in its strikes on US targets in the Gulf region generally, but the intelligence community’s investigation of possible Russian involvement in supporting the CIA facility attacks has not been previously disclosed.   

At least two CIA sites were struck in March, Reuters and other outlets have reported. One of the facilities was the CIA station in Saudi Arabia, which is located in the US embassy in Riyadh, and a separate site was located in eastern Iraq. Some of the sources said additional CIA sites had been hit, but they did not disclose details. (Ed note: Well, well. Is old Gog of Magog giving Persia a hand up?)  (Source)

Trump escalates threats to Iran’s infrastructure, as US said readying to use heavy bombers

Israeli report says US told Jerusalem it will step up strikes in coming days, will likely hit Pickaxe nuclear site; Trump pledges to target bridge or power plant for every ship attacked in Hormuz 

US President Donald Trump threatened Wednesday to bomb one Iranian bridge or power plant in return for each attack on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, reiterating his longstanding threat to go after Iranian infrastructure as fighting has escalated in recent weeks and could reportedly further intensify in the coming days. Disputes over management of the strait led to the collapse of a preliminary deal between the United States and Iran, and both sides have exchanged daily fire across the Middle East and threatened to escalate the conflict even further.

According to a Wednesday report in Hebrew media, the US informed Israel that it will soon deploy heavy bombers for strikes on Iran, presumably targeting fortified nuclear sites, in what would be a major escalation. “Any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by Missile, Rocket, Drone, or any other device or weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy ONE BRIDGE OR POWER PLANT,” Trump wrote on social media.

In response to Trump’s threat to Iran’s infrastructure, an Iranian military source cited by Tasnim news agency said Tehran would retaliate against infrastructure in the region. Iran’s top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf expanded on the threats, saying no one will be able to sell oil in a region where Iran is not able to do so, and adding that if Tehran’s security is not ensured, no infrastructure will be safe. “The equation of this war is clear: either all or none,” Ghalibaf said in a post on X. (Read More)

Israeli assessment: US incapable of destroying 'Pickaxe Mountain'

Iran's deeply buried 'Pickaxe Mountain' complex near Natanz already contains the components needed for a uranium enrichment facility, report says.

Galei Zahal (Army Radio) on Wednesday published new details on Iran's underground "Pickaxe Mountain" facility, located near Natanz. According to the report, the site already houses not only centrifuges that have been transferred there, but also all the components required to establish a uranium enrichment facility, although it is reportedly not yet operational. Assessments indicate that Iran is prepared to establish an underground complex capable of carrying out the entire uranium enrichment process at the site. The report added that the introduction of enriched uranium into the facility would be considered a "bright red line," as it could indicate the capability to enrich uranium to weapons-grade purity of 90%.

Israeli defense officials believe that even with the United States' existing military capabilities, it would not be possible to completely destroy the underground facility. However, they assess that the site could be neutralized, thus preventing it from becoming an active enrichment facility. Military correspondent Doron Kadosh also published additional details based on research by nuclear expert David Albright. He noted that construction of the tunnel complex began in 2020 inside a granite mountain and includes at least two entrances leading to a facility more than 100 meters underground.

The assessment is that the underground halls are large enough to eventually accommodate an enrichment plant housing thousands of centrifuges, as well as other activities related to Iran's nuclear program. The report further stated that throughout 2025, Iran strengthened the site's defenses by adding a perimeter fence, layers of concrete and earth around the tunnel entrances, and sealing some of the access points.

According to the research institute, the facility is still under construction. However, if completed and activated, it could become a key component of Iran's continued efforts to advance its nuclear program. At the same time, analysts believe the site has vulnerabilities, including its electrical, ventilation, and supporting infrastructure systems, which could potentially be targeted in a military strike. (Ed note: Are they thinking about Navy Seal boots on the ground?)  (Source)

'Put your house in order': India links Indus Water Treaty directly to Pakistan's cross-border terrorism in sharp UN show

India accused Pakistan at the United Nations of using cross-border terrorism as an "instrument of State policy", rejected Islamabad's remarks on Jammu and Kashmir, and reiterated that the Union Territory is an integral part of India. Here's all you need to know.

India on Wednesday (Jul 22) slammed Pakistan at the United Nations, accusing it of using cross-border terrorism as an "instrument of State policy" and reiterating that Jammu and Kashmir "has always been, is, and will remain" an integral part of India. Speaking at the High-Level Open Debate of the UN Security Council on Natural Resources Governance: the Foundation of Peace, Security and Prosperity, India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, accused Pakistan of misusing the forum to advance what he described as a "false narrative."

Speaking at the high-level debate, Harish noted that New Delhi was being "compelled" to counter Islamabad's "false narrative". "It was not our intention to bring other issues in this forum, but my delegation is compelled to respond to Pakistan, as it has chosen to misuse today's discussion to peddle its false narrative," said Harish. Reaffirming India's position on Jammu and Kashmir, the envoy said the Union Territory is an "integral and inalienable part" of the country. "For the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, it has always been, is, and will remain an integral and inalienable part of India. This is the constitutional and legal reality that Pakistan deliberately chooses to ignore," he said.

Harish also asserted that the only unresolved issue concerning Jammu and Kashmir was what he termed Pakistan's "naked aggression and illegal occupation" of Indian territory. "The only outstanding issue with regard to Jammu and Kashmir is the naked aggression and illegal occupation of India's sovereign territory by Pakistan," he said. Referring to the Indus Water Treaty, the Indian envoy said New Delhi's position remained "clear and consistent" and linked cooperation under the treaty to an environment of mutual trust.

"Our position on the Indus Water Treaty remains clear and consistent. Cooperation on the basis of mutual trust and goodwill cannot be expected when cross-border terrorism is regularly deployed as an instrument of State policy," Harish said. In his concluding remarks, the ambassador urged Pakistan to focus on addressing its domestic challenges rather than criticising India. "Instead of pointing fingers at India, Pakistan would serve itself and its people far better by putting its own house in order," he said. (Ed note: Kashmir has been a contested region between India and Pakistan for about 78 years. Both countries claim the land and both countries have nuclear weapons.) (Source)

Border Spillover Danger: Iranian Missile Strikes on Aqaba Threaten Eilat and Ramon Airport

Recent Iranian missile strikes targeting Aqaba in neighboring Jordan have triggered alarms across southern Israel, prompting defense officials to refresh emergency protocols as concerns grow over potential spillover or direct attacks.

Israeli defense officials are voicing growing concern over recurring Iranian missile strikes aimed at the nearby Jordanian port city of Aqaba, warning that the close proximity poses a direct threat to southern Israel. Explosions from impacts and interceptions across the border have echoed loudly throughout Eilat for several days, causing tension among local residents. The Israel Defense Forces recognize that the minimal distance between Aqaba and Israeli territory makes potential spillover an immediate, ongoing security threat to Eilat, the Arava region, Ramon Airport, and southern military bases.

In response to the heightened threat environment, the IDF Home Front Command and the Edom Formation refreshed operational procedures to prepare for potential missile impacts or shrapnel falls. Security officials view the targeted strikes on Jordan as a deliberate strategic calculation by Tehran intended to demonstrate its persistent strike capabilities. A senior security official stated, "The Iranians want to signal to us that if we join the American campaign, they still have a proven ability to launch missiles at the Israeli home front," adding that "it is not clear why they chose this specific area."

Despite the current focus on Jordanian territory, the Israeli defense establishment is preparing for all operational scenarios. Defensive planning includes multi layered air defense interceptions targeting potential incoming threats launched from Iran, Yemen, and Iraq. Military leadership has made clear that any direct targeting of Israeli soil will draw an immediate, powerful military response.  (Ed note: Located on the Red Sea, and a  popular destination as a resort town, its population is about 56,000.)    (Read More)

11th consecutive night: CENTCOM hits Iranian hangars and logistics

CENTCOM completes its 11th consecutive night of strikes against Iranian military targets to protect Strait of Hormuz shipping following months of Iranian aggression.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Tuesday night that, at 8:15 p.m. ET on July 21, it successfully completed the 11th consecutive evening of strikes against Iran which had begun about an hour earlier. According to the statement, CENTCOM assets targeted Iranian military operations centers, maritime capabilities, aircraft hangars, drone storage facilities, and military logistics infrastructure to further degrade Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

“Over the past three months, Iran has attacked more than 30 commercial vessels transiting the international waterway vital for regional and global trade. The unwarranted attacks have endan It stressed, “Despite Iranian aggression, the Strait of Hormuz remains open for commercial vessel transit. Since early May, CENTCOM forces have helped facilitate the transit of approximately 900 commercial vessels and 450 million barrels of crude oil."

Iranian media reported earlier that the US strikes were widespread and recorded in Behbahan, Mahshahr, Bandar Abbas, Chabahar, Bushehr and Parchin. Air defense systems were reportedly also active in the Sohanak neighborhood in northeastern Tehran, west of Tabriz and Sirik. The Nournews agency reported that air defense systems in Tehran were activated against “hostile targets." Hours before the latest US strikes, the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the operational headquarters of the Iranian army, warned the USagainst striking Iran's nuclear facilities. (Read more)

B-1 Bombers On Route: US Heavy Aircraft Take Off From UK Base Following Trump Threat on Iranian Nuclear Mountain

US Air Force B-1 Lancers were documented taking off from RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom shortly after President Donald Trump vowed to hit Iran's secret underground Pickaxe Mountain facility. US Air Force B-1 strategic bombers were observed taking off from RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom shortly after President Donald Trump threatened direct military strikes against Iran's fortified Pickaxe Mountain facility. The departure of the heavy aircraft signals an operational shift as military posture around the ongoing war continues to intensify across multiple theaters.

The heavy bomber launches from British soil coincide directly with growing intelligence reports that Tehran relocated centrifuges and enriched uranium to the subterranean mountain complex. Observers noted the B-1 Lancers departing the military base, though officials have not confirmed whether the flights represent a tactical deployment, a planned operational exercise, or standard training missions. The airborne mobilization followed remarks by Trump regarding reports of Iranian nuclear transfers to the fortified site. The president emphasized that Washington maintains a zero tolerance policy toward Iran acquiring non-conventional capabilities.

"We will hit that site hard, without a doubt," Trump declared. "Iran cannot reach a nuclear weapon, and every site that is nuclear will be hit hard." In addition to threats against underground facilities, Trump highlighted that diplomatic channels remain closed. He noted that Tehran appears eager for negotiations, but specified that the US will not engage without significant concessions from Iranian leadership.

...The strategic bomber departures also come as Israeli defense networks under Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir entered maximum readiness for potential Iranian missile retaliations. Security authorities warn that continued US strikes against critical Iranian infrastructure and senior leadership are expected to trigger direct long-range attacks across the region. (Read more)

Iran avoiding attack on Israel over fears of IDF strikes on regime leaders, expert says

Iran is avoiding a broad, direct attack on Israel because it fears Israeli strikes on senior regime figures and institutions vital to its survival, Iran researcher Beni Sabti told 103FM on Sunday. Sabti, an Iran researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies, spoke with Ron Kofman and Prof. Aryeh Eldad following an Al Hadath report citing an Israeli security source who said that Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was not in the Islamic Republic.“The strength of the public lies in Tehran, as we saw during the protests, and that is what Iran fears,” Sabti said, explaining Iran’s concern over a possible Israeli attack.

“The Iranian regime fears our involvement because they know that we are going straight to the center. We are targeting the most important part and focusing on senior officials. “They crossed a threshold on Sunday. There may be elements within the Revolutionary Guards that are beginning to pick at us and provoke us, testing how far they can go in angering Israel, and woe to them. There are always rogue elements within rogue elements. It has become like Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Let me be clear: Iran has shifted into terror organization mode.”

Asked why Iran was refraining from launching a broad, direct attack on Israel, Sabti said: “They know that, first and foremost, we focus on individuals, and from our familiarity with them, we truly know how to reach them, as we saw on previous occasions. “If there are no American restrictions, we know how to do the job. We focus on facilities and institutions that are important to the regime’s survival, such as the Revolutionary Guards’ internal security headquarters.” “There are people who do not respect the rule of law and who are truly anarchists, and the Revolutionary Guards are like that,” Sabti said. “There are people who do not respect the law and even enjoy doing so. (Read More)

Iran moved thousands of uranium centrifuges into fortified Pickaxe Mountain - WSJ

The movement of nuclear equipment deep inside Pickaxe Mountain increases concerns that Tehran is working to ensure continued production of uranium enrichment.

Iran transferred thousands of uranium enrichmentcentrifuges to underground facilities deep inside Natanz's Pickaxe Mountain last fall, The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing Israeli and US officials. The centrifuges were transferred to the mountain following the 12-day war in June 2025. During the war, American and Israeli strikes pummeled three of Iran’s main nuclear sites, in an operation the US called "Midnight Hammer."

US and Israeli officials noted that the transfer of sensitive equipment inside the mountain increases concerns that Tehran is working to ensure continued uranium enrichment, even in the event of a large-scale military attack on its soil. Pickaxe Mountain is located south of the Natanz nuclear complex, the site of two of Iran’s uranium enrichment plants bombed in June 2025.

The tunnel facility under construction at Pickaxe Mountain wasn't targeted in either of the wars, according to the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), a US-based think-tank focused on nuclear non-proliferation. Satellite imagery shows that the complex was carved to a depth of more than 100 meters below bedrock, making it deeper and more fortified than the Fordow enrichment facility, a highly fortified, underground uranium enrichment facility. (Read More)

CNN: Israel Believes Iran Moved Enriched Uranium, Not Just Centrifuges, Into Pickaxe Mountain

CNN adds new detail to a Wall Street Journal report, saying Israeli intelligence believes Iran relocated part of its highly enriched uranium stockpile, along with thousands of centrifuges, into the fortified Pickaxe Mountain site near Natanz. CNN added a significant new detail Tuesday to a Wall Street Journal report on Iran's nuclear program, saying Israel believes Tehran moved not only thousands of centrifuges but also part of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium into a fortified underground facility known as Pickaxe Mountain.

According to CNN, an Israeli source familiar with the matter said the transfer took place after the twelve day war between Israel and Iran in June 2025, and that Israeli intelligence has been monitoring the site, located south of Tehran near Natanz, for months. Iran currently holds roughly 440 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity, just below weapons grade, and removing that stockpile has remained a central war goal for both Israel and the United States.

The Wall Street Journal was first to report Monday that Israeli and American officials believe Iran transferred thousands of uranium enrichmentcentrifuges into tunnels carved deep inside Pickaxe Mountain, according to intelligence Israel shared with Washington. Satellite imagery reviewed by the Journal shows the complex sits more than 300 feet beneath granite bedrock, making it considerably deeper and more fortified than the Fordow and Natanz facilities that were struck last year.

Pickaxe Mountain was not targeted during the twelve day war in June 2025, when American and Israeli strikes hit Iran's three main nuclear sites, nor has it been hit during the more intensive US-Israeli campaign that began on February 28. An Israeli defense official familiar with target selection told the Journal that last year's strikes did not sufficiently damage facilities tied to Iran's weapons program and that additional work remains, including at Pickaxe Mountain. (Read More)

IDF confirms launch of ‘Safe Zone’ pilot program in Southern Lebanon

The Israel Defense Forces on Monday night confirmed the launch of a “Safe Zone” pilot program in Southern Lebanon that will see Israeli troops redeploy from designated areas. “In accordance with the directives from the political echelon, the ‘Safe Zone’ pilot program began today (Monday) in southern Lebanon, in cooperation with the U.S. military (CENTCOM) and the Lebanese Armed Forces,” the IDF stated. “As part of the pilot, teams from the IDF, the U.S. military, and the Lebanese Armed Forces are conducting coordination and planning for the continued implementation of the agreement,” it continued. “The IDF will respond forcefully to any violation of the agreement.”

The U.S. State Department said on Monday that the Lebanese military launched its first operations to take over control of villages near the Israeli security zone in Lebanon. “Pilot zone operations began in the villages of Froun, Srifa and Zawtar Al-Gharbiya in accordance with the Trilateral Framework and under the auspices of the Military Coordination Group for Lebanon,” State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott stated. “This milestone is a direct outcome of last week’s discussions between Israel and Lebanon in Rome,” he said.

The three villages straddle the Litani River at the edge of the security area that Israel established within Lebanon to combat Hezbollah. Under the agreement that Israel, Lebanon and the United States signed in Washington in June, the establishment of Lebanese-controlled pilot zones is the first step to allow Israel to “progressively redeploy out of the Lebanese territory.” Those redeployments will require “mutual consent” and “the confirmation of successful disarmament of non-state armed groups and dismantlement of their infrastructure” in the pilot zones, per the agreement. (Ed note: The village of Srifa is about 13 miles northeast of the city of Tyre. Can the Lebanese military get it done, or is this another case of letting the fox guard the hen-house?) (Source)

Israel, US, and Lebanon have different visions for pilot zones - and Hezbollah is why - analysis

Lebanon, Israel, and the US all support Lebanese Army pilot zones in the south - but each side appears to have a different idea of what success means and how to deal with Hezbollah.

There appears to be a disconnect between what Beirut, Washington, and Jerusalem expect from the deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) in proposed pilot zones in southern Lebanon. On paper, all three sides appear to support an increased role for the Lebanese Army. However, they seem to have very different ideas about what that deployment is supposed to accomplish.

On July 20, the US State Department said, “Today, pilot zone operations began in the villages of Froun, Srifa, and Zawtar al-Gharbiya in accordance with the Trilateral Framework [Agreement] and under the auspices of the Military Coordination Group for Lebanon. This milestone is a direct outcome of last week’s discussions between Israel and Lebanon in Rome. “The United States will continue working closely with both parties to implement the Framework to a successful conclusion.”

...Beirut appears primarily focused on using the pilot zones to secure an Israeli withdrawal or redeployment. The concept is clear from Lebanon’s point of view. The LAF deploys soldiers and vehicles, demonstrates that it has a presence on the ground, and then hopes the IDF will keep leaving new areas. Beirut can then say it has fulfilled its obligations.

...There is one major problem with this approach: Hezbollah is barely mentioned by Beirut or its supporters. It is always seen as the “he who shall not be named,” like in Harry Potter. The United States appears to have a more ambitious objective. Washington has invested in the Lebanese Army over the years. The goal of the US is for the Lebanese state to restore its sovereignty.

...That means the army should actually do what an army is supposed to do. It should control territory, secure borders, prevent Hezbollah from operating, and ensure that the state has a so-called monopoly on weapons. That means preventing Hezbollah from stockpiling so many weapons that it basically supplants the army in terms of its powers. In southern Lebanon, this inevitably means dealing with Hezbollah. (Ed note: How do you like that decision? Did Israel just get thrown under the bus again by deal making Presidents?) (Read More)

US-Saudi nuclear deal makes no mention of normalization with Israel, IAEA safeguards - report

The Trump administration plans to submit to Congress a pact with Saudi Arabia to share nuclear power technology that does not include a plan for normalization with Israel or safeguards the US has long said would stop materials from being used in nuclear weapons programs, the New York Times reported on Tuesday. The long-discussed US-Saudi nuclear pact was once envisioned as one part of a broad deal that could lead to recognition of Israel, but Saudi Arabia pulled back from the possibility during the Israel-Hamas war.

The administration is set to submit to Congress within days a document known as a 123 Agreement that will be signed by US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi energy minister Abdulaziz bin Salman, two sources told Reuters. The two signed a preliminary agreement in Riyadh last year. The White House and US Department of Energy did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The agreement refers to Section 123 of the US Atomic Energy Act of 1954 and is required to permit the US government and American companies to work with entities in the kingdom to develop a multibillion-dollar civil nuclear industry. The agreement does not include the "Gold Standard" that would block the kingdom from enriching uranium and reprocessing spent nuclear fuel, both of which are potential pathways to nuclear weapons, said the sources familiar with the agreement.

The agreement also does not include the "Additional Protocol," which grants the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency broad and more intrusive oversight of a country's nuclear activities, such as the power to carry out snap inspections at undeclared locations, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive issues. (Ed note: How many times have the Saudi's refused to let the US fly over their land, and continues to refuse to normalize relations with Israel? So let us give them an atomic bomb?)  (Read more)

THE ANCIENT AREA OF ELAM IS THE SUBJECT OF END TIMES PROPHECY!

The ancient territory of Elam, which is in modern-day Iran, is the subject of a latter days apocalyptic prophecy in Jeremiah 49:34-39. Within Elam are the following important nuclear related sites that are strategic US targets.

Isfahan: Iran’s largest nuclear research facility.

Pickaxe Mountain: Suspected location of Iran’s hidden enriched uranium.

Natanz: Iran's primary enrichment facility.

Bushehr: One of Iran’s nuclear reactors.

Shiraz: Iran’s special weapons and missile development facility.

The prophecy foretells of a forthcoming epic biblical disaster.

The details of Jeremiah’s end times Elam prophecy are summarized below.

The Lord declares He will;

1. bring disaster upon them, My fierce anger,
2. destroy from there the king and the officials,
3. break the bow of Elam, at the foremost of their might,
4. bring the four winds From the four quarters of heaven,
5. scatter them  toward all those winds, (worldwide)
6. cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies (invading forces) and before those who seek their life,

7. send the sword after them Until I have consumed them,
8. set My throne (authority) in Elam,
9. and, (in the latter days) bring back the captives of Elam.

U.S. Goes Nuclear: Iranian Air Defenses Activate Around Bushehr Plant as Strikes Reach Central Isfahan (BUSHEHR)

United States forces have initiated a 10th consecutive night of bombardment targeting military infrastructure across Iran, while Tehran vows to maintain its strategic leverage over the Strait of Hormuz despite strikes hitting near its nuclear facilities. United States Central Command has executed a 10th consecutive wave of heavy aerial strikes against military targets inside Iran. The operation, ordered by President Donald Trump, directly targets Iranian military assets utilized to disrupt international maritime traffic and commercial shipping transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

The latest escalation follows statement confirmation from American officials indicating that destructive strikes will persist until Tehran complies with established security frameworks. Iranian state media confirmed that air defense systems were activated in close proximity to the Bushehr nuclear power plant following incoming air raids. Explosions were reported across multiple major southern port cities, including Sirik, Bandar Abbas, Bandar Lengeh, and Chabahar. Additionally, loud detonations were reported for the first time in the current campaign over Isfahan in central Iran, indicating a major geographic expansion of the bombing campaign.

Despite the sustained aerial campaign, senior Iranian leadership remains resolute regarding its strategic posture in regional waters. Ali Bagheri Kani, Deputy Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, publicly issued a firm warning regarding the disputed maritime choke point. "The leverage of the Strait of Hormuz is of crucial importance to us, and Iran will not retreat from its position on this matter," declared Bagheri Kani during official security briefings.

Security evaluations confirm that US forces are systematically targeting coastal surveillance sites, missile and drone launch positions, and military command facilities throughout southern Iranian provinces. Intelligence assessments indicate that the risk of broader regional conflict continues to escalate rapidly as retaliatory strikes affect allied infrastructure across the Persian Gulf. Iranian officials continue to insist that any resolution must involve an immediate cessation of all foreign military operations in regional airspace. (Source)

US strikes hit Bushehr, Iranian city home to country’s sole civilian nuclear plant (BUSHEHR)

TEHRAN, Iran — US strikes hit several locations in Iran’s southern port city of Bushehr, home to the country’s only civilian nuclear plant, state media reports.

“A few minutes ago, several locations in Bushehr city were hit by the American enemy’s projectiles,” says Bushehr governor Mohammad Mozaffari, as quoted by official state news agency IRNA.  (Source)

NUCLEAR SHOWDOWN IN IRAN

Missiles cloud Mideast skies over the Persian Gulf. Iran shuts down the Strait of Hormuz. Arab oil is choked off to world markets. Hezbollah and Hamas launch scores of missiles into Israel. Terror cells initiate cycles of violence in America. Global economies begin to collapse. Radioactivity permeates the skies over Bushehr’s nuclear reactor. Countless Iranian’s hastily seek refuge into neighboring nations. The Arabian Gulf becomes a cesspool of contamination. Desalinization plants can’t process the polluted waters. A humanitarian crisis burgeons out of control. A disaster of epic biblical proportion has finally arrived in the Middle East!

About 2600 years ago the Hebrew prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel issued parallel end times prophecies concerning modern-day Iran. Today the rogue country is becoming a nuclear nation and aggressively advancing its hegemony throughout the greater Middle East. Nuclear Showdown in Iran, The Ancient Prophecy of Elam is a non-fiction thriller taking the reader on a journey of discovery through the eyes of the prophets and the minds of today’s key national players.Can anything good come from the evil that is about to befall us? The ancient prophecy of Elam will reveal what God has ordained, what the prophets saw and what you need to know and do now.   (CLICK HERE)

Iran moved centrifuges deep inside Natanz's Pickaxe Mountain in bid to keep nuclear program alive

Iran transferred thousands of uranium enrichmentcentrifuges to underground facilities deep inside Natanz's Pickaxe Mountain last fall, The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing Israeli and US officials. The centrifuges were transferred to the mountain following the 12-day war in June 2025. During the war, American and Israeli strikes pummeled three of Iran’s main nuclear sites, in an operation the US called "Midnight Hammer."

US and Israeli officials noted that the transfer of sensitive equipment inside the mountain increases concerns that Tehran is working to ensure continued uranium enrichment, even in the event of a large-scale military attack on its soil. Pickaxe Mountain is located south of the Natanz nuclear complex, the site of two of Iran’s uranium enrichment plants bombed in June 2025.

The tunnel facility under construction at Pickaxe Mountain wasn't targeted in either of the wars, according to the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), a US-based think-tank focused on nuclear non-proliferation. Satellite imagery shows that the complex was carved to a depth of more than 100 meters below bedrock, making it deeper and more fortified than the Fordow enrichment facility, a highly fortified, underground uranium enrichment facility.

Reaching these depths is considered a complex task, even for the most advanced bunker-penetrating bombs in the US arsenal. Tehran claimed that the site is intended solely as a factory for the production and assembly of advanced centrifuges, not as an active enrichment facility. Iranian authorities, however, are preventing International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors from entering the site. (Read More)

'We want land invasion': Iran mouthpiece touts new missile, boasts decades of war prep

Seyed Mohammad Marandi said Tehran introduced a new missile, buried its arsenal underground to withstand US air attacks. 

Tehran has spent decades preparing for — and welcoming — a U.S. ground invasion, a senior Iranian official has claimed, as fresh explosions rocked the region on the eighth day of renewed U.S.-Iran strikes. Seyed Mohammad Marandi, an Iranian American academic identified as a regime "mouthpiece," also boasted that Tehran had just launched a "new missile" while decentralizing and burying its arsenal deep underground to withstand sustained American air campaigns.

"The Americans are planning an invasion. I'm not saying it will necessarily happen. I'm not saying it will necessarily happen in the next few days. But they have plans for an invasion," Marandi, who served as an advisor to Iran's nuclear negotiation team during recent talks with the U.S. in Pakistan, said in an interview with political analyst Glenn Diesen.

Whether they carry them out or not, we'll see. But the Iranians, as you pointed out, the focus of Iranian strikes is on Bahrain and Kuwait, and that's because that's where most American assets have been placed for a ground invasion," Diesen said. Marandi’s comments came as the conflict expanded across western and southern Iran in the run-up to Saturday. Iran also launched missile and drone salvos targeting U.S.-linked facilities in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain. Jordanian officials confirmed they intercepted 10 missiles early Saturday, while authorities in Kuwait reported casualties and severe damage to a domestic power and desalination plant. (Read More)

Lebanese military deploys in three 'pilot program' areas, securing Hezbollah-free zones

A pilot program in which Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) troops will enter designated areas in southern Lebanon to verify they have been cleared of Hezbollah operatives and weapons is expected to begin in the near future, two people familiar with the matter told The Jerusalem Poston Monday. Later on Monday, the IDF confirmed that the "Safe Zone" pilot program had begun with cooperation from the US and Lebanese militaries. "As part of the pilot, teams from the IDF, the US military, and the Lebanese Armed Forces are coordinating and planning the continued implementation of the agreement," the military stated.

Also on Monday, the US State Department said operations in pilot zones had begun in the villages of Froun, Srifa, and Zawtar al-Gharbiya in southern Lebanon “in accordance with the Trilateral Framework and under the auspices of the Military Coordination Group for Lebanon.” No deadline had been given for the LAF’s demilitarization of pilot zones, an Israeli official told the Post, adding that further implementation is contingent on the success of the initial mobilization.

Meanwhile, talks between Israel and Lebanon on the topics of normalization and demilitarizing Hezbollah are expected to resume at the beginning of August, the Post has learned. The development follows last week’s meeting in Romebetween the Israeli and Lebanese delegations, which were led by Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter and Lebanese Ambassador to the US Nada Hamadeh Mouawad under the auspices of senior US officials. (Read More)