THE FOURTH OF JULY, 2026

 

Washington Alliance Shattered: Leaked Reports Reveal Deepening Rift Between Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

Saudi Arabia has bypassed the United States to open direct security talks with Iran regarding ballistic missiles and maritime control, aiming to secure the kingdom against devastating regional warfare. 

A severe crisis has erupted between Saudi Arabia and the United States, driving the kingdom to pursue independent, direct negotiations with Iran to protect itself from intense regional warfare. New details published by the New York Times reveal that Riyadh is actively seeking understandings with Tehran over ballistic missiles, drone forces, and proxy networks. This independent diplomatic track represents a profound shift in Middle East geopolitics, exposing deep strategic divides between the historical allies.   

The growing rift follows a related disclosure by the Wall Street Journal, which uncovered the extent of the disagreements and the specific Saudi decision to obstruct an American military operation. Washington had planned a massive campaign to forcefully open the Strait of Hormuz, which was recently restricted by Iranian forces. Fearing that the American operation would reignite a full-scale regional war, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman firmly stood his ground, ultimately forcing the United States to cancel the entire naval operation just two days after it commenced.    

This refusal triggered an intense diplomatic pressure campaign from the highest levels of the United States government. President Donald Trump spoke directly with the Crown Prince at least twice within a forty-eight hour window, while Middle East Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner engaged in direct discussions with the Saudi leader. Concurrently, Secretary of State Marco Rubio held urgent talks with his Saudi counterpart, yet the kingdom refused to alter its position.    

Experts point out that the ongoing war with Iran has fundamentally eroded the trust that previously underpinned the Washington, Riyadh alliance. "They lost faith in the administration, and believed that if they allowed the United States to use their airspace, Iran would strike them even harder," stated Hussein Ibish, a senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. Saudi leadership has increasingly come to view United States regional policy as erratic and potentially dangerous to the security of the Gulf states.  (Ed note: This is very serious. Other sources are also verifying the disconnet between the Saudi's and Trump.)   (Read More)

Mourners chant ‘death’ to America and Israel as Iran begins days-long Khamenei funeral

Massive crowds gathered as Iran began a days-long funeral Saturday for the late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with many calling for “revenge” and “death to Israel,” months after an airstrike killed him at the start of the war. Authorities unveiled the casket containing Khamenei’s body in a glass case at the Grand Mosalla in Tehran, Iran’s capital. Mourners wept at the sight, with some chanting: “Our word is one! Revenge! Revenge!” and “We will kill, we will kill he who killed our Imam.” Some carried banners and red flags, a symbol of revenge in Shiite Islam, while billboards across the city bore Khamenei’s image. Crowds of men rhythmically beat their chests in mourning, a common practice at Shiite funerals.

“We have come not for the funeral but for revenge,” a eulogist at the event chanted. “We’re never going to give up your blood, which is the reddest line.” “We must rise up and, God willing, avenge the blood of our leader,” said Hamidreza Shabani, an 18-year-old student. “I am here to say goodbye to my beloved leader Ali Khamenei,” said a weeping Hananeh Mousavi, 27, who attended the funeral alongside her mother. “I never expected to see such a day. I wish I had died before this tragedy.”

An outdoor stage set up at the Grand Mosalla resembled the stage where Khamenei once gave his speeches at a husseiniyah, or Shiite congregation hall, at his compound in downtown Tehran. That site was destroyed in the Israeli airstrike that killed Khamenei and some of his family at the start of the Iran war on February 28. The caskets of his dead family members sat beneath his, which had his black turban atop it, identifying him as a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad. (Ed note: Oh my, what must Trump, JD, Steve  and Jared give to those poor souls to make them happy?)      (Read More)

Iran is convinced war with Israel will resume

Iran has postponed the renewal of broad negotiations with the US until at least July 18, agreeing only to technical-level talks. At the same time, criticism is growing in Washington over Tehran's exploitation of sanctions relief, while Iran prepares for the possibility that the war will resume in the future. Iran is once again playing for time in the negotiations, as expected. In talks held this week, both in Doha and through messages relayed between the sides, the Iranians refused to renew broad negotiations next week on a final agreement to end the war. According to regional diplomatic officials, as of now, the talks are set to resume only on July 18, in about two and a half weeks, and even then Iran is talking about "technical" levels dealing with the nuclear issue and the economic issues related to the release of its frozen assets.

US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner raised the demand to begin high-level talks in Europe or Islamabad in order to advance the final agreement. But the response they received was that Iran was busy with mourning and preparations for the funeral of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was eliminated by Israel at the start of the war. This Iranian refusal joins a series of acts of contempt and humiliation by Iran toward the Americans. The most blatant move was the failure to hold a meeting between the US envoys and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, which was supposed to take place in Doha in the middle of the week. Witkoff and Kushner arrived especially for the meeting, which President Donald Trump said had been convened at Iran's request.

But Araghchi then informed them, as reported by Israel Hayom, that the meeting would not take place, and warned that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps sought to torpedo the negotiations. According to the sources, the IRGC leadership prevented him from attending the meeting, arguing that meetings could not be held at this stage with those responsible for killing their leader.    (Read More)

Israel Does Not Deny Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei Is 'Marked for Death'

As Iran opens seven days of funeral ceremonies for slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, a parallel and far more urgent story is unfolding around his son and successor, and it centers on an explicit Israeli threat to kill him too. Defense Minister Israel Katz said that Mojtaba Khamenei, who inherited the title of supreme leader after his father was killed in the opening strike of the war on February 28, is "marked for death," language nearly identical to what Israeli officials used before the strike that killed the elder Khamenei. Mojtaba was reportedly injured in that same strike and has not been seen publicly since assuming the position, and has apparently been barred from attending the funeral for 'security reasons'.    

Iran's response came fast and from multiple directions. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned Wednesday that Tehran would deliver "an immediate and powerful response to any threat" against Iranian leadership. A day later, Ali Abdollahi, commander of Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, went further, warning "the enemies of Iran, especially the US and the Zionist regime, to avoid any miscalculation and to think about the harsh retaliation our armed forces would make to any threat and aggression against our country."      

The threat against Mojtaba is not happening in isolation. The New York Times reported this week, citing US officials, that Washington has grown concerned Israel could move against Iran's top negotiators as well, chiefly Araghchi and Ghalibaf, and that American officials were worried enough to ask regional intermediaries to pass a warning to Tehran. Israel has made targeted killings of Iranian leadership a defining feature of its war strategy since the opening strike, having also killed Ali Larijani, Iran's top national security official, and former foreign minister Kamal Kharazi, according to the same report.     

...The timing raises the stakes considerably. Iran is expecting fifteen to twenty million mourners and delegations from roughly thirty countries at the funeral processions running through July 9, with Iranian officials explicitly framing the turnout as a show of defiance. Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf called on Iranians to attend en masse to ensure the "nation's call for vengeance" rings out globally. Iranian authorities have responded to the security concerns with heavy measures of their own, including temporary airspace closures over Tehran and Mashhad during the ceremony period.   (Read More)

Israel mocks Tehran as funeral for Khamenei begins

While international delegations and local leaders assembled in the Iranian capital to honor the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Israel's official Persian-language social media presence openly derided the proceedings. The online mocking coincided with a major gathering on Friday inside Tehran, where dignitaries viewed the coffin of Khamenei. The late leader was eliminated on February 28 during a coordinated military strike executed by the United States and Israel. The State of Israel's official Persian-language account on X posted an inquiry targeting the state funeral, writing, “Seriously, what did they put in that coffin?" Hours later, the same account published another message targeting the crowd size: “Many people come too - not to mourn, but to make sure he’s really dead."

Concurrently, a report from the AFP news agency detailed that Iran's highest-ranking administrative figures initiated a weeklong sequence of memorial ceremonies on Friday. Global allies and local mourners entered Tehran, where the former supreme leader's body is currently lying in state. Domestic authorities anticipate that the public processions and viewing cycles will draw millions of participants before the final interment takes place next week.

Photographs released by AFP captured mourners holding the casket inside the expansive Grand Mosalla religious venue located in the capital city. The coffin itself was heavily draped in the national flag of the Islamic Republic, a nation Khamenei commanded for over three decades. State-run television broadcasted images of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian paying respects before the casket on Friday afternoon. He was accompanied by Parliament Speaker and chief diplomatic negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who was filmed weeping at the scene. (Ed note: Included with the objective of Twelver Shia Islam to bring back their al-Mahdi is the annihilation of the Jewish race which he called a "malignant cancer." Does he deserve an respect?)   (Read More)

Lebanese President defends Israel accord, vows Lebanese Army control over sovereign land

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun defends the US-mediated framework with Israel, asserting it empowers the domestic army despite fierce pushback from Hezbollah.   

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stated Friday that the recently signed framework agreement with Israel does not validate Israeli military presence on Lebanese land, but rather establishes a mechanism for the Lebanese military to assert its jurisdiction across the country. Aoun delivered his remarks during a meeting at the presidency with representatives from the Association of Lebanese Universities, the Lebanese Order of Physicians, and the Lebanese Maronite Order. His remarks were quoted by the Anadolu news agency   

During the session, Aoun emphasized the nation's independence from outside actors, directly addressing domestic critics of the diplomatic strategy. "Our sovereign decision to separate our track from the Iranian-US track is a problem for some who have become accustomed to being under guardianship that controls us, decides for us and negotiates on our behalf," Aoun said."

The framework formula does not legitimize the continued Israeli occupation of Lebanon, but provides for empowering the Lebanese army to extend its control over all Lebanese territory," he added. The agreement has come under fire from opponents of Aoun, and particularly the Hezbollah terrorist organization which has a strong political presence in Lebanon in addition to its armed terrorist wing. (Ed note: President Aoun is just blowing smoke. Both the Lebanese government and the Lebanese military have been highly infiltrated and really don't have the the power to free themselves from the grip of Hezbollah. Their easy way out is to try and make Israel leave Lebanon.)  (Read More)

IDF says it hit around 10 Hezbollah sites in response to attack on troops yesterday

The military says the Israeli Air Force struck some 10 Hezbollah sites in southern Lebanon yesterday, in response to an attack on troops earlier, and separately hit a cell of operatives identified near Israel’s buffer zone. The Hezbollah infrastructure sites in Bint Jbeil, Beit Yahoun, Kounine and Baraashit had been used by the terror group to advance attacks on troops in southern Lebanon, the military says.

The IDF says the strikes came after a Hezbollah gunman opened fire on troops in Bint Jbeil yesterday afternoon, seriously wounding a reservist, along with “another violation” of the ceasefire.   

In a separate incident overnight, troops identified a cell of Hezbollah operatives transporting weapons using a truck near the IDF’s security zone, according to the military. A short while later, the Air Force struck the truck “to remove the threat.” The IDF publishes footage of the strikes.  (Source)

Sa’ar blasts Turkish FM who described Israel as a 'burden to humanity'

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar fiercely condemns Turkish FM Hakan Fidan’s anti-Israel tirade in TV interview, calling his dehumanizing labels "textbook incitement to genocide."  

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Thursday blasted Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, after Fidan launched an anti-Israel tirade during an interview with CNN Turk. The Turkish top diplomat had said in the interview, “Israel is not just Turkey’s problem, nor is it solely President Erdogan's issue. The only difference is that President Erdogan is the one openly saying that what is wrong is wrong. That is a separate matter, and it is something humanity itself should reflect on." 

He then claimed, “But everyone knows it and feels it. People whisper it behind closed doors, and from time to time they say it openly. This is a problem for all of humanity. That's what we should call it." Fidan continued, “These people have become a burden that humanity can no longer bear. With these policies and this mindset, humanity cannot carry this burden. The human conscience cannot bear it. Political systems cannot sustain it, and economic systems cannot sustain it. No matter which framework you use, there is no parameter under which these people can be sustained."   

“If you expect me to solve your problem on your behalf all by myself, then everyone must step up, take a diplomatic stance, and impose the necessary sanctions on those people," the Turkish Foreign Minister said. Fidan also claimed that “Israel is currently searching for a new enemy" and added, “As long as Israel - or any other actor - acts in ways that conflict with our national and regional interests, we have no reason to fear anyone, hesitate, or back down." He further hinted that Turkey would not hesitate to fight Israel as he stated, “We have no problem with confrontation. If it comes to that, it is not an issue for us." (Ed note: Why does old Gomer hate Israel so much?)     (Read More)

Katz: 83% of Hamas tunnels in IDF-controlled portion of Gaza have been destroyed

Defense Minister Israel Katz says he was updated in an assessment today that the military has demolished 83% of the Hamas tunnels in the IDF-held portion of the Gaza Strip.

The assessment with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and other top officers was held to mark 1,000 days since the October 7 onslaught.

“We thwarted Iran’s nuclear program and removed an existential threat from the citizens of Israel, eliminated Khamenei and most of Iran’s ruling leadership, and severely damaged its strategic capabilities — and the IDF must prepare for an independent ‘blue and white’ strike on Iran whenever necessary,” Katz is cited as saying by his office.  (Ed note: Good to hear.)  (Source)

Trump: Iran has ‘agreed to just about everything we need’

US President Donald Trump claims that Iran has “agreed to just about everything we need” in negotiations over a final accord between the two countries. Trump makes the claim in a CNBC interview when asked whether the Iran war could turn into one of the so-called ‘forever wars’ that he pledged to avoid.

Trump has previously touted Iran’s pledge in the MOU inked last month to not obtain a nuclear weapon, even though it made the same commitment in the 2015 nuclear deal brokered by then-US president Barack Obama, which Trump ridiculed and pulled out of in 2018. He has also previously claimed that Iran has agreed to allow the US to extract the country’s stockpiles of highly enriched uranium — something the Islamic Republic has denied and is actually one of the main sticking points in talks between the sides, which have reportedly not made much progress.

Trump points out in the CNBC interview that the Iran war was much shorter than other conflicts, and claims that the Afghanistan war lasted “like 10 years,” though it in fact lasted some 20 years, including spanning his first term. He says of Iran that he managed to “defeat them militarily,” even though Tehran has “some missiles left.” He says the US could wipe those out as well and has hit Iran as recently as last week in retaliation for targeting ships in Hormuz. “We’re negotiating, and we’ll see,” Trump says.  (Ed note: Either someone is lying, or someone is delusional.)   (Source)

Tehran Ultimatum: Iran Threatens Heavy Blows to US and Israel as Nuclear Talks Collapse

Iran has issued dramatic threats of severe military retaliation against Israel and the United States, declaring that any maritime interference or strategic miscalculations will trigger devastating blows amid collapsing diplomatic negotiations. The Iranian armed forces have issued fierce warnings and aggressive threats directed at both the United States and Israel, citing a severe lack of progress in ongoing diplomatic negotiations. As international observers report that talks have hit a critical impasse, military commanders inTehran are actively escalating their rhetoric and tightening control over vital international shipping lanes.

Washington and Tehran have failed to finalize a highly anticipated agreement, with international reports indicating that several irreconcilable clauses are threatening to completely dismantle the talks. This diplomatic breakdown has triggered an immediate military response from the Islamic Republic, which is now leveraging its position in the Persian Gulf to project power and deter foreign intervention. The Hatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters of the Iranian Armed Forces released a harsh warning stating that any American intervention in the Strait of Hormuz will be met with a swift and decisive response. According to reports from the state affiliated Tasnim News Agency, the headquarters declared that all oil tankers and commercial vessels are legally obligated to travel exclusively along routes defined by Iran when crossing the strait.

Tehran has made it clear that it will not tolerate deviations from its maritime directives, warning that any vessel violating these navigation procedures will face an immediate and powerful response. Furthermore, the Iranian command forcefully condemned the continuous flights of American aircraft, both manned and unmanned, over the strategic strait, claiming these operations actively jeopardize the security of the waterway and the wider region.

Simultaneously, the commander of the Hatam al-Anbiya headquarters, Major General Ali Abdollahi, delivered an explicit and direct threat toward Jerusalem and Washington. In a formal statement released ahead of farewell ceremonies for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Abdollahi issued a final warning to foreign intelligence and military bodies operating in the Middle East. "We advise the enemies of Iran, led by the United States, the Zionist regime, and their partners inside and outside the region, to avoid any miscalculation," General Abdollahi stated in his official release. (Ed note: Wait one minute. Didn't President Trump just say that Iran had "agreed to just about everything we need?") (Read More)

Report: US suspected Israel plotted to kill Iranian negotiators

The New York Times reports that Washington discovered an Israeli plot targeting Iran's top peace negotiators, prompting covert regional warnings to protect fragile ceasefire talks.

American authorities suspected Israel of scheming to assassinate Tehran's primary diplomatic envoys during high-stakes intermediary peace negotiations held this spring, The New York Times reported on Thursday. While targeted killings of Iranian leadership remained central to Israel's military strategy since hostilities began on February 28 - following an airstrike that eliminated Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei - Washington’s anxieties escalated sharply in April, according to the report.

The specific concerns centered on Abbas Araghchi, Iran's foreign minister, and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Fearing that their deaths would collapse the fragile diplomatic track and reignite full-scale warfare, the Trump administration took the extraordinary step of asking regional partners to caution Tehran, according to the Times. This friction highlighted a deep rift between allied war aims. While the United States pursued a peace pact, Israel remained highly critical of diplomatic concessions. The security risks for the negotiators were exceptionally high. Ghalibaf had already survived being pulled from rubble twice: once during the 12-day conflict in June 2025, and again during a bunker strike this year.

According to the Times, The threat materialized directly during a return flight from a meeting with Vice President JD Vance in Islamabad. Escorted by Pakistani fighter jets to the border, Ghalibaf's aircraft received intelligence that two Israeli fighter jets had breached western Iranian airspace near Iraq to intercept them. The plane executed an emergency diversion to Mashhad, forcing the diplomats to take an eight-hour overland drive back to Tehran. Despite the persistent dangers, the Iranian delegation continued international travel, holding subsequent sessions in Qatar and Switzerland. (Ed note: Why three articles on the same subject? To point out: "between allied war aims." The American Presidents aim is just to look cool and proclaim "peace in our time." Israel is fighting for their very lives and existence today and every day. )     (Source)

During talks on ending war, US indirectly warned Iran that Israel might try to kill its top negotiators — NYT report

US officials indirectly warned Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf that Israel may try to target them in assassination attempts, while they were engaged in negotiations with Washington to end the war earlier this year, The New York Times reports. The report, which cites current and former US officials, alleges that some officials believed Israel may have been planning to kill the top Iranian negotiators in the weeks following the April 8 ceasefire that halted fighting in the US-Israel war with Iran. 

The report, which cites current and former US officials, alleges that some officials believed Israel may have been planning to kill the top Iranian negotiators in the weeks following the April 8 ceasefire that halted fighting in the US-Israel war with Iran. In light of those concerns, the US officials asked their counterparts across the region to warn Tehran that Israel may try to target the two men.

Officials quoted by the Times note that when the war began on February 28, and as Israel worked its way through killing much of Iran’s senior leadership, both Araghchi and Ghalibaf could have been legitimate targets. But once a ceasefire was declared in early April and the two men were selected to represent Iran’s position in ceasefire negotiations, the officials say any attempt to kill them would have likely blown up the talks and triggered new fighting. (Read More)

The Secret Assassination Alert: United States Warned Iran of Mid Negotiation Israeli Strike Targeting Araghchi and Ghalibaf

United States intelligence agencies scrambled to warn Iran through regional intermediaries that Israel was actively planning to assassinate top negotiators Abbas Araghchi and Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf mid war. The United States government intervened directly to thwart a suspected Israeli plan to assassinate top Iranian officials during highly sensitive diplomatic negotiations. According to newly uncovered intelligence details published by the New York Times, American officials harbored severe fears that Israel would target Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Washington feared that a successful targeted strike would permanently disrupt the diplomatic backchannel and trigger an immediate resumption of intense, open war across the region.

The diplomatic crisis unfolded during a sensitive round of negotiations when American intelligence agencies flagged active preparations for an Israeli operation. Seeking to preserve the delicate talks, Washington requested that several regional intermediary nations immediately pass an urgent warning to the leadership in Tehran. The highly unusual move intended to prevent a catastrophic escalation that would completely derail the international community's efforts to broker a sustainable ceasefire.

Upon receiving the secret American communications, the Iranian regime took extraordinary, immediate steps to protect its highest ranking diplomats and negotiators. The Islamic Republic heavily upgraded the security details for its entire traveling delegation, assigning robust military escorts and executing last minute travel changes to confuse foreign tracking assets. The extreme protective measures reflected the high level of credibility the Iranian leadership attributed to the American intelligence warning.      

 (Ed note: Israel reportedly operated covert military and intelligence bases in southern Azerbaijan 2012-2014 near the Iranian border, and was planning an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities when then one of Trump's two favorite Presidents, President Obama squealed on Israel and told Iran that the attack was coming. Obama also threatened to blow Israel's jets out of the sky. It looks like Trump just pulled an Obama on Israel. And still Iran continues to cry out, "Death to Israel, death to the United States.) (Read more)

US, Iran wrap up indirect Doha talks as Trump touts progress towards ‘denuclearization’

The US and Iran held indirect technical talks in Doha on Wednesday, which US President Donald Trump described as “very good,” as American and Iranian officials said that the participants agreed to open a communication channel to ensure the terms of their memorandum of understanding are met, amid continued disagreements over its implementation. According to Iran, the sides agreed on a partial release of billions of dollars of frozen Iranian funds, though US officials reportedly denied that such an understanding was reached.

The effort came two weeks after the US and Iran signed the MOU, which gave them 60 days to negotiate a final deal covering Iran’s nuclear program. But talks on that final deal haven’t really begun yet, largely due to disputes over the Strait of Hormuz and Israel’s war with Hezbollah in Lebanon. The indirect talks, mediated by Qatar and Pakistan, began on Tuesday night and continued Wednesday, an Iranian official said.

“They’ve had very good meetings, and we’ll see,” Trump told reporters before boarding the new, Qatari-gifted Air Force One. “The denuclearization of Iran is moving along well.” While Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and envoy Steve Witkoff were in Doha, they did not attend the technical meetings, according to a source with direct knowledge of the talks, who added that the meetings were structured as sessions between chief negotiators and specialists. The two top US envoys instead met with the Qatari prime minister to lay the groundwork for the meetings, the source added.

US negotiators were reportedly seeking to convince their Iranian counterparts at the ongoing indirect technical talks in Doha to forgo plans to charge tolls in the Strait of Hormuz, arguing that Tehran would be able to make more money by following through with nuclear concessions than it would be able to generate from such fees. (Ed note: Nuclear concessions? The US team of Steve and Jared do NOT understand that this is not a financial or economic war, this is a Religious War in which nuclear refinement is part of their Religion in order to annihilate the Jew.) (Read More)

Natanz Intelligence Revelation: New Satellite Imagery Exposes High-Stakes Underground Movements at Secret Iranian Nuclear Sites

Newly released high-resolution satellite imagery has exposed fresh tactical vehicle movements, road obstacles, and earth barriers blocking vital underground tunnel entrances across Iran most sensitive nuclear enrichment facilities. The latest intelligence reports from global monitoring networks have unveiled detailed tactical developments deep inside Iran heavily fortified nuclear installations. New satellite photographs show a close look at the operational activities inside several key nuclear sites, revealing the exact positions of tunnel openings, support vehicles, and sudden roadway obstructions. These images supplement older surveillance files that historically documented ongoing atomic development in the region, coming at a time when verbal threats between regional adversaries have reached a fever pitch.

The initial sequence of the aerial footage zeroes in directly on the prominent nuclear facility at Natanz, providing a sharp closeup view of mountain tunnel entrances located around Pickaxe Mountain. Analysts noted a cluster of transport vehicles stationed at the western entrance of the main tunnel complex, indicating active underground logistical operations. Further imaging captured the underground enrichment plant at Fordow, where newly placed physical obstacles were observed blocking the main access roads leading into the secure perimeter.

Additional photographs focus on the sensitive nuclear installation in Isfahan and its adjacent subterranean tunnel networks, highlighting a pattern of defensive modifications. This data follows earlier satellite coverage from May which raised pressing questions regarding the structural modifications underway within the deep underground bunkers. Historical comparisons from April revealed that two eastern tunnel entrances at the complex had been partially blocked with large mounds of earth, a tactic apparently designed to restrict rapid vehicular access to the secure openings.

In contrast, earlier surveillance files from April 1 showed these specific tunnel entrances completely open and entirely free of physical obstructions. While the newly deposited earth and debris do not fully conceal the massive entryways, they are strategically positioned to severely complicate the rapid entry and exit of support vehicles. This protective activity has drawn intense scrutiny because the deeply buried tunnel complex is uniquely capable of shielding high value atomic hardware and radioactive materials from conventional airstrikes. 

The revelation of these defensive measures coincides with a massive escalation in rhetoric between defense leaders in the region. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz delivered an address at an official memorial ceremony for fallen soldiers, openly threatening a potential future military strike against Iranian soil. (Ed note: This new information is not good. Those tunnels will hide the ICBM's that can reach even Europe at this time. Such a missile can also carry a nuclear bomb. Remember that Isfahan is also located with the ancient area once known as Elam.)     (Read more)

Iran Parliament Speaker rejects UN inspector access to bombed nuclear sites

Iranian Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf rejects claims that UN inspectors would be allowed access to nuclear sites damaged by US and Israeli airstrikes.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who headed the Iranian delegation for negotiations, on Wednesday rejected the notion that UN inspectors would be permitted to enter Iran’s nuclear sites that were bombed by the US and Israel. "Claims regarding inspector access to bombed sites are false," Ghalibaf said, as quoted by Iranian media.

"We ourselves passed a law in parliament, the Supreme National Security Council passed it too; we made it law that under no circumstances do we allow access to sites that have been bombarded and damaged," he added. US President Donald Trump recently stated that Iran will allow nuclear inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as part of the agreement with the US. Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff made similar comments during a previous congressional briefing.

To date, Tehran has withheld information from the IAEA regarding the present location or condition of that material, while concurrently blocking inspectors from conducting assessments at the bombed facilities. An agreement announced last September between Iran and the IAEA, intended to resume inspections and uranium accounting, has since been declared void by Tehran after Britain, France, and Germany triggered the return of UN sanctions previously lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal.

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi recently assessed that the bulk of Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile is probably still located at the Isfahan nuclear complex which was struck last June. The IAEA chief said at the time that the IAEA also seeks access to Iran’s nuclear sites at Natanz and Fordow, where additional nuclear material is present. (Source)

Ghalibaf threatens: Response to every violation of agreement

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf claims Iranian aggression in Strait of Hormuz due to destruction of terror infrastructure in Lebanon.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf threatened the United States on Wednesday, warning that "any violation of the clause ending the war will be met with a reciprocal response." Ghalibaf linked Iran's recent actions to the emerging agreement, saying it was the reason behind Tehran's aggressive moves in the Strait of Hormuz and Hezbollah's responses in Lebanon.

Regarding the memorandum of understanding's implementation he said, "The agreement includes 14 approved clauses, but we will not move on to the remaining provisions until the first five clauses have been fully implemented." On Tuesday, Ghalibaf announced that Tehran will refuse to engage in additional diplomatic rounds until the baseline requirements outlined in the existing memorandum of understanding with the US are completely fulfilled.

During a broadcast interview on state television, he clarified that the current diplomatic forums are restricted solely to executing pre-existing pledges. Evaluating the geopolitical milestones achieved so far, Ghalibaf observed, as quoted by Iran International, “The announcement of the end of the war by Pakistan’s prime minister and Donald Trump’s tweet about the lifting of the maritime blockade were among the major successes of the memorandum of understanding."

Ghalibaf also admitted the severe economic impacts of the preceding American naval embargo, contrasting that period with a sharp, recent rebound in energy revenue, saying, "From the day the blockade was lifted until today, we have exported more than 40 million barrels of oil. By contrast, during the previous 50 to nearly 60 days, we were genuinely unable to export even a single barrel of oil." (Ed note: Speaker Ghalibaf is getting to be quite the trash-talker, isn't he?  So where's the Deal Maker's mouth for all this, does he need the Deal that much?)   (Source)

CENTCOM considers relocating US bases from Gulf States to Negev after painful Iran strikes - report

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) is considering moving its military bases’ operational systems in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia to Israel in order to increase their distance from further Iranian missile and drone attacks, The Wall Street Journal reported last Thursday. The US Navy may revamp its base in Bahrain, which has suffered severe damage since late February up until the recent US-Iran ceasefire. Bahrain has been home to the US Navy’s central forces in the Middle East for over 50 years.

One option is to establish a new base in the Negev big enough to hold the American army’s forces, or to expand one of the Negev’s air force bases and allocate an American compound there. The US Department of Defense and the US Army also plan to renew their supply contracts with the Ministry of Defense and the IDF until 2030, and possibly further. This idea for relocation follows Iran’s extensive damage to at least 20 US sites across the Middle East since the onset of the war, especially NSA Bahrain.

It would take an estimated $400 million to rebuild what Iran destroyed at NSA Bahrain, excluding costs of debris removal, the rebuilding of two AN/GSC-52B satellite communication terminals and a communications management facility, and other relevant costs.It is possible that destroyed structures will not be revamped, and command and control nodes may have to be moved underground. Back in May, Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei stated the US military is not well enough protected in the Middle East. “America will no longer have a safe haven for mischief and the establishment of military bases in the region,” Khamenei posted on his Twitter/X account. (Read More)

Dr. Bill Salus asks, "Is this Trump's way of getting Iran to unconditionally surrender, or is this the USA operating in a retreat mode?"

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)

Araghchi tells US to 'muzzle its pets' in Tel Aviv

ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that US President Donald Trump has "committed the US to muzzling its pets in Tel Aviv," in a response to statements made by Defense Minister Israel Katz about Iran.

"If they ignore their master, Iran will school them," Araghchi added. "Any threat against our People and Leadership will receive Immediate Powerful Response."

Earlier, Katz had stated that Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was "marked for death." (Ed note: Your call on this one. What say you?)   (Source)

Iran says technical talks in Qatar have concluded, sides agreed on partial release of frozen funds

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi announces the conclusion of talks in Doha on implementing the memorandum of understanding between Tehran and Washington on ending the Middle East war, state media reports.

The participants agreed that “a communication channel would be established by tomorrow” to report and record violations of the memorandum, the IRNA state news agency quotes Gharibabadi as saying.

Gharibabadi says the sides agreed that part of the $6 billion in frozen funds would be released to allow Tehran to purchase goods based on its needs. (Ed note: Really? I thought that President Trump has said repeatedly that Iran will get no money until it complies with the rules? Araghchi, Gharibabadi, and Ghalibaf are just running our boys, Steve and Jared into the ground. Hey "Deal Maker," Iran just won again!) (Source)

Strike Three on the Table: Netanyahu Says Israel Will Attack Iran Again If Necessary

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unveiled a series of unyielding geopolitical positions, including the planned cessation of American aid and the potential for a third military strike against Iran. The leader focused heavily on transforming national security, redefining regional borders, and ensuring absolute self-reliance during a broadcast address.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented a comprehensive overview of unprecedented military and strategic achievements during a broadcast on the program "The Patriots" on Channel 14. The extensive address followed an analytical briefing by Dr. Avishai Ben Haim, which highlighted that recent operations on the ground have significantly exceeded original expectations. Netanyahu used the opportunity to address regional dynamics, security arrangements, and the long term economic framework of the state.

The discussion opened with a focus on defense independence and the ultimate cessation of American financial assistance. Netanyahu stated, “This year, we will begin the process that will ultimately lead to the cessation of American aid, we won't need it.” He highlighted the rapid evolution of domestic military technology, adding, “We are advancing our anti drone capabilities like no one have ever seen.”

Shifting attention to the northern front, the Prime Minister clarified the operational status of the military presence near the border. “We didn't leave Lebanon,” Netanyahu stated, explaining that forces have effectively established a security belt roughly 10 kilometers inside Lebanon with the agreement of the Lebanese government. He noted that Hezbollah is outraged by the development, and the same remains true for Iran.  (Ed note: PM Netanyahu is being very charitable with his "American financial assistance." What is really meant is Israel must free herself from the CONTROL of ALL American Presidents who don't like Israel, know their Bible, or Bible Prophecy.)  (Read More)

Visiting south Lebanon, PM says IDF won’t withdraw ‘as long as Hezbollah remains here’

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told troops in the southern Lebanon security zone on Tuesday that the military would remain in the area for the foreseeable future, crediting the soldiers’ work for the recent agreement between Israel, Lebanon, and the US that demands Hezbollah’s disarmament to enable an Israeli withdrawal. “If you identify a threat to your security, to your lives, or to the lives of your soldiers — act. Do not wait. Act. That is an ironclad directive,” Netanyahu told troops during the visit, according to a statement from his office. The visit also included Defense Minister Israel Katz and Deputy IDF Chief of Staff Tamir Yadai.

Netanyahu said Israel’s recent military operations against Iran-backed Hezbollah led to the agreement, telling soldiers that, “as a result of your actions here, Lebanon recognizes Israel, Israel recognizes Lebanon,” describing them as “two sovereign states that want peace.” “We are telling both Iran and Hezbollah: leave this place. You have no business being here… This is a slap in the face, a punch in the face of the Iranian axis,” he said. The premier reiterated that “we will not leave southern Lebanon until the threat has been eliminated. And as long as Hezbollah remains here, armed and threatening us, we will remain here as well.”

Netanyahu hailed military achievements against Hezbollah, calling the terror group “the most important link in the Iranian axis,” and saying that after recent rounds of fighting, only 8% of its previous stock of 150,000 missiles and rockets remains, while 9,000 Hezbollah terrorists have been killed. A framework agreement signed last week committed Lebanon to restoring sovereignty over its territory through the “verified disarmament of non-state armed groups,” which would in turn enable a progressive Israeli withdrawal. The state of Lebanon, along with Israel and the US, signed the agreement, but Hezbollah and its allies are opposed to it.

On Monday, Defense Minister Katz said Israel has “no territorial ambitions in Lebanon,” but that the IDF will not withdraw “a millimeter” until the terror group is disarmed. He also voiced skepticism that the Lebanese army would “suddenly become lions charging at Hezbollah,” concluding that the IDF’s presence in Lebanon would be “long-term.” (Read More)

Iran's Demands: Hormuz Control, Frozen Funds

Tehran transmits formal preconditions to mediators after canceling Doha talks • Demands include full Strait of Hormuz control, immediate release of billions in frozen assets, and complete Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon | Nuclear program remains off the table (World News) Iran has transmitted a detailed list of preconditions to international mediators that must be met before Tehran will agree to resume negotiations with the United States, according to a report by Al Jazeera cited by Israeli outlets Tuesday.

The move signals a dramatic hardening of Iran's position following Monday's abrupt cancellation of planned talks in Doha, a cancellation that directly contradicted President Trump's claim that Iran had requested the meeting. Instead of showing up to negotiate, Tehran delivered what amounts to a formal ultimatum outlining its red lines. At the top of Iran's demands list: full and unconditional control over the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway through which roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies pass daily. Tehran is insisting on absolute authority over the strait with no exceptions, a position that places it on a direct collision course with Washington's stated policy of maintaining freedom of navigation in international waters.

The Iranian position goes further than previous statements. According to sources familiar with the document, Tehran is explicitly rejecting any US attempt to establish an alternative crossing point on the Omani side of the strait, a plan Washington had quietly explored in recent weeks. Iran has declared such efforts a red line that cannot be crossed.

Billions in Frozen Assets, No Strings Attached

On the financial front, Iran is demanding the immediate and unconditional release of billions of dollars in frozen Iranian funds currently held in foreign banks. The demand directly contradicts Trump's recent proposal that the money be transferred to US control and used to purchase humanitarian aid from American agricultural suppliers. Tehran's position is unambiguous: the funds must be returned directly to Iran with no conditions, no oversight, and no restrictions on how the money is spent. The regime is treating the frozen assets as sovereign wealth that belongs to Iran by right, not as leverage in a broader diplomatic framework.

The demands extend to the Lebanese theater as well. Iran is not merely calling for a reduction in Israeli military operations against Hezbollah positions; it is insisting on a complete and verified cessation of all Israeli strikes in Lebanon, coupled with a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory. Perhaps most significantly, Iran has declared its nuclear program entirely off-limits in any future negotiations. The position reflects the influence of hardline elements within the regime who view the nuclear program as a matter of national sovereignty that cannot be subject to external constraints or international oversight. (Read More)

US, Iran will not hold direct talks, as frozen funds not yet released, Qatar announces

The United States and Iran will meet today in Doha, US President Donald Trump announced in a post on Truth Social, despite setbacks in the ongoing peace negotiations since the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding earlier this month. Upon their arrival in Qatar, the Qatari Foreign Ministry stated that Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would not hold direct discussions with Iranian officials during the day's negotiations.

"No high-level meeting is planned at this stage between the United States and Iran. The six billion dollars of frozen Iranian funds have not yet been transferred to Tehran, and their transfer will be carried out by agreement between the two sides and in accordance with the progress of the negotiations between Washington and Tehran. The Strait of Hormuz, its opening and the resumption of navigation through it are issues of paramount importance." Qatar's Foreign Ministry stated.

"A direct line of communication has been used to de-escalate the recent clashes. Freedom of navigation is a right guaranteed to all Gulf states, and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is unacceptable, or a threat to the safety of navigation in it. The focus now is on restoring regional security and stability to the situation that existed before the war, and we welcome France's participation in clearing mines from the Strait of Hormuz."

According to a CNN report citing a White House official, Kushner is expected to meet with Qatari Prime Minister Sheik Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani and other mediators while in Doha. The resumption of the negotiations comes after last week's technical talks in Switzerland between senior officials from both sides, which Qatari and Pakistani mediators described as a "positive and constructive atmosphere." (Ed note: The Iranians want 6 billion dollars and control of the Strait of Hormuz. That was the meeting.)    (Read More)

Iran says it won’t meet with US envoys, clouding prospects for peace deal

Iran says that it would not meet with top US envoys who flew to the region following an outbreak of hostilities, clouding the prospects for a lasting peace between the two countries. Iranian officials also say the two sides must still sort out the terms of a ceasefire they signed two weeks ago before they could tackle more difficult topics, such as possible limits to its nuclear program. The developments indicate that the two sides are far apart on key pillars of the initial framework, which calls for Iran to lift its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for financial incentives and sets up 60 days of negotiations to work out a permanent peace deal.

US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Doha for what the White House described as “high-level” talks, but Iran and host Qatar said they would meet with mediators, rather than the Iranians themselves. “No meeting at any level with the American side has been scheduled for the coming days,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei says. The two countries were due to commence lower-level technical talks. Shipping has partially resumed through the strait, which handled one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas before the war broke out on February 28.

But Iranian officials have insisted on their right to manage traffic along with US ally Oman, which lies on the other side of the strategic waterway. Iranian officials said they would impose tolls in mid-August, when the 60-day period expires. “The sovereignty of the Strait of Hormuz lies with Iran and Oman, and traffic in the Strait is subject to arrangements determined by Iran,” Iran’s top negotiator, Mohammed Baqer Qalibaf, says on state TV.

Despite the uncertainty, oil prices have fallen since the weekend, when the US bombed Iranian military facilities in response to drone strikes on commercial ships and Iran attacked US military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain. Vulnerable economies, however, could remain at risk from food and fuel price increases even after energy markets feel relief, the UN trade and development agency says. (Source)

Rift between Iranian President and IRGC grows, threatens to harm US-Iran talks - report

Internal conflict within Iran between civilian leaders led by President Masoud Pezeshkian and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has grown and threatens US-Iran peace talks, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing officials familiar with the negotiations. According to the report, Pezeshkian’s priority is revitalizing the Iranian economy, specifically seeking access to the $6 billion in frozen funds held in Qatar, the release of which has been discussed by officials on both sides of the negotiations.

However, the IRGC seems more focused on keeping full control over the Strait of Hormuz, aiming to install a toll system which would enrich Iran’s military capabilities and give Iran further control over the security map of the Middle East. Iranian officials have speculated that such a toll system might generate up to $40 billion a year, the WSJ wrote.

The IRGC has threatened to close the strait again if Iran is not guaranteed to gain full control at the Doha talks, the WSJ cited officials as saying. It has also demanded that all ships travel along the Iranian routes through the strait. Senior Iranian clerics have come down hard on the IRGC’s side. Iran’s Assembly of Experts, an advisory body that tends to reflect the view of its supreme leader, stated that the Strait of Hormuz should remain closed unless Israel stopped attacking Lebanon, the WSJ wrote. Pezeshkian has responded by courting senior clerics in Qom, meeting with Ayatollah Shubairi Zanjani, one of Iran’s most senior clerics, to discuss the benefits of securing the frozen funds, according to the report. Additionally, Pezeshkian said that Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei supported the peace agreement. (Source)