Netanyahu rejects Vance’s claim Trump is Israel’s only friend, says ‘many’ seek ties

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushed back in an interview with Fox News on Sunday against US Vice President JD Vance’s recent claim that US President Donald Trump is Israel’s only ally, insisting that Jerusalem still has “many friends” around the world, while still highlighting its unique relationship with Washington. Netanyahu also took the opportunity to reiterate that he and Trump share the same goals when it comes to Iran, but stressed that even if Washington doesn’t reach a nuclear deal with Tehran, he will ensure that it never obtains a nuclear weapon so long as he is prime minister.

The premier was questioned during the interview about public disagreements between Washington and Jerusalem over the memorandum of understanding signed by the US and Iran to end the war that began on February 28. Israel was not a party to the agreement and is not involved in the resulting negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program, but was nevertheless required by it to halt its fight against the Islamic Republic. Israeli officials have made their displeasure over the terms of the agreement known, and Netanyahu said last week that he would dispatch a delegation to Washington to discuss the MOU. Nevertheless, he insisted to Fox News that he and Trump “are set on the same goal.”   

“We want to see Iran give up its nuclear weapons program. We want to see the nuclear-enriched material removed. We want to see the enrichment sites for nuclear material dismantled. We have other common objectives,” he said. “President Trump believes that after the battering that the two of us — Israel and the United States — gave to Iran, he thinks that he can generate enough leeway, enough pressure, through the negotiations to get these goals achieved. And, you know, we respect that, and I hope he succeeds,” Netanyahu continued, before adding, “I can tell you this: Deal or no deal, as long as I’m prime minister, Iran will not have nuclear weapons.”    (Read More)

Iranian diplomat says regime will ‘definitely’ collect Hormuz fees, defying US

Iran’s ambassador to China insisted Saturday that new fees would be charged to ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz — an idea strongly rejected by Washington — while adding that “friendly” nations could receive special treatment. The initial deal struck between Iran and the United States to end their war stipulated that commercial ships would transit the strait free of charge for 60 days, but it remains unclear what will be in place after that period. Iranian Ambassador Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli told the World Peace Forum in Beijing that his country was working in “collaboration and cooperation” with Oman on “new arrangements” for the vital waterway.    

“As a country where the Hormuz is part of its territorial waters, we will definitely charge service fees,” Azli said in translated remarks, while insisting such fees would not be a “toll.” “These new arrangements will be concerning guaranteeing the security of passage through the Straits of Hormuz, supervision of the passage of the vessels… and also guaranteeing and dealing with the environmental consequences of the massive number of ships,” he said.     

“We will definitely consider special treatment for the countries that were friendly to us and specially stood by us during the hard times,” he added. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in contrast, has said any final deal will bar Iran from charging any sort of fee for passage in the waterway, casting the difference between service fees and tolls as mere semantics. The strait normally carries one-fifth of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas, but it was all but closed by Iran during its war with the US and Israel, sending energy prices soaring.  (Read more)

Israel Watching Iran's Recovery as Security Officials Warn: Khamenei's Son May Be Preparing for Revenge

Israeli defense officials believe Tehran has begun rebuilding its military capabilities while concerns grow over U.S.-Iran negotiations taking place without direct Israeli involvement. Israeli defense officials are closely monitoring developments in Iran following the funeral ceremonies for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, viewing the events as both a demonstration of regime stability and an effort to consolidate the authority of his son and successor, Mojtaba Khamenei.

According to assessments within Israel's security establishment, the funeral served not only as a symbolic national event but also as a political signal intended to legitimize Mojtaba's succession. Officials note that despite reports that Mojtaba Khamenei was seriously wounded during the strike that killed his father and therefore avoided appearing publicly at the funeral, the regime appears determined to present a smooth transition of power.

Israeli intelligence also believes Iran is gradually restoring internet access after wartime restrictions, largely because of economic pressure and demands from businesses. However, security officials say the regime continues to maintain tight control over the streets and public discourse while focusing on rebuilding its military infrastructure and stabilizing an economy that remains under severe international sanctions.

Israel Concerned Over U.S.-Iran Talks

Despite repeated statements by U.S. President Donald Trump that Iran will never be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons, Israeli defense officials remain concerned that Jerusalem has been largely excluded from the current diplomatic process. Officials fear that Washington and Tehran could reach understandings or agreements without meaningful Israeli participation, potentially creating strategic surprises for Israel. (Read More)

At Khamenei funeral, speaker calls to kill Trump; posters and grafitti urge death to Netanyahu, too

Iranian poet leads chants of ‘Death to Israel’ and ‘Death to America,’ threatens Trump’s life, as mourners declare fealty to new leader and urge revenge; 3 of Khamenei’s sons appear, but not Mojtaba. 

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s top officials and brothers of the country’s new supreme leader emerged into public view Sunday to attend the funeral prayers for the late ayatollah Ali Khamenei, signaling a new confidence in their safety as calls grew for the killing of US President Donald Trump. Their presence before hundreds of thousands of people in the capital Tehran would have been unthinkable during the Iran war, which saw airstrikes in its opening moments on February 28 kill the 86-year-old Khamenei, his family members, and other officials. Israel also targeted others who appeared publicly during the war, in at least one case likely using their public appearance to fix their position for a strike. 

But still unseen was Iran’s new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei. He is believed to be in hiding after being wounded in the airstrike that killed his father. His face was disfigured, and he suffered a significant injury to one or both legs, people close to his inner circle told Reuters. Israel has threatened to kill him as well, as he leads a theocracy now negotiating with the United States over a permanent end to the war and over Iran strangling traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting global energy supplies. 

Ziba Naderi, a 42-year-old nurse attending the funeral Sunday, said Iran needed to follow whatever Mojtaba Khamenei commands regarding the nation“I heard the call for revenge, but our leader should say what we need to do,” she said. “And we must listen to him.” Ayatollah Jafar Sobhani, a 97-year-old Shiite cleric, led the prayers at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla for Khamenei and his late family members. (Read More)

Chief of Staff sends powerful message from Hezbollah tunnels

IDF Chief of the General Staff Eyal Zamir visited the Beaufort Ridge on Sunday morning, together with the Commander of the Northern Command, MG Rafi Milo, the Commander of the 36th Division, BG Yiftach Norkin, the Commanders of the Golani Brigade, the Commando Brigade, the 7th Brigade, the Yahalom Unit, and additional commanders.    

During the visit, the Chief of the General Staff conducted a field tour and an operational situational assessment in the area of the ridge, descended into an underground tunnel network located beneath the ridge, spoke with the troops, and expressed his appreciation for their actions and operational achievements in southern Lebanon.    

"The Beaufort area is dominant terrain saturated with terrorist infrastructure," Zamir noted during the visit. "The Hezbollah terrorist organization, funded and directed by Iran, spent decades constructing extensive underground tunnel networks carved deep into the mountain to threaten northern Israeli communities, using the ridge to establish command centers, manage the battlefield, construct firing positions, and for launching terrorist attacks." "Our troops control the key terrain above ground as well as these underground tunnel networks."   

He added, "The Lebanese Armed Forces are required to fulfill their commitments under the historic agreement that was signed and act to clear the area of Hezbollah terrorists and terrorist infrastructure. The IDF will continue to operate decisively to remove threats from Lebanese territory and is prepared to transition rapidly to offensive operations should the ceasefire be violated." (Ed note: The Beaufort Ridge sits on a steep cliff directly overlooking the Litani River in southern Lebanon. Do take a minute and check out all the great pitures at the end of this article.)  (Read more)

He foresaw October 7th. Now he has a new warning

Civilian intelligence expert Refael Hayun says Hamas is getting stronger as it manages to smuggle weapons and drones into the Gaza Strip.

Refael Hayun, a civilian intelligence expert who warned about an invasion from the Gaza Strip before October 7th, warned in an interview with Radio 103FM on Sunday that Hamas continues to strengthen militarily and economically, despite the ongoing fighting. Hayun, whose eavesdropping devices were confiscated by the IDF but later returned, said that he continues to monitor the goings on in the Gaza Strip.

"I'm not allowed to talk about what I hear. I have a license to listen and possess the equipment, and I am in contact with everyone, and no one is preventing me as they have done in the past," Hayun said, explaining the current situation. He added that since his equipment was returned to him, no one is trying to keep information from him, despite specific difficulties that stem from their ego. He says that other than that, nothing is preventing him from continuing his activity, the main goal of which is saving lives.

He described a concerning reality in the Gaza Strip when it comes to smuggling by the terrorist organization. "There are good things, but Hamas smuggles everything into the Strip, everything," he said and noted that the organization is also smuggling weapons. He revealed that during the past month alone, over 20 drones, each with a payload of over 85kg, have entered the enclave. According to Hayun, the IDF is aware of the drones, but at this point is unable to do anything because they are already inside Gaza.

Relating to Hamas's financial situation, Hayun explains that "today they don't need the Qatari money, because today, they raise money through NGOs." He said that he examined the identities of individuals operating within each organization and found that every one of them is connected to Hamas in one way or another. In conclusion, he warned about the growing strength on the ground, stating that Hamas is strengthening and continuously recruiting new militants. (Source)

West Bank on edge as IDF warns seam line gaps could enable Oct. 7 style terrorist raids

As the IDF fights in Gaza and Lebanon, commanders warn that breached West Bank seam line defenses, drones, and raid plans could turn the area into Israel’s next major front.

Amid the IDF’s ongoing strain in Gaza and Lebanon, senior General Staff officials say that the most immediate threat may be in the heart of the country, where a breached seam zone and hundreds of drones could turn the area into the next October 7. "I am not prepared to manage risks here," Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir warned, as the IDF intensifies a quiet campaign aimed at preventing the next explosion. Some 600 kilometers separate the nightmare scenario of October 7 from the reality in the West Bank.

The seam zone, the area of the West Bank between the Green Line and Israel's separation barrier, stretches from the Gilboa to Arad, shifting between torn fences and completely open terrain. As the IDF marks 1,000 days since the October 7 massacre, IDF officials say that the most sensitive arena is not Gaza or Lebanon, it is in the heart of the country, and the threat is more tangible than ever.In recent days, new orders were sent to the field, a special reinforcement of troops along the seam zone and on main routes.

The commanders of the regional brigades in the West Bank Division, under the command of Brig. Gen. Kobi Heller, are training, both in planning rooms and in the field, for a scenario involving a terrorist raid or a Palestinian mob storming Israeli communities. One officer in the Central Command described it as a "reasonable possible course of action."  (Ed note: Be aware that along with Iran, Israel must still watch out for the West Bank, Hamas, and Hezbollah at this point in time.)    (Read More)

For the first time in 2,000 years, Israel carrying out conservation work at the Tomb of the Patriarchs

“The government is showing that Jewish heritage will not be allowed to fall into the hands of people who want to erase our history and identity,” Jewish Community of Hebron representative told JNS.

For the first time in 2,000 years, Jewish authorities are carrying out conservation work at the Tomb of the Patriarchs, where, according to the Bible, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, and Jacob and Leah, founders of Judaism, are buried, making it the Jewish people’s second holiest site. The maintenance and safety upgrades include electrical renovations, air conditioning, improved drainage, new lighting and a fire protection system. The renovation is helping transform the site into a world-class destination, Yishai Fleisher, director of international and government affairs for the Jewish Community of Hebron, told JNS on Thursday.

“It has a really high-end look and feel and, of course, it will make worship inside much more pleasant, more moving and more spiritual. It also shows the State of Israel is engaging with the site and recognizes its importance to our heritage, tourism and the identity of Israel,” Fleisher said. He said the investment demonstrates the government’s commitment to preserving a site central to Jewish history and emphasized its potential impact on tourism, saying visitors will see that Israel is committed to preserving the site. “After Jerusalem, it is one of the most important historical and iconic sites. The building itself is a 2,000-year-old Herodian structure—the only one of Herod’s buildings that still stands. In a sense, we are finishing Herod’s work,” he said.

The centerpiece of the renovation is the long-awaited installation of a roof over the Jewish prayer area. Annual winter rains have frequently flooded the site, damaging infrastructure, while a temporary canopy failed to provide adequate protection from the summer sun or winter showers. The new roof, combining a metal frame with glass panels, will protect visitors while allowing natural light into the structure. Last week, elected officials who championed the project gathered for a ceremony in the still-uncovered section. (Read More)

Trump says Netanyahu 'knows who the boss is,' as leaders discuss possible White House visit

US President Donald Trump said he has a good relationship with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but the Israeli leader knows who’s in charge.“We get along very good. [Netanyahu] knows who the boss is,” Trump told Axios on Saturday. The report comes as Trump and Netanyahu hinted at a possible meeting at the White House soon.    

According to the report, an Israeli official said the visit could take place as soon as a week after the NATO summit on Tuesday and Wednesday in Turkey. On Friday, Netanyahu called Trump to congratulate him on the 250th anniversary of the United States’ independence, the Prime Minister’s Office said.   

Netanyahu told Trump that the US is “a guarantor of global freedom” and that Israel values the close relationship between the two countries, the PMO said. Additionally, the two leaders agreed to meet soon in the United States. Netanyahu and Trump last met on February 11. Later that month, the two countries jointly attacked Iran. Their February meeting focused primarily on how the US and Israel would respond if negotiations with Tehran failed to produce an agreement. Netanyahu requested that any attack also target Iran’s ballistic missile stockpile.  (Source)

White House suggests ‘no better addition’ to Mount Rushmore than Trump

As President Donald Trump is set to take the stage in front of Mount Rushmore on Friday evening to deliver an Independence Day speech, his White House thinks the monument could include a fifth president. “There would be no better addition to the iconic Mount Rushmore than the 45th and 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump,” White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said in a statement to multiple outlets, including ABC News.

This is not the first time Republicans have floated this idea. Just days after Trump was inaugurated to serve his second presidential term, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) introduced a bill to add Trump to the monument, saying he “will be forever remembered among the great” alongside Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt. (Ed note: Your call on this one. What say you?) (Source)

Dr. Bill Salus comment: Iran is working feverishly and unhindered at Pickaxe Mountain, which is a suspected location of their enriched uranium. Are they preparing to build a nuclear bomb or to sculpt their own Mount Rushmore?

What Is Iran Building Under Pickaxe Mountain? New Satellite Images Raise Questions

New satellite imagery from late June shows Iran has not resumed work at its three main nuclear facilities, but continued construction is visible at the secretive Pickaxe Mountain site near Natanz.   

New satellite imagery from late June 2026 shows that Iran has not resumed activity at its three main nuclear facilities, but continued construction and vehicle movement is visible at Pickaxe Mountain, the secretive underground site near Natanz whose exact purpose remains unknown even to Western intelligence, according to the Institute for Science and International Security, the Washington based nonproliferation think tank run by nuclear expert David Albright.    

The images, provided to the institute by the satellite firm Vantor, show vehicles moving along roads leading to an open set of western tunnel portals at the site, which analysts say indicates ongoing construction inside the tunnel complex as well as continued hardening of its entrances. The facility, known in Persian as Kuh e Kolang Gaz La, or Pickaxe Mountain, sits roughly two kilometers south of the Natanz enrichment complex and has never been officially acknowledged by Iran, the United States or Israel. It has been referenced only obliquely in past remarks by President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu, and its purpose has never been publicly disclosed. According to foreign reports, the complex is dug some 80 to 100 meters deep into a granite mountain.   

By contrast, the institute reported that little activity could be observed at the main Natanz enrichment complex itself, where access points to the underground enrichment halls remain destroyed and vehicle entrances remain severely damaged, with only a single vehicle visible on the road outside the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant. At Isfahan, the institute said there has been no observed activity as of June 29, with tunnel portals still backfilled with dirt from earlier efforts to conceal them. Fordow has similarly shown no signs of renewed access to its underground enrichment plant.    (Read more)

Satellite images show Iran reconstructing Pickaxe Mountain tunnel complex, in apparent MOU violation

Recent satellite imagery shows no signs that Iran has begun repairing key damage at its main nuclear facilities following US and Israeli strikes, though construction appears to be taking place at the Pickaxe Mountain tunnel complex adjacent to the Natanz Nuclear Facility, the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security says.

According to the think tank, the underground enrichment halls at Natanz remain inaccessible, with damaged entrances, destroyed power systems and displaced HVAC chillers still unrepaired. It also reports no recent observable activity at the Fordo uranium enrichment plant or Isfahan nuclear complex, where tunnel entrances remain blocked with earth.    

The institute says, however, that fresh satellite imagery from late June shows vehicle activity and ongoing construction at the nearby Pickaxe Mountain facility, where workers appear to be reinforcing tunnel entrances. The group argues that such work violates the US-Iran memorandum of understanding, which requires Tehran to maintain the status quo of its nuclear program during negotiations, including by refraining from construction at nuclear-related sites such as Pickaxe Mountain. (Ed note: Then what could this possibly mean?)    (Source)

Iran said to bar Mojtaba Khamenei from father’s funeral, fearing Israel could kill him

Officials nixed supreme leader’s request to perform burial rites for his father and predecessor Ali Khamenei, as Mojtaba’s public absence fuels conservative infighting, NYT says.

Iranian security officials have rejected Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s request to attend the burial of his slain father and predecessor, Ali Khamenei, because they fear Israel will kill the son or track him back to his hiding spot, The New York Times reported Saturday. Mojtaba Khamenei seeks to attend his father’s July 9 burial in Mashhad and perform funeral rites, but has so far been refused, the Times said, citing two unnamed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps members and a person involved with planning the multi-day funeral that began on Saturday.

Khamenei has not been seen in public since he was injured, and his father, wife, and son were killed in the opening strikes of the US-Israeli bombing campaign in Iran on February 28. According to the Times, he was absent from a memorial for his wife in Tehran on Wednesday.Four senior Iranian officials cited by the Times said Khamenei’s continued absence from the public eye has triggered concern about the sustainability of his rule.

While a written statement attributed to Khamenei okayed negotiations with the US, hardline Iranian conservatives have vowed to resist diplomacy until he appears in public or produces a voice recording, the Times said. In the meantime, hardliners have called for the prosecution and even the death of Iranian negotiators, who hail from the self-described pragmatist wing of Iran’s conservative camp. Both the hardliners and the pragmatists are engaged in a fierce struggle to claim Khamenei as one of their own, according to the Times. (Read More)

'Massive surrender to Iran': Former Israeli ambassador to US Danny Ayalon admonishes US-Iran MoU

"What is happening today is massive surrender by the US to Iran; the Iranians are setting the tone, the US is releasing funds to Iran," he said.

Danny Ayalon, a former deputy foreign minister and Israel's former ambassador to the US, laid out his view of Israel's standing in the US, calling the current deal between the US and Iran a "massive surrender" to the regime, during a Thursday interview with 103FM. Ayalon began the interview by citing recent reports on the relationship between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 

 
"When Trump hugs someone, it is not out of true friendship but out of interests. Trump is only for himself. Another mistake made here was that the prime minister mixed his personal interests in his trial and fused them with national interests, and Trump is exploiting that to the fullest," he said.

He later criticized the agreement with Iran and what he described as American submissiveness. "What is happening today is massive surrender by the US to Iran; the Iranians are setting the tone, the US is releasing funds to Iran, and the Americans are not responding to provocations on Iranian territory." "The Iranians are exploiting this to the fullest. The Iranians wanted to separate the Hormuz issue from the nuclear issue, and once they did that, it gives them quiet," he added. Ayalon also made clear later that American administration support is at a critical stage. "When we look at this perspective of 1,000 days, a war that began with Biden and now with Trump, we really see bipartisan growth here; it is a shame that it is only at the level of the presidents. (Read More)

Report: Hamas decides to stall for time in talks for Gaza’s future, waiting for Knesset election results

The Hamas terror group has decided to stall for time in negotiations for its disarmament and for the implementation of US President Donald Trump’s plan for postwar Gaza, recognizing that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is doing the same due to the upcoming Knesset election, the Kan public broadcaster reports.

The outlet cites an internal document discussed in the past few days by the Palestinian jihadist movement. It says Hamas believes Netanyahu views any concession on Gaza as political suicide, and that he therefore is intentionally stalling in the indirect negotiations, which haven’t made meaningful progress in months.   

Kan reports that the document reveals a proposal made to Hamas by mediators Qatar and Turkey, suggesting that the terror group show flexibility by making “tactical concessions,” including on its weapons. The mediators expected Netanyahu to reject any reciprocal concession due to electoral concerns, resulting in Hamas appearing to be the more cooperative side. 

However, the report adds, Hamas decided after extensive discussions to reject this proposal, fearing that any concession it makes will become a starting point for future pressure to make further concessions. Therefore, Hamas decided to adopt a strategy mirroring Israel’s — to stall for time until the end of 2026, and to see how the next Israeli government shapes up, the report concludes.  (Ed note: Of course. Iran "stalls for time" then attacks. Hezbollah "stalls for time" and then immediately attacks, why shouldn't Hamas "stall for time?")  (Source)

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)