Latest wave of US strikes targets Iran’s coastal defenses, missile and drone sites (BUSHEHR)

U.S. President Donald Trump ordered more strikes against Iranian regime sites on Monday in response to the Islamic Republic’s attacks on civilian-manned commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Central Command said it completed the “latest wave of strikes against Iran” at 10:15 p.m. Eastern on Monday, five and a half hours after the operation began at 4:45 p.m. CENTCOM struck military targets across Iran, including in Bushehr, Chah Bahar, Jask, Konarak, Abu Musa and Bandar Abbas, according to the statement. The attacks targeted coastal defense systems, missile and drone sites, and maritime capabilities.

“More than 50,000 U.S. service members are currently deployed across the Middle East. American forces remain vigilant, lethal, and ready,” CENTCOM stated. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps responded to the latest U.S. strikes by attacking Bahrain, Jordan and three tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz, it said. Two of the vessels, the Mombasa and Al Bahiyah, which were linked to the United Arab Emirates, briefly caught fire, the Associated Press reported. The Emirati Defense Ministry said the attacks killed one mariner and wounded eight others. Bahrain’s Defence Force said its air defenses intercepted “a number of treacherous Iranian aerial attacks,” adding that “the deliberate use of missiles and drones to target civilians and private property constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.”

A Jordanian military source told the state-run Petra News Agency that the army “successfully intercepted and shot down four missiles that breached Jordanian airspace from Iranian territory early Tuesday.” No injuries were reported in the attacks on Bahrain or Jordan. Trump told Hugh Hewitt on Monday that Pickaxe Mountain, an underground nuclear facility in Iran, remained “a possible target for a nice, big, fat shot right in the front door.” “I think that you’ll, maybe you’ll see that. I’ll tell them right now. Look, the fact is they have no air force. They have no navy. They have no nothing. All they do is talk, and they have fake press,” the president said. “We’re going to take out Pickaxe Mountain. Tell the Iranians to be ready.” (Read More)

B2 Bomber is Back: Trump Explicitly Threatens to Strike Iran’s Impenetrable Pickaxe Mountain Nuclear Facility

President Donald Trump has issued a direct threat against Iran's highly fortified underground nuclear installation known as Pickaxe Mountain, warning Tehran to prepare for an imminent strikes campaign against the deep granite fortress. A major military flashpoint has emerged in the high-stakes aerial campaign over the Persian Gulf as the White House identifies its next primary strategic target. President Donald Trump has issued an explicit warning to the leadership in Tehran, declaring that the United States military is actively targeting the highly protected subterranean complex known as Pickaxe Mountain. The targeted facility, which serves as a critical component of the Iranian nuclear program, is located deep inside the Zagros mountain range just south of the heavily contested Natanz uranium enrichment complex.

The aggressive declaration comes amid reports of heavy tactical operations, with the United States military confirming it has initiated a third consecutive night of targeted strikes against key Iranian assets. Explosions have already illuminated the coastal skylines of southern port cities like Bandar Abbas and Konarak, while regional forces launched missiles from naval positions in Bahrain. The threat to target the mountain fortress represents a massive escalation in the air campaign, raising serious questions about the limits of conventional airpower against deeply buried targets.

The president issued a clear and defiant statement regarding the highly fortified nuclear target during a press briefing, warning the adversary of what lies ahead. He stated, "We're gonna take out Pickaxe Mountain. Tell the Iranians to be ready. Let them know we're coming, okay? There's not a damn thing they can do about it." The facility itself is carved nearly one hundred meters into solid granite rock, making it highly resilient to conventional aerial bombardment and rendering normal bunker busters highly ineffective. 

To overcome such extreme physical fortifications, military analysts suggest the Pentagon would likely deploy the stealthy B2 Spirit bomber to deliver its most specialized payloads. The heavy stealth bomber is the only operational aircraft in the world capable of carrying the massive, thirty thousand pound GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, a highly specialized bomb designed to burrow through thick rock and reinforced concrete before detonating. By deploying multiple heavy bombers to strike the exact same entry portals, the military aims to cave in the tunnel systems, sealing the nuclear operations inside. (Read More)

Trump weighs ordering ‘big fat shot’ on Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site

US President Donald Trump says he will probably soon order a strike on the Pickaxe Mountain Iranian nuclear site.

Asked about the site, which was not among the three targeted by the US last year, Trump tells conservative talk show host Hugh Hewitt that the US has been closely surveilling it.

“Pickaxe is a possible target for a nice big fat shot right near the front door,” Trump says. "We see no activity there. They’re not doing well with their nuclear situation… We’ll probably give Pickaxe a shot relatively soon,” he adds.  (Ed note: Why is Pickaxe Mountain so important? The Pickaxe Mountain facility (also known as Mount Kolang Gaz La) is located in the Zagros Mountains near Natanz, Iran. This region falls within the borders of the ancient civilization of Elam.)   (Source)

Trump says he wants Gulf states to reimburse US for ‘protection’ from Iran

US President Donald Trump says he wants the United States to be reimbursed by Gulf countries in the region for working to secure the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing Iranian attacks. “I want to be reimbursed because we’re protecting a very rich portion of the world. We’re spending money, so… we are going to be reimbursed for protection,” Trump tells reporters in the Oval Office, singling out Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait as countries that the US has protected.

Many of those Gulf countries have privately faulted the US for launching a war against Iran without coordinating with them and without a plan for what it would do when Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz. Those countries have since found themselves bearing the brunt of Iran’s retaliatory strikes. He speaks about the US “protecting allies… including Israel, including Saudi Arabia, including Qatar, including UAE. We’re protecting all of them, and we’ve done a very effective job.”

Trump is peppered with questions about how long he expects the latest escalation with Iran to drag out, given that he campaigned on avoiding protracted conflicts. He reiterates that the US is striking Iran hard tonight, but claims that the current round of escalation will end quickly. Trump says Iran agreed to a deal over the weekend that would have led to deescalation before backing out of the agreement “because they found out there was something in the deal they didn’t like.” Asked if he thinks that it won’t be possible to reach a settlement with Iran, Trump responds, “I never reached that conclusion. But we’re hitting them very heavy tonight.” “They’re going to fight for a while… and we’ll see what happens,” he says. (Source)

Trump says US will control Strait of Hormuz, get paid for it

Trump said that the US will "immediately" reinstate its blockade of Iran-linked ships in the Strait of Hormuz and charge a 20% fee on all cargo traffic "as a matter of fairness." 

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that the United States will probably take over the Strait of Hormuzand should be reimbursed for controlling the vital waterway. "We're going to keep the strait, and we'll probably run it. We'll become the guardian of the strait. Maybe we'll call it the guardian angel of the strait. And we should be reimbursed for that," Trump said in a phone interview on Fox News's "Fox & Friends" program. "We're taking over the strait. They've got nothing."

"We're going to ​guard it. We're going to get paid for guarding it - a lot of money," he added. "We're going to be reimbursed, because the other nations are very wealthy. They're on our side, and we can't be expected to do that for nothing." Trump added that the US should have taken care of the Iranian threat "47 years ago," noting that the two countries agreed to "everything" during a recent 11-hour meeting in Washington, with Iran then demanding changes to the agreement.

He added that Iran "launched a drone at a ship" an hour after the negotiations concluded. "Everything's 11 hours with these guys," said Trump. "You know, you can't settle in one sentence and one hour and one minute. It should be one minute. And everything was agreed to yesterday. And they leave the room, and they call back, and they say we had to make a couple of changes." "We're not going to make changes," he added. "Always changes. They just, you know, they're professional negotiators. That's all they are. I don't even call them good at it. They haven't gotten anything; they've got nothing from me. But if you look for 47 years, they've been tapping people along, presidents. Every president got tapped along, didn't do anything, and they became more and more powerful." (Read More)

‘POTUS is absolutely right’: Iran’s FM mocks Trump over tolls for Hormuz passage

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi mocks US President Donald Trump over his vow to impose hefty charges on all cargo shipped through the Strait of Hormuz, saying Iran would charge a lower rate.

“POTUS is absolutely right. Whoever provides secure and safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz should be compensated for this service. Iran has always been the GUARDIAN of the Strait and will remain so FOREVER. 20% is of course too much. We will be fair,” Tehran’s top diplomat writes on social media.   (Source)

Israel-Jordan border vulnerable to attack, weapon smuggling, terrorists, residents say - report

Despite the ongoing construction of a new border security fence between Israel and Jordan, local residents are fearful that a Jordanian attack could face little in the way of defenses, the N12 News reported on Tuesday. Central Arava Regional Council Head Meir Tzur pointed out the vulnerability presented by the current wire-fence setup. "There's nothing behind it," he explained to N12. "There's no problem crossing this twisted fence either. Here, for example, it's completely open. There are no indicative measures on the fence. Any citizen can cross, they don't even have to jump because it's torn down."

The border was also seldom patrolled by IDF forces, Tzus stated. "You can just walk into Jordan." "We really want the Israeli army to be stationed on the border line, and not just with remote technology," he added. "We are afraid of this technology. Every Israeli knows that what starts with a small breach may eventually lead to a failure. A fence alone or technology is not the absolute solution."

From across the border, a steady stream of illegal entrants and smuggled goods has flowed into Israel over the years, local residents stated, including illegal weapons. One military source told N12 that the IDF catches around 50% of the smuggled weapons and goods. "If they succeed in smuggling weapons, they can also succeed in smuggling a terrorist." In January, The Jerusalem Post learned that the IDF's new security fence with Jordan could be completed as early as the start of 2028.

An announcement said that the fence, which will include a variety of cutting-edge sensors and will cost tens of millions of shekels, would begin construction in “a number of months,” but did not set a formal end date. Defense sources have also made clear that Israel has escalated proactive intelligence collection missions on the border and will not rely solely on the fence, though the fence is expected to be a major boon for securing the Jordanian border. (Ed note: The Central Arava Regional Council is located directly across from the Edom Mountains in Jordan. Located in southwestern Jordan, this historic region is known anciently as Mount Seir,) (Source)

More than an apartment: A new vision for retirement in Jerusalem

A new 60+ Modern Orthodox community is planned for Jerusalem’s Beit HaKerem neighborhood, designed for English-speaking retirees. The project emphasizes community alongside homes and amenities, including a pool, fitness center, rooftop terrace, shared spaces, and light-rail access. Consultations offer details on residences, pricing, and American financing options.

For many Americans, retiring in Israel has long been a dream. But while most retirement communities focus on buildings and amenities, a new 60+ Modern Orthodox community planned for Jerusalem's Beit HaKerem neighborhood is taking a different approach: community first. The project is being designed specifically for English-speaking retirees who want more than just a beautiful apartment. Residents will enjoy luxury homes alongside amenities such as a pool, fitness center, rooftop terrace, community spaces, and easy access to Jerusalem's light rail. Just as importantly, the community is being built around the idea that retirement should be shared with friends, neighbors, and people who are in a similar stage of life.

As interest in the project continues to grow, those interested are invited to learn more by speaking with a member of the project team. During a personal consultation, prospective residents can learn about the vision for the community, available residences, pricing, financing options for Americans, and the development timeline. With strong interest already generated, now is an ideal time to explore whether this unique Modern Orthodox community could be the right place for your next chapter in Jerusalem.  (Source)

US military says it struck 140 Iranian targets after ‘blatant’ Islamic Republic attack on ship in Hormuz

The U.S. military struck 140 military targets in Iran—the third round of strikes in a week—after the Islamic Republic “blatantly” attacked the Cyprus-flagged container ship GFS Galaxy as it went through the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Central Command said on Saturday night. The military used “land- and sea-based fighter aircraft, drones and naval vessels,” and it targeted “Iranian missile and drone sites, naval capabilities, ammunition storage facilities, communication networks and coastal surveillance locations,” said CENTCOM. “A civilian crew member is missing, and the vessel is unable to continue the journey due to an onboard fire and significant engine room damage,” the U.S. military stated. “Iran was provided yet another opportunity to demonstrate adherence to the memorandum of understanding after being held accountable for earlier attacks on commercial vessels but has again failed.”

The U.S. military is responding by “imposing a heavy cost by continuing to degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the strait,” according to CENTCOM. “These strikes are welcome, but they are being carried out to ‘degrade’ Iran’s regime’s ability to threaten commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz,” stated Jason Brodsky, policy director at United Against Nuclear Iran. “However, if the U.S. wants to deter the regime, there will need to be a more robust response.” “Iran made a poor choice,” U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated. “Now they pay.” Earlier in the day, the Iranian regime declared the strait to be closed.

“The Strait of Hormuz is closed until further notice and until the end of America’s interventions in the region, and no vessel will be permitted to pass through,” said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The IRGC warned that any “new act of aggression” against Iran would be met with a “severe response” and that additional “enemy bases” in the region would be targeted. Following the latest round of U.S. airstrikes, the IRGC said it had launched attacks on American military assets in Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Jordan.

According to the IRGC-affiliated Fars News Agency, the missile and drone attacks targeted military facilities in Qatar; a Patriot air-defense system, an ammunition depot and a radar site in Kuwait, refueling platforms used by aircraft carriers at the Port of Duqm in Oman, a military communications facility and a radar site in Bahrain, and a command center and MQ-9 drone hangars at Jordan’s Prince Hassan Air Base. (Read More)

US CENTCOM announces renewed wave of strikes against Iran

US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that American forces have initiated strikes against Iran in the early morning hours of Monday. In a statement on X/Twitter, CENTCOM stated that the strikes are intended to degrade Iran’s “ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the Strait of Hormuz.” A CENTCOM spokesperson told CNN that US aircraft had so far successfully shot down an Iranian cruise missile and a one-way attack drone. The spokesperson added that within the past hour, Iran fired at a commercial shipin the Strait of Hormuz.

Several explosions were heard in Iranian cities, including Sirik and Bandar Abbas, shortly after midnight on Monday, according to Iranian state media reports. Iranian state media reported that one person was killed and four were injured during the strikes. The US carried out similar strikes on Iran in the early morning hours on Sunday, hitting approximately 140 Iranian military targets, according to a CENTCOM statement.

Sunday’s strikes targeted Iranian missile and drone sites, ammunition storage facilities, communications, and coastal surveillance locations using precise munitions. According to CENTCOM, the strikes were initiated for the purpose of “holding Iranian forces accountable” for the attack on a commercial vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz. (Source)

Iranians report renewed power cuts as heat drives electricity demand

Power and water outages have returned to several parts of Iran, residents across the country told Iran International on Friday, describing hours-long blackouts during intense summer heat despite official assurances the electricity network remains stable. The complaints came as the energy ministry called for consumers to reduce electricity use by at least 10%, warning that high temperatures are expected to push demand above 75,500 megawatts in the coming days. "Electricity has been out since 2 a.m. and it's now 5 a.m. We still don't have power," one resident in Islamshahr, near Tehran wrote.

Average temperatures, the ministry said, are forecast to reach around 41 degrees Celsius between July 14 and July 18 and remain unusually high through the following week. It urged households to set air conditioners to 25 degrees Celsius, switch off unnecessary electrical appliances and move heavy electricity use outside peak hours to preserve grid stability.

...Accounts shared pointed to repeated outages in Tehran province, Alborz, Khuzestan and Fars, with many residents saying electricity was cut for two to three hours at a time. "Power in Fardis of Karaj went out twice on Thursday – first from 7 a.m. to 7:50 a.m. and then again from 10 until 12:10 p.m.," one resident wrote. Another in Shiraz said electricity was cut shortly after 1 a.m. on Thursday, while residents in Karaj, in the vicinity of Tehran, also reported another evening blackout. Several messages came from the southern Khuzestan province, where temperatures regularly climb well above 40 degrees Celsius during the summer.

..."I went through so much hardship and debt to buy meat and fish," one resident wrote. "By the time I got home, the electricity went out and we've been without power for three hours. The meat I struggled to buy is spoiling." Another wrote: "Every day it's either the water or the electricity, or they dig up the streets and take forever to fix them. We live in a city with abundant oil, yet there's poverty and unemployment." The energy ministry said climate studies show the southern provinces of Hormozgan, Bushehr, Khuzestan, Sistan and Baluchestan and Ilam experience the country's longest periods of extreme heat, placing the greatest strain on the electricity network during the summer. (Read More)

Iran says one killed in strike on Khuzestan water facility

Iran says one killed in strike on Khuzestan water facility

One person was killed and four others injured after a projectile hit an agricultural water pumping station in Mahshahr in southern Iran, official news agency IRNA reported citing a senior official in Khuzestan province.

Deputy governor said the person killed was a guard at the facility, adding that emergency and medical teams were treating the injured. IRNA did not identify who was responsible for the attack. (Ed note:)  The city of Bandar-e Mahshahr is located in Iran's Khuzestan province and has an estimated population of approximately 182,500 residents. This city and area was once considered the core territory of the ancient Elamite civilization.)

Iranian media report wider US strikes early Monday

US strikes appear to have expanded early Monday local time compared with previous days, based on reports emerging from Iranian media. Eskan News' Telegram channel reported that the latest wave of attacks targeted a wider range of locations across southern and western Iran than previous strikes. According to the report, the targeted areas include Qeshm, Sirik, Bandar Abbas, Jask, Bushehr, Khondab, Bandar Mahshahr, Behbahan, Andimeshk, Dezful, Ahvaz, Abadan and Khorramshahr.

The report could not be independently verified, and neither US nor Iranian authorities have immediately confirmed the full scope of the reported attacks. (Read more)

Beneath Beaufort’s strategic bulwark, a Hezbollah lair built to attack Israel is unearthed

BEAUFORT RIDGE, Lebanon — With cool air rushing over the sweeping view from atop Beaufort Castle at dawn, it is easy to forget that just a few months ago, Hezbollah operatives launched hundreds of attacks at Israeli troops and northern Israel from this strategic escarpment. In late May, Israel recaptured the historic Beaufort Castle and the surrounding ridge, 26 years after withdrawing from the site, as it pushed deeper into Lebanon during the fighting against Hezbollah. Speaking to reporters during an organized media tour of the area last week, the commander of the 36th Division, Brig. Gen. Yiftah Norkin, said the capture of the Beaufort Ridge was “critical to the defense of the Galilee Panhandle, Metula, and the surrounding communities.”

Sitting atop a steep bluff some 680 meters (2,230 feet) above sea level, the site, known in Lebanon as Qalaat al-Shakif, commands sweeping views of the Galilee Panhandle in northern Israel, as well as the Nabatieh area in southern Lebanon, making it a strategically valuable position. Home to a medieval fortress and castle that today lies mostly in ruins, Beaufort also holds symbolic importance as an emblem of Israel’s past military entanglements in Lebanon, particularly the 18-year occupation that ended in 2000.

According to the Israel Defense Forces, operations in the Beaufort Castle area are focused on capturing and demolishing major Hezbollah underground sites, as well as preventing the terror group from carrying out rocket attacks on Israel from the area. (Ed note: Do take a minute and check out the revealing pictures from JPost in this article.) (Read More)

IDF ready for anything in case Lebanese military fails at peacekeeping, Givati chiefs tell 'Post'

There is heavy skepticism from the IDF about how effective the Lebanese army will be in keeping the peace versus Hezbollah attempts to rearm and restore its capabilities for threatening Israel, IDF Givati Brigade Chief Col. “E” told The Jerusalem Post in a recent interview. “We are skeptical about their abilities because their power is nothing compared to Hezbollah, but maybe the legitimacy it [allowing the Lebanese army to try peacekeeping] gives us will create some change. We need the Lebanese army to undermine Hezbollah,” said E.

In addition, the IDF Givati Brigade chief said that this legitimacy was critical after October 7. “We are no longer naive after October 7. We cannot go to sleep. We would prefer to go back to a state of quiet, but we live in the jungle of the Middle East, and we cannot forget this. We need to remember everything that happened to us. We need to be offensive-minded and ready to strike harder and faster in the next round than in this past round,” he said.

IDF Givati Brigade Weapons Commander Lt.-Col. "I” described to the Post watching the Lebanese army move into certain areas where the Givati Brigade was leaving. According to “I”, higher-level IDF and US officials handled the transition and handover of territory coordination, with I and his forces observing the Lebanese army from a safe distance for a period of minutes. Curiously, this handover of land occurred some days before the IDF officially acknowledged transferring territory in two key spots in southern Lebanon over to the Lebanese army.   (Ed note: Again, the government and army of Lebanon have little or no control over the terrorist group Hezbollah, and the IDF knows that fact very well. Too bad the US government has not learned that fact.)    (Read more)

Aortic Rupture: Does Diagnosis Completely Rule Out Assassination? Not Necessarily

Following the release of an autopsy report confirming Senator Lindsey Graham died from an aortic rupture, medical and forensic experts debate whether such a condition could be intentionally induced through poisoning. The release of Monday morning's autopsy report regarding the death of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham from a ruptured aorta has sparked an intense medical and forensic discussion. Experts are evaluating whether this specific pathology could potentially be triggered intentionally through the administration of toxins.

Medical experts clarify that, from a theoretical standpoint, for a chemical substance to induce a sudden rupture in a major blood vessel, it would need to generate a massive, extreme spike in the victim's blood pressure or heart rate. This type of mechanism, known as a hypertensive crisis, requires the use of potent substances capable of stimulating the sympathetic nervous system to an extraordinary degree. This stimulation places abnormal mechanical stress directly on the arterial walls.

However, experts note that this remains an indirect and exceedingly rare consequence for traditional toxins. Such a protocol is highly uncharacteristic of the substances typically utilized in covert political assassinations. The medical findings disclosed Monday morning generally rule out the use of poisons historically associated with Russian intelligence operations over recent decades, as those substances operate through entirely different biological mechanisms. Nerve agents from the Novichok race, for instance, trigger a severe slowing of the heart rate. Radioactive substances, such as Polonium-210, destroy cellular structures over an extended period. Meanwhile, the hidden toxin called ricin leads to progressive organ failure without causing an immediate mechanical impact on blood vessels.

The medical examiner for the District of Columbia determined that the rupture developed against the backdrop of atherosclerotic heart disease. This underlying condition, which was previously unknown, weakens the arteries over decades and can rupture suddenly without prior diagnosis. The FBI continues to assist Washington authorities in investigating the circumstances surrounding the death, specifically due to the timing of Graham's recent return from Kyiv. Investigators are currently waiting for the completion of routine toxicological tests, to definitively rule out any external foul play. (Source)

Was Lindsey Graham poisoned? Why Iran and Russia are at the centre of conspiracy theories

 The sudden death of US Senator Lindsey Graham has triggered a wave of unverified international conspiracy theories pointing fingers at Moscow and Tehran, even as allies and world leaders remember him as a leading advocate of Nato, Ukraine and Israel.

The sudden and unexpected death of veteran US Senator Lindsey Graham has sparked a flood of online conspiracy theories, with Iran and Russia becoming the focus of unverified speculation.

Although officials said the South Carolina Republican died following a “brief and sudden illness,” no evidence has emerged linking any foreign actor to his death. Yet Graham’s recent Ukraine visit, his push for fresh sanctions on Russia, his long-standing advocacy of a hardline policy against Iran and reports of recent threats from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have prompted social media users and commentators to question whether there is more to the story. (Read More)

Marked in Tehran, Dead in South Carolina Days Later: The Chilling Coincidence Around Lindsey Graham's Death

Days before Senator Lindsey Graham's sudden death, mourners at Khamenei's funeral carried posters depicting him in a rifle scope's crosshairs.

Days before Senator Lindsey Graham's sudden death Saturday night, mourners at the funeral procession for former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei marched through Tehran carrying a poster depicting the senator's face inside a rifle scope's crosshairs, labeled "Target 1: Lindsey Graham," beneath the words "Sooner or later, your heads will roll" and "What happens."

The poster was one of several displayed during the multi day funeral ceremonies held July 4 through 6 in Tehran, which also featured similarly marked images of President Trump, Israeli American philanthropist Miriam Adelson, Daily Wire editor emeritus Ben Shapiro, commentator Laura Loomer, entrepreneur Peter Thiel, and Foundation for Defense of Democracies chief executive Mark Dubowitz.

Footage of demonstrators carrying the posters, filmed amid the crowds gathered at Tehran's Grand Mosalla, circulated widely on social media at the time. Other displays during the funeral included a wall bearing the words "We will kill Trump" and banners offering rewards of up to 120 million dollars for the American president's assassination.

Graham's office announced Saturday night that the senator, 71, had died of what it described as a brief and sudden illness, without providing further details on the cause of death. He had returned only days earlier from a trip to Kyiv, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and had been scheduled to appear Sunday on Meet the Press. (Read More)

DR. BILL SALUS COMMENT: SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM, A STRONG SUPPORTER OF ISRAEL & EPIC FURY, HAD A COPY OF MY BOOK ENTITLED, NUCLEAR SHOWDOWN IN IRAN IN HIS LIBRARY. A FEW YEARS AGO HE PURCHASED IT THROUGH OUR ONLINE STORE. I PERSONALLY SIGNED IT AND SHIPPED IT TO HIM.

IT’S SUCH A TRAGEDY TO HEAR ABOUT HIS UNTIMELY SUDDEN AND SUSPICIOUS DEATH.

Senator Lindsey Graham, staunch Israel supporter, dies at 71 from 'brief and sudden illness'

Graham, 71, was a prominent Republican senator from South Carolina. Earlier in his career, he was a vocal critic of US President Donald Trump before becoming one of his most loyal allies.

Hardline supporter of Israel, US Senator Lindsey Graham,passed away on Saturday evening after a brief and sudden illness, the communications director for his office said in a post on Twitter/X early on Sunday. "Senator Graham's family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period," the statement read. Emergency personnel responded to a call for “cardiac arrest” at Graham’s home on Saturday night, according to police scanner audio obtained by NBC News. 

Photographs reviewed by NBC News showed that paramedics carried a person on a stretcher from Graham’s home to an awaiting ambulance. Police cars and fire trucks were also on site, NBC reported. On Friday, Graham said China could ​play a decisive role in pressuring Russia towards peace talks, helping end its war in ‌Ukraine. Graham, a frequent visitor to Ukraine, met President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv. They discussed Ukraine's air defense ​needs and a Russian sanctions bill, Zelensky said.

Graham said bolstering Ukraine's military capabilities and aligning ​sanctions with a diplomatic push could force Moscow into talks. "The road to ending this ⁠war, the road to peace, passes through Beijing more than it does (through) Washington, Kyiv, or Moscow," Graham told ​reporters at Kyiv's Mykhailivska Square. "China has ​an oversized influence. I'd like them to use their influence for the good of the world." "I don't believe (Russian President Vladimir) Putin is there yet, but it wouldn't take much to get him there." (Read More)

IRGC announces closure of Strait of Hormuz, US strikes Iran in retaliation

Iranian state media announced that explosions were heard near Chabahar, on Qeshm Island, and in Bandar Abbas, Sirik, Bushehr, and Asaluyeh.

The Iranian regime announced that the Strait of Hormuz would be closed again until further notice after striking a vessel attempting to move through an unapproved route on Saturday night. In response, US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that it was conducting a round of strikes against Iranian targets. "Iran was provided yet another opportunity to demonstrate adherence to the Memorandum of Understanding after being held accountable for earlier attacks on commercial vessels but has again failed," CENTCOM stated in a post on X/Twitter.

"In response, the United States is imposing a heavy cost by continuing to degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the strait. The strikes are being carried out at the direction of the Commander in Chief." Iranian state media announced that explosions were heard near Chabahar, on Qeshm Island, and in Bandar Abbas, Sirik, Bushehr, and Asaluyeh. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth replied to CENTCOM's announcement, saying that "Iran made a poor choice. Now they pay."

CENTCOM also stated that a civilian crew member of the ship Iran had struck was missing, and that the vessel had sustained significant damage. An official announcement from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Navy claimed that the ship had ignored warnings and had been "provoked by foreigners" into attempting to move along the unapproved route. Iran's IRGC Navy added that if the "enemy" used the incident as a pretext to attack, it would be met with a "severe response," including the targeting of bases in the region. (Read more)

US launches third round of strikes against Iran

US launches third round of strikes against Iran following attack on commercial ship.

US Central Command announced that American forces launched a third round of strikes against Iran on Sunday following an attack by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces on a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. “At 7:15 p.m. ET today, US Central Command forces began launching the third round of strikes this week against Iran after Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces blatantly attacked M/V GFS Galaxy, a Cyprus-flagged container ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz," CENTCOM stated.

“A civilian crew member is missing and the vessel is unable to continue the journey due to an onboard fire and significant engine-room damage." CENTCOM added: “Iran was provided yet another opportunity to demonstrate adherence to the Memorandum of Understanding after being held accountable for earlier attacks on commercial vessels, but has again failed."

“In response, the United States is imposing a heavy cost by continuing to degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the strait." “The strikes are being carried out at the direction of the Commander in Chief," the statement concluded. US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth wrote on social media: "Iran made a poor choice. Now they pay." (Source)

"1,000 Missiles Locked and Loaded": Trump's Chilling Warning to Iran as Khamenei's Son Vows Blood Revenge

Trump warns Iran of "complete decimation" over assassination threats as Mojtaba Khamenei vows revenge for his father's death, deepening the crisis.

Iran's new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, declared on Saturday that avenging his father's death was "the demand of the nation" and "must certainly" take place, in his first public message since funeral ceremonies began for his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the US-Israeli strikes of February 28. The statement, released on his Telegram account and read on state television, came hours after President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Tehran over reported plots against his life.

"We pledge to avenge the blood of the martyred leader and all the martyrs of these two wars from the criminal and disgraced killers," Khamenei's message read, adding that vengeance would not depend on his presence or that of other officials, and that "free people around the world" would carry out the mission. Trump had written late Friday on Truth Social that a thousand missiles were "locked and loaded" and aimed at Iran, with thousands more ready to follow, should Tehran act on threats to assassinate him. He said orders had already been given for the US military to be prepared, for a period of one year subject to extension, to "completely decimate and destroy all areas of Iran."

The Wall Street Journal reported earlier in the week that Israel had shared intelligence with Washington about a fresh and specific Iranian plot against the president, though Trump later told a reporter that Israel "came up with nothing" and noted he has topped Iran's list of targets for years. The warning followed a funeral in Mashhad on Thursday for the elder Khamenei that saw mourners chant for Trump's death and carry signs calling for his killing, according to footage from the event. (Read More)

Mojtaba Khamenei warns of revenge

In a written statement, Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei promises to avenge his late father's blood, says 'demand of our nation must definitely be carried out soon.'

Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Saturday issued a written statement calling to avenge the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. "We swear to avenge your pure blood (Ali Khamenei) and that of all the martyrs who fell in these two wars at the hands of the murderers," the younger Khamenei wrote, adding that, "This revenge is the demand of our nation and it must definitely be carried out soon." 

"Now, when we part with teary eyes and broken hearts from your body, we swear that we will keep your word and, standing strong, we will walk straight along your path, which you showed us. "These sinners, of whom there is a detailed list - they must know that this matter (revenge), is not dependent on my presence as a person or the presence of the rest of the officials. Whether we will be or will not be, this demand will be fulfilled."

At the same time, Hamshahri newspaper, a major media outlet in Iran, published what it described as a hit list of those allegedly responsible for the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei under the headline, "Revenge Is Certain," alongside a quote from Mojtaba Khamenei earlier in the day: "The criminals will take their wish for a peaceful death to the grave."

Those named on the list include Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US President Donald Trump, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, US Central Command chief Gen. Brad Cooper, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, and the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, and Italy.  (Ed note: Did you catch the phrase, "These sinners..."? This should tell you that to the Iranian government, this is a Religious war, not a Policital war.)   (Source)

IDF strikes reported in south Lebanon near Tyre; no comment from army (TYRE)

Lebanese media reports several Israeli strikes in the southern town of Mansouri, near Tyre, a short while ago.

There is no immediate comment from the IDF on the incident.  (Source)

Trump to New York Post: I Left Standing Orders To "Bomb Iran Never Before" If They Kill Me

Trump tells the New York Post he has long been on Iran's kill list and has instructed an unprecedented bombing response if he is assassinated, amid fresh Israeli intelligence warnings.

President Donald Trump told the New York Post that he has been a target on Iran's assassination list for a long time and that he has already given his own answer to the threat. Trump said he is dealing with the danger as a fact of life and that he has instructed his team that if anything happens to him, the response should be a bombing campaign at a scale Iran has never experienced.

The comments come as tension between Washington and Tehran has sharply escalated in recent days. Trump declared this week that the ceasefire with Iran was effectively finished, and the two sides traded fresh strikes even as diplomatic channels stayed open behind the scenes. CNN and the Wall Street Journal both reported that Israel passed the United States new intelligence describing a specific, recently devised Iranian plan to kill the president, a warning that came on top of what officials described as a steady drumbeat of intelligence over recent weeks about possible attempts on his life. Trump has separately told reporters he considers himself Iran's top target.

Iranian officials have vowed retaliation against Trump for years over the 2020 killing of Revolutionary Guard commander Qasem Soleimani, and the threats intensified further after the recent death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, when mourners at his funeral chanted for Trump's assassination. Trump has previously said publicly, including after signing an executive order reinstating sanctions on Iran, that he left instructions for Iran to be "obliterated" should any assassination attempt succeed. (Source)

Trump says he left instructions to strike Iran as 'never seen before' if he's assassinated - report

“I’ve left instructions, if anything happens, to just literally bomb them at levels that they’ve never seen before,” the New York Post cited Trump as saying.

US President Donald Trump said he left instructions for the US to retaliate if Iran succeeds in assassinating him, he told the New York Post on Friday. “I’ve left instructions, if anything happens, to just literally bomb them at levels that they’ve never seen before,” the New York Post cited Trump as saying. This comes a day after the Wall Street Journal wrote that Israel shared intelligence about an Iranian assassination plot with the US president, though Trump subsequently disputed the report.

“No, no, Israel came up with nothing,” Trump said, adding that he had been Iran’s primary target for “a long time.” “It’s the way life is, you know,” he said. Trump previously stated that he had left instructions in the case of his assassination in January of 2025, saying that Iran would be “obliterated” if their assassins succeeded. However, the New York Times cited experts saying that a president cannot leave instructions for military action after his death. All authority would transfer to his successor, the new commander in chief. Trump's claims come as Iranian crowds called for his death at the week-long funeral for Iran’s former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

“I swear by the blood of the Supreme Leader, Trump, we will kill you!” they shouted, with women holding up placards reading "Kill Trump." The roads leading to the shrine were a sea of black-clad mourners on Thursday, some responding to shouted chants in praise of Khamenei and against Iran's enemies, including the old revolutionary slogan of "Death to America." (Source)

White House preparing for prolonged Iran conflict over the Strait of Hormuz - report

US officials believe the conflict could last from several days to weeks, depending on whether Iran continues attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, Axios reported.

The White House is preparing for what could turn into a multi-day or even multi-week exchange of fire with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz, US officials told Axios on Thursday. The duration and intensity of the new campaign depend entirely on Iran's upcoming actions, according to US officials who spoke with Axios. They noted that the current escalation could last anywhere from one day to a month, depending on whether Iran continues its attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

"We're going to slap them a bit so they understand we're not f***ing around," One official said, referring to recent US strikes on Iranian targets US officials also told Axios that the White House believes it has more room to escalate because hundreds of oil tankers have successfully navigated through the Gulf via the strait in recent weeks. “That has eased concerns within the administration that a renewed clash would immediately trigger a major oil price spike,” the officials said.

“Iran saw its leverage in Hormuz slipping as hundreds of ships transited through the southern route close to the Omani coast,” they added. Another US official source claimed that the current escalation stems from frustration among more radical members of Iran’s fractured leadership, who believe the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has not delivered any real benefits for Tehran. (Read More)

Tehran Fires Back: Iran Vows Immediate War Against Israel Following Secret Trump Assassination Intelligence Disclosures

The Trump administration is trying to keep Israel from joining the war out of fear that the entire region will spiral out of control. This comes as top Iranian officials issue explicit threats that Israeli infrastructure is no longer immune to devastating retaliatory strikes. The Middle East stands on the edge of a wider war as direct threats from Iran point toward an imminent strike against Israel. While international mediators try to cool the situation down, military preparations indicate that a major escalation could occur at any moment.

The American administration is working behind the scenes to prevent Israel from entering the current war against Iran. Officials in Washington are deeply concerned about completely losing control over the war if Israeli forces launch their own operations. This diplomatic push comes after two consecutive nights of intense exchanges of fire between American and Iranian forces, followed by a brief lull where diplomats are trying to find a path forward.

American warships are actively preparing for potential escalation in the region. Crews on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, stationed in the Arabian Sea, were seen loading F-18 fighter jets with heavy munitions while pilots completed readiness drills. High level officials in Washington explained that their strategy involves striking and then pausing, which gives diplomacy a chance to work while keeping a detailed list of targets ready.

Iran has reacted with fury to these military movements and political statements. The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr, issued a direct warning aimed at Israeli leadership. He stated that any attack against Iranian infrastructure will be met with a reciprocal response, and the criminal Zionist regime, which stands behind these evil acts, will not be immune from the response of their fighters.

The Iranian leadership also expressed anger toward American leadership over recent political commentary. Zolqadr described the American president as a deeply hated figure who is simply angry at the massive turnout seen during recent historic funeral processions. The rhetoric from Tehran has intensified significantly, raising worries that a fragile truce established months ago is now completely unravelling. (Read More)

Source tells Iranian media no talks to be held until US retreats from its stances

WASHINGTON/CAIRO — Iran’s foreign minister arrives in Oman to discuss arrangements for the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state media says, with Washington seeking a public pledge of free, secure transit. Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency says that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has arrived in Oman.

The country is helping to mediate an end to a war that has spread insecurity in the Gulf and raised prices around the world since the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran on February 28.

CBS News and its UK partner, the BBC, both report that US Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner are expected to lead negotiations on Saturday with Araghchi. Reuters is not immediately able to confirm the reports, which did not say whether they would be in Oman or attend virtually. Iran’s Fars news agency later cites a source saying no negotiations would take place until the US retreated from its positions. (Ed note: Does it sound like Iran thinks they are losing?) (Source)

Iran: Israel will 'not be spared' in future attacks, Qatari negotiators in Iran to defuse tensions

The warning came after US President Donald Trump said Washington was considering strikes on Iranian energy and desalination infrastructure if tensions escalate.

The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, stated on Friday that any attacks on Iranian infrastructure will be met with retaliation, adding that "Israel will not be spared from the response," according to Iranian state media. His comments followed a statement from US President Donald Trump indicating that Washington is considering strikes on Iranian electrical manufacturing facilities, power plants, and desalination plants if tensions escalate.

Zolghadr also referred to Trump as "the world's most hated figure" and criticized remarks he claimed were directed at the Iranian people, according to an Iran International report. Qatari negotiators are in Iran to meet Iranian officials to de-escalate tensions and create conditions for broader negotiations to continue, a source with knowledge of the situation told Reuters on Friday, adding that the talks are being conducted in coordination with the United States.

The talks aim to address the implementation of the US-Iran memorandum of understanding and the issues that triggered the recent escalation between Washington and Tehran, including disputes over navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, the source said.  (Ed note: Israel is saying, "Please don't spare us, Iran." I'm sure that Israel is just waiting for another shot at Iran.)    (Source)

Iran rehabilitating damaged nuclear sites, satellite imagery shows - report

Iran is attempting to restore nuclear sites damaged during the US and Israel's Operation Epic Fury and Operation Roaring Lion, according to a Friday CNN report based on satellite imagery of the sites. The imagery was reportedly captured in June and July and allegedly showed nuclear sites in Iran's Parchin and Pickaxe Mountain being repaired American and Israeli airstrikes struck and damaged the sites multiple times over the course of the operations.

Analyzed by CNN in conjunction with the Institute for Science and Security, the Parchin imagery reportedly showed temporary coverings placed over impact holes from US and Israeli strikes, which were then replaced with mesh coverings a few weeks later. Concrete mixing trucks were also visible in the imagery, indicating that Iran may be preparing to seal the impact holes, experts told CNN.

Additional imagery from Iran's Pickaxe Mountain facility showed construction vehicles moving in and out of the underground site, which CNN noted may amount to a violation of the recently signed US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The MoU requires Iran to maintain the status quo at all nuclear sites, CNN noted. US President Donald Trump on Wednesday claimed that the MoU was over during a press conference at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey. (Read More)

As Iran fades, Turkey emerges as Israel's biggest strategic threat

History, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a recent Channel 14 interview, “teaches that when one regional power declines, another rises. Our task is to make sure Israel continues rising faster than anyone else.” This explains why Netanyahu launched a public campaign in the US this week against President Donald Trump’s apparent willingness to sell the state-of-the-art F-35 fighter to Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Turkey, the state now furiously jockeying to replace Iran as the region’s dominant power.

Indeed, with the sun setting on Iran’s regional hegemony, despite diplomatic missteps that let Tehran off the ropes before a knockout blow, its military capabilities and web of regional proxies have been severely degraded, the sun is rising on Turkey’s ambitions. Already entrenched in Syria, steadily expanding an indigenous defense industry capable of producing sophisticated drones, naval vessels, and eventually advanced fighter aircraft, and seeking a foothold in Gaza, Ankara increasingly appears intent on filling the regional vacuum Iran leaves behind.

As former national security adviser Giora Eiland observed this week, Iran sought to surround Israel with a Shi’ite ring of fire. Turkey, he warned, increasingly appears interested in building a Sunni one. That explains why Netanyahu went on American television networks to lobby publicly against an administration policy still under consideration. If Iran’s decline is creating a regional vacuum, Israel fears Turkey is positioning itself to fill it, and that American F-35s, coupled with Trump’s embrace of Erdogan, might help it do so. Trump, however, sees matters much differently.  (Ed note: And we know that both Gomer and Persia will make an appearance in Ezekiel 38:5-6. Check it out.)     (Read More)

Rutte: Erdoğan is ‘extremely wise’ and will avoid war with Israel

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Wednesday praised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as an “extremely wise” leader who would avoid a conflict with Israel, while declining to speculate on the possibility of war between the two countries. Speaking to the UAE’s state-run newspaper The National on the sidelines of the 2026 NATO Summit in Ankara, Rutte echoed U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent praise of Erdoğan when asked whether a potential conflict involving Turkey, Syria and Israel could trigger Article 5, NATO’s collective defense clause. “I completely concur also with what President Trump said about Erdoğan, that he is a wise leader. He has been there for years in this role and in his job,” he said. Asked whether Erdoğan could be drawn into a confrontation with Israel, Rutte said he believed the Islamist leader would “avoid getting into a situation which gets out of hand.”

“What he tries to do—this is exactly the role Turkey can play, like hosting this fantastic summit now here, being such an important ally in NATO—they are also the go-to people when it comes to finding ways to come to a deal, because of the standing of President Erdoğan, his foreign minister, his whole team,” he continued. Pressed by the Emirati outlet whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could make war “unavoidable,” the NATO secretary-general declined to speculate. “Let’s not forget what happened on the 7th of October, 2023, this terrible attack by Hamas on Israel,” he said. “So it started not with Israel, but obviously, no, let me not speculate on what could happen in the next steps.”

Netanyahu told CNN on Tuesday that Turkey has “aggressive aspirations” as he warned the United States that supplying Ankara with fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets would “destroy the power balance in the Middle East.” “It’s a regime that’s infected with the Muslim Brotherhood, which hates the United States. He harbors Hamas, the Hamas terrorists. He supports them, he finances them. He’s thrown his opponents in jail, all of them. He throws more journalists in jail than anyone can understand. So, he’s not exactly a model ally of the United States,” said Netanyahu. Erdoğan “threatens to destroy my country, the one and only Jewish state,” he continued. “His number two says that we have no place among the nations, and you know what that means. And his number three, the interior minister, says that he’s looking forward to be the governor of Jerusalem—hello, sovereign country?” Last month, Netanyahu said that Israel takes Erdoğan’s repeated statements against the Jewish state “very seriously.” (Read More)

Third Night of Strikes: Heavy Explosions Rock Iran's Strategic Coastal Cities Amid Supreme Leader Funeral Procession (BUSHEHR)

As heavy explosions devastate strategic military coastal sectors inside Iran, President Donald Trump confirmed the total destruction of the regime's operational air fleets while Gulf states activate defensive systems against retaliatory ballistic strikes. A massive wave of heavy aerial bombardments has ignited the southern regions of Iran, as American forces execute extensive operations against strategic infrastructure. The heavy strikes occurred concurrently with the national funeral procession of the deceased Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed during initial operations in April. The military developments have triggered emergency defense protocols across multiple neighboring Gulf nations as regional authorities brace for a widening theater of war.

Local communication networks confirmed that multiple loud explosions echoed through the key coastal hubs of Bushehr, Chabahar, Ahvaz, and Konarak on Thursday evening. State media outlets verified that regional air defense batteries were activated to intercept low flying targets, while state representatives confirmed that a Revolutionary Guard naval officer was killed by hostile drones. Despite widespread rumors of structural damage across the strategic oil terminals of Kharg Island, official defense communiques denied that the installation had been breached.

The heavy American bombardment triggered immediate retaliatory action from Iranian military wings, who dispatched missile salvos and drone swarms across the Persian Gulf. Emergency sirens were activated in Bahrain after local forces detected suicide drones targeting the Isa Air Base, where American personnel are stationed. Simultaneously, the Kuwaiti military announced its air defenses successfully engaged hostile missiles, prompting the government to issue an official condemnation against repeated violations of its sovereign territory. (Read More)