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)

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Report: US suspected Israel plotted to kill Iranian negotiators

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Iran Parliament Speaker rejects UN inspector access to bombed nuclear sites

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

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

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

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

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

Ghalibaf threatens: Response to every violation of agreement

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

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

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

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

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