“Iran rebuilds missile capabilities after US, Israeli strikes – WSJ,” Iran International, 7-22-26. See “Iran Shows Its Ballistic Missiles Are Still a Force to Reckon With,” WSJ, 7-21-26.
“US launches fresh strikes on Iran, as Trump warns of retaliation for deaths of soldiers,” BBC, 7-21-26.
Good news. Pilot program starts in three areas Israel backs out of in southern Lebanon, the Lebanese Army becomes the only entity authorized to carry weapons there. We must find creative ways like this to rid Lebanon of Iran-backed Hezbollah. “Israel and Lebanon begin US-backed security pilot to accelerate Hezbollah’s disarmament,” I24, 7-21-26.
Some persons claim that the closest ally of the U.S. is Israel. It’s the UK, and has been for years. “Burnham approves use of UK bases for some US strikes on Iran,” i24NEWS, i24NEWS, 7-21-26.
Implications for nuclear negotiating with Iran. “Trump Approves Landmark Nuclear Deal With Saudi Arabia in Big Win for Kingdom,” WSJ, 7-21-26.
“Iran mediators push new ceasefire as Trump eyes all-out war,” Axios, 7-20-26. This is the result of 10 days of bombing “Iranian military command centers, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and air defense systems” in southern Iran in and around Bandar Abbas. See also “Iran initiates 10-day ceasefire proposal with US through mediators | LIVE BLOG,” I24, 7-20-26.
“Sec. Rubio meets with Lebanese President Aoun to discuss Trilateral Framework,” i24NEWS, 7-19-26. Iran continues to try to abort these efforts aiming for sovereignty for Lebanon by supporting its right-arm Hezbollah. If there is good news it is that all see the Regime’s efforts; they are no longer suppressed in the media as they were for years.
“Trump says US hit Iran ‘very hard’ in ninth consecutive night of strikes | LIVE BLOG,” i24NEWS, 7-19-26. “Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed attacks on US aircraft at Jordan’s Aqaba Airport and a command center in Syria, while also reporting explosions involving two oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. Sirens sounded overnight in Bahrain, and Kuwait said it intercepted Iranian drones. Meanwhile, CENTCOM said it carried out a ninth consecutive night of strikes on Iranian military targets, including command centers, air defenses, missile and drone sites, maritime capabilities and communications networks.”
“Iran War Live Updates: U.S. and Iran Escalate Attacks, While Hinting at Diplomacy,” NYT, 7-16-26.
I’m sometimes surprised when someone says that Hezbollah or the Houthis are independent. Here’s proof again, and in the headline. “Iran tells Houthis to close Red Sea gateway if US hits power network, sources say,” Reuters, 7-16-26.
“Why the Strait of Hormuz has become the center of a global maritime dispute,” i24, 7-16-26. The U.S. doesn’t need to seize Kharg Island if the U.S. Navy stops Iran-related ships at Hormuz.
“UAE condemns Iran’s ‘brazen’ attack on tankers as US launches fresh strikes,” BBC, 7-14-26.
“Was the Mossad’s Ahmadinejad operation a failure, or did Trump kill it? – analysis,” JPost, 7-14-26. Fascinating story. Ahmadinejad in the course of this reporting said he was not under house arrest–so what does he call it? Does he explain that he uses DoorDash? And Pizza Hut delivery? All the time?
What about the 60 day MOU? And the Ceasefire? Who violated which and when? One of the advantages of having the daily news of Iran in front of us in this blog is that you can scroll through the last 10 or 20 days or so of news quickly and look at what happened. Here, as I think you know, the MOU and Ceasefire were violated by Iran, most recently after Iran shot at ships last week to halt traffic using the U.S.-supported route through the strait near Oman. See “Trump Says He Is Reimposing the U.S. Blockade of Iran,” WSJ, 7-13-26. “[MOU] Paragraph 5, which says Iran will make arrangements to restore shipping through the strategic waterway and then work with Oman to determine how to administer it in the future. But it also includes an Iranian pledge to ensure safe passage and remove military obstacles such as mines. … [T]he text clearly requires Iran to open the strait and stop shooting at ships. Iranian hard-liners, however, have used it to push for exclusive control over the waterway as a source of leverage. Iran has been pressuring Oman, which controls the southern side of the strait, to go along with its plan to take control. Instead, Oman has been operating a channel through the strategic waterway that runs through its territorial waters and skirts the lanes managed by Tehran. During a visit by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday, Oman offered a compromise under which no tolls would be charged in Oman’s territorial waters and Iran would decide what it wants for its own maritime corridor. … Iran rejected the compromise. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps signaled its displeasure with the idea by firing at ships in the waterway. … Iran struck Oman during the exchanges of fire in recent days, escalating the conflict. … Iran hit the port town of Duqm and an Omani naval base in Musandam, which serves as an operations center for monitoring traffic in the strait.” See also “Trump notifies Congress of new war against Iran,” Politico, 7-13-26.
Finally. And this added to the fuel to drive PM Starmer from office. If you’ve been to London, you’ve seen and heard the permanent protesters near 10 Downing Street but also heard the collective will over more than five years of the people to get this done. “U.K. to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist group,” WPost, 7-13-26. Starmer could never really pull himself to stand against this serious terror threat. “The designation comes after U.K. authorities linked the IRGC and its proxies to a wave of violent plots on British soil, including bombing and assassination attempts targeting Iranian journalists and activists in Britain. … The surge of attacks by … [t]he group, called the Islamic Movement of Companions of the Right, or IMCR, has “claimed seven attacks at U.K. locations linked to Jewish and Israeli communities and Persian-language media,” the Home Office statement said. “Sitting behind IMCR were members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Qods Force, who almost certainly directed IMCR attacks across Europe.”
“President Donald Trump returned to Hugh’s program today with a focus on Iran,” Hugh Hewitt Show, 7-13-26.
“Jordan Air Defense Systems Intercept and Neutralize Four Iranian Missiles,” Petra News, 7-13-26.
“Oil prices rise as U.S. launches new Iran airstrikes, while Trump abandons Strait of Hormuz fee,” CNBC, 7-13-26.
“Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz, CENTCOM says,” Iran International, 7-12-26. Important for now and the future of this strait and others around the world. “US Central Command on Sunday rejected an Iranian commander’s claim that foreign vessels could not pass through the Strait of Hormuz without being identified, tracked and monitored by Iran’s forces. [by the so-called Persian Gulf Strait Authority] CENTCOM said Iran did not control the Strait of Hormuz and that it remained an international waterway. It said US forces were positioned and prepared to keep the waterway open.”
The threats and strikes against Oman and the rest of the GCC continue. Winning friends and neighbors the hard way, does Iran. Here are stories at Iran International, 7-12-26. “Oman summoned Iran’s ambassador on Sunday to protest drone attacks targeting sites in the governorates of Musandam and Al Wusta, Oman’s foreign ministry said.” “Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi on Sunday condemned continued Iranian attacks targeting the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan, as well as commercial vessels.” “The Revolutionary Guards-affiliated Tasnim news agency said Iranian forces had struck US-linked targets in Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman in response to US attacks.” And “The Revolutionary Guards said on Sunday they struck US naval logistics facilities and aircraft carrier refueling platforms at the Omani port of Duqm in retaliation for US attacks.”
“Hard-Liners in Iran Want to Keep Fighting America,” NYT, 7-12-26. This article is not a surprise, because that is what the revolutionary Shia have always done, and is the point of this blog. As long as they are in control (since 1979 at this point in history) they will always be a threat to the Sunnis, their neighbor states, the U.S., Israel, Europe, etc. Here is a quote from this story making this point about the IRGC/Quds/Supreme Leader/Qom/pick your name or sub-group as they look for revenge due to their perceived minority status. During the Leader’s funeral, [m]any were emblazoned with an Arabic phrase that means “O Vengeance for Hussein.” The death of Imam Hussein in A.D. 680 at the hands of a tyrant is a significant Shiite symbol for avenging innocent blood and resisting tyranny.”
“Jordan and Saudi Arabia Condemn Repeated Iranian Attacks on Arab States,” Jordan News, 7-12-26.
It is not, of course, just the military/IRGC and Quds Force that promise to keep up terrorism and missile attacks. It is the new Supreme Leader himself (is he alive? he won’t show even a picture of himself. we dare him) who says the country will take its revenge on the U.S. and the President and its citizens. The second thing of note from this NYT article is the reminder that Iran is pivoting as the Regime loses some military power due to the Feb. War but sees that Hormuz is its main method to threaten to strangle the world. The meeting right now between the Iran FM with Oman’s leadership is not just an invitation to control (blackmail) and charge fees for Hormuz, though, it is also a threat to Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, the Sultan and Prime Minister of Oman. See “Iran’s Top Diplomat in Oman for Talks on Strait, As Ayatollah Vows Revenge,” NYT, 7-11-26.
“Strict Terms from Washington Before Agreement with Tehran,” Jordan News, 7-11-26. Jordan is one of the best bell-weather countries.
NPR allowed former General Votel to explain clearly several issues, including how the U.S. bases and facilities will probably relocate. “Retired Gen. Joseph Votel on the U.S. strikes on Iran and Tehran’s capabilities,” NPR, 7-11-26.
Well-described. “Aspiring to Regional Domination, Iran Is Ready to Escalate Over Hormuz,” WSJ, 7-11-26. “New outbreak of fighting over the strait comes as Tehran sees itself as a winner in the war that would establish a new Pax Iranica in the Middle East.” … “For the Iranian regime, keeping a chokehold over the Strait of Hormuz has turned out to be more important than the tens of billions of dollars in sanctions relief from the Trump administration. That is because Tehran is playing a long game. Iranian officials believe the country has finally emerged as a regional hegemon, after the U.S. and Israel failed to achieve their main goals in the war they unleashed in February. And, as long as Tehran cements this new status by securing permanent arrangements to control the vital waterway—and dominating the Persian Gulf economies along with it—then the rest, including American sanctions relief, will eventually follow. … This attitude heralds a rocky future, with regular bouts of violence, continuing uncertainty for global energy markets and a Damoclean Sword of renewed strikes hanging over the Gulf monarchies. “The Islamic Republic will become even more of a gangster regime. Its takeaway from the war is that concessions are won through coercion—by attacking its neighbors, threatening the Strait of Hormuz and driving up the price of oil,” said Karim Sadjadpour, Iran expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. “Like Putin’s Russia, the Islamic Republic believes that its security depends not on the prosperity of its people, but on the insecurity of its neighbors.” And, just like Russia in its own neighborhood, the Iranian regime views the oil-rich Gulf monarchies as belonging to its own natural sphere of influence—a sphere denied to it by American meddling ever since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. … Now that America has failed to protect these Gulf states from Iranian attacks, Tehran’s drive to institutionalize Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz reflects its ambition to establish a new Pax Iranica in the Middle East. After all, the Gulf countries, to a varying extent, rely on the strait not just for their oil and gas exports, but also for other vital supplies, from consumer items to food. … “They have reached the conclusion that they are facing the tyranny of geography—the Islamic Republic is still there, President Trump is not going to be president of the United States forever, and they have to live side by side with the Iranians,” said Raz Zimmt, director of the Iran and Shiite Axis program at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv. “They have to face the reality.””
“Iran faces region’s harshest mix of wartime contraction and inflation,” Iran International, 7-11-26.