From the claim of "friendly negotiations" made by US President Trump to Israel presenting arguments for strikes on Iran's secret Koh Kalang base... what remains certain is that the thriller in the Persian Gulf will not end easily. At the same time, Trump meets on July 28 with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy... focusing on Iran and Russia, though he also wants the Ukrainians involved regarding the Iranian issue. It should be noted that Ukraine struck an Iranian commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea and became embroiled in the war... Iran is already speaking of retaliation against Ukraine.
Following allegations by the newspaper Israel Hayom that progress has been made in consultations regarding the return of the US and Iran to the negotiating table, Trump, repeating his claims regarding Iran's military power, announced that "very friendly negotiations" are currently underway. Claims made simultaneously with the release of news concerning his upcoming meeting with the Israeli Prime Minister and the Ukrainian President at the White House.
New York Post: Netanyahu's new card against Iran's nuclear program
The New York Post reported that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu plans to present new claims and intelligence to US President Trump. Netanyahu is expected to present alleged documents and reports during consultations showing that Iran is developing and expanding its nuclear facilities at the Koh Kalang site. It should be noted that the mountains of Koh Kalang hold strategic importance for Iran because Iranian nuclear installations and missiles are situated there.
Trump's new controversial statements
At the same time, US President Trump made new controversial claims during a speech at a General Motors plant in Michigan. He claimed that "things calmed down for a bit, then they didn't act right and I had to step in," adding: "Now they're acting right again and asking us not to surround them." Trump asserted that "you can't bribe them. You have to beat them, and we hit them hard," and that "very friendly talks" are currently underway between the two sides. Defending his military actions and stance while repeating the claim that he struck Iran's navy and air force, the US President claimed: "Their drone production is down to about 7% now. Right now they're talking to us about making a deal, but if we hadn't acted decisively, there would be no talks."
Trump meeting with Netanyahu (Israel) and Zelenskyy (Ukraine) over the Iranian issue
Meanwhile, the US President will host Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu at the White House on August 28, 2026. According to reports, the issue of Iran and the latest developments in the Russia-Ukraine war will serve as the primary topics during Trump's talks with the leaders of Israel and Ukraine in Washington.
Trump: The exact same thing happening in Venezuela is happening in Iran, but people just don't realize it
The US President claimed that the exact same thing happening in Venezuela is happening in Iran, but people simply do not realize it. You cannot bribe the Iranians; you have to defeat them. Iran is currently negotiating with us to reach an agreement. The exact same thing happening in Venezuela is happening in Iran, except people don't realize it. We are taking millions of barrels of oil from Venezuela, and we will do the exact same thing with Iran.
Economist: US options on Iran are limited
The Economist magazine admitted that the choices available to the United States regarding Iran are limited and that a military attack against the country would carry significant costs. According to the Iranian news agency Mehr, the Economist reports that US options for a large-scale attack against Iran remain constrained. Resuming air strikes against Iranian nuclear sites or expanding attacks on critical infrastructure could lead to an escalation of the conflict and push war costs higher. The publication highlighted that, even in such a scenario, there is no guarantee the war would end or avoid devolving into a protracted conflict. The Economist added that the prospect of a ground military intervention carries even greater risks than other options, given Iran's potential response and the wider expansion of hostility. Earlier, the Wall Street Journal had also reported that the United States faces a shortage of interceptor missiles for its air and missile defense systems. At the same time, according to that report, Iran continues to possess significant stockpiles of ballistic missiles and drones.
Putin congratulates Iran's... mosquito fleet
Russian President Vladimir Putin praised Iran's "mosquito fleet" during a meeting with Russian naval officers last Sunday, according to the state news agency Sputnik. "Look at what is happening in the Middle East conflict zone," stated the Russian President. "Iran, using its 'mosquito fleet,' has proven quite effective in its military operations. This is a matter of new technologies. We possess these small vessels; they are small in displacement, but equipped with state-of-the-art weapons systems," noted Putin. According to Sputnik, Iran's so-called "mosquito fleet" consists of approximately 20 Ghadir-class submarines and several thousand fast attack craft equipped with missiles or designed for offensive operations. As Sputnik reports, these light and agile vessels can hide in tunnels constructed along Iran's rocky coastline, making them difficult for the United States to destroy using long-range weapons.
Iraqi resistance denies drone attack on Saudi Arabia
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq denied launching drone attacks against oil facilities in Saudi Arabia after Riyadh blamed "Iran-backed armed groups" for the strikes on Monday. "This accusation further reinforces our conviction that hostility toward Iraq and its people is an inherent characteristic of this regime," the network of pro-Iranian organizations stated in an official announcement. "These fabricated allegations are nothing more than an attempt to justify their inability to respond to the painful strikes from the Yemenis, which struck at the heart of their infrastructure," added the Islamic Resistance. The organization warned that "any foolish action by Saudi Arabia will be met with a harsh response," while calling for an end to the "unjust blockade imposed on the people of Yemen." Saudi Arabia announced Monday that its air defense systems intercepted and shot down drones launched from Iraq attempting to target oil infrastructure in the kingdom's Eastern Province as well as Riyadh. The attacks occurred while Yemen's Houthi movement also announced a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea, claiming it was a response to the ongoing siege on Houthi-controlled areas.
Alex Vatanka (Middle East Institute Analyst): The Iranians are not going to wave a white flag
Alex Vatanka, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute in Washington, expressed doubt over Trump's claims that nearly two weeks of US air strikes forced Iran back to the negotiating table. "I don't believe the Iranians were ready to wave a white flag simply because of American military strikes," Vatanka told Al Jazeera. "The Iranian side has maintained a firm stance against the Trump administration, maintaining that time is on their side and that we [Iran] can endure more pain than you [the US]. Therefore, let the confrontation continue," the analyst noted. "It is a dangerous strategy for Iran, but this has been their approach over recent weeks and I haven't seen any significant shift," he added. Vatanka also pointed out that US officials and sources in Washington were debating the effectiveness of continuing American strikes against Iran, with most assessing that the attacks no longer yielded tangible results. "I believe this pause was more of an American initiative to see if diplomacy could be given one more chance," he concluded.
Alex Vatanka (Middle East Institute Analyst): Netanyahu will pitch regime change to Trump again
Alex Vatanka, an analyst at the Middle East Institute, told Al Jazeera that Netanyahu is likely to try to "push the idea of regime change in Tehran again" when he meets Trump at the White House. However, "I don't believe this idea will be positively received by President Trump because he has no desire to pursue such a path," said Vatanka. "On a political level in the US, this war is extremely unpopular, so it remains to be seen what Prime Minister Netanyahu will get out of this meeting," the analyst emphasized. He added that previous meetings between Trump and Netanyahu in Washington have often preceded a spike in tensions with Iran, and it remains to be seen whether this meeting will prove an exception to that pattern. Vatanka also noted that the Israelis remain dissatisfied with the Trump administration regarding the memorandum of understanding agreed upon with Tehran, as they "have a different perception regarding the level of threat posed by Iran." According to him, Israeli officials will urge Netanyahu to keep pressing Trump regarding Iran's ballistic missile program and its nuclear program. "The Trump administration's response to this is that the US can only do so much militarily, short of deciding to invade and occupy Iran—something no one is actually taking seriously," he added.
Marine Traffic: 29 vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz between July 24 and 26
According to Marine Traffic, 29 vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz during the period of July 24–26. The Strait of Hormuz recorded 29 confirmed transits, with 21 ships exiting and 8 entering the waterway between July 24 and 26, according to Marine Traffic, a maritime data tracking company. By comparison, Marine Traffic reported that the Bab el-Mandeb Strait recorded 100 transits during the same period, with 51 ships entering the Red Sea and 49 exiting.
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