The Persian Gulf is once again on the brink of a dangerous escalation, as at the very moment Iran bids farewell to its former supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Revolutionary Guards are reported to have attacked two tankers in the Strait of Hormuz because, as they claim, they attempted to follow a US-backed route. Undoubtedly, this is an action that falls within the intent of the Iranians to show that they have absolute control over navigation in Hormuz. At the same time, it constitutes a resounding response to the fresh threats made by US President Donald Trump, who launched new warnings against Iran, arguing that either there will be a deal or the US will finish its mission, and destroy the Iranians. Simultaneously, reports indicate that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to travel urgently to the US, immediately after the NATO Summit in Turkey, in order to meet with Trump. Although, as reported, his main concern is the restoration of relations with the US, several experts point out that what Netanyahu will ask from the American president is for the attacks and airstrikes against Iran to resume.
Axios: The US says Iran opened fire on tankers in Hormuz
The situation in the Strait of Hormuz is entering a new period of tension following the attack suffered by two tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a tanker sailing on a southerly course near the coast of Oman in the Strait of Hormuz reported that it was hit by an unknown projectile, resulting in a fire breaking out. A US official stated that a second commercial vessel was also hit by an Iranian missile. As he mentioned, both ships sustained severe damage, though there were no casualties. The US officials, speaking to the news outlet Axios, attribute the responsibility for the attack against the ships to Iran. According to them, the Iranian military fired at least two missiles against commercial ships transiting the Strait. The attack occurred just a few days after an exchange of strikes between the US and Iran, in retaliation for previous attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
There will be a response
The resumption of Iranian attacks jeopardizes the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which was signed less than three weeks ago. According to the publication, the United States is likely to respond with strikes against Iranian targets. The previous attacks followed the announcement of a shipping corridor in the waters of Oman, backed by the US, a move opposed by Iran, which argued that it violates the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two countries on June 17 aimed at ending hostilities. Tehran maintains that the agreement assigns it exclusive responsibility for managing navigation through this critical maritime route. It is noted that the latest round of indirect talks between the United States and Iran, held last week in Doha, concluded without substantial progress regarding the issue of the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian media: The ship was attacked after attempting to follow a US-backed route
The state network IRIB, citing anonymous sources, reports that the oil tanker "planned to transit through the Oman route in the Strait of Hormuz with the support of the US Navy". According to the publication, the ship "was attacked after ignoring repeated warnings". The IRIB reports that so far no Iranian official has confirmed or denied the relevant information. Iran has warned ships not to transit through the Strait of Hormuz via the southern route located in the territorial waters of Oman and insists that any transit through this specific maritime route must be coordinated with the Iranian military.
Wall Street Journal: LNG tanker hit
The Wall Street Journal also claims that the Revolutionary Guards are behind these attacks. According to the Wall Street Journal, one of the ships that came under attack appears to be the liquefied natural gas tanker Al Rekayyat, which is owned and operated by Nakilat, Qatar's LNG shipping company. The publication states that the vessel was struck on its port side, in the upper section of the engine room. During the attack, the ship was at the entrance of the Strait of Hormuz, in the Gulf of Oman, according to the Wall Street Journal. In any case, Iranian state television also broadcasted that the tanker hit was carrying liquefied natural gas from Qatar.
Trump: Either Iran agrees, or we will finish the mission
Meanwhile, in new statements, US President Donald Trump launched fresh threats against Iran, arguing that either there will be a deal or the US will… finish the mission. Specifically, Trump said that the United States remains committed to reaching a nuclear deal with Iran, warning however that Washington is ready to use military power if diplomacy fails. At the same time, he reiterated that Tehran must under no circumstances acquire a nuclear weapon. "Either we will reach a deal or we will finish the job. And it won't be hard to finish it. I would prefer a deal, because I don't want 91 million people to be affected," Trump told reporters at the White House.
We can destroy them in an hour
Trump claimed that the United States possesses the capability to strike critical infrastructure in Iran, should that become necessary. "We can destroy their bridges in an hour, we can cut off their energy supply... They no longer have money. We have given them no money at all," said the American president, who also reiterated that Iran cannot acquire nuclear weapons. "Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. I am not seeking regime change," Trump added. Later, speaking at a Rose Garden Club luncheon at the White House, Trump stated that recent US military operations have weakened Iran's military capabilities and once again called on Tehran to reach a deal. "We destroyed their navy, their air force, their radars, their leadership. We destroyed everything," Trump said. "And then I heard they are doing very well. No, they are not doing well at all". Trump further claimed that Iran "wants very much to make a deal". "They have to make the right deal, because they cannot acquire a nuclear weapon," Trump said, adding: "We will see what happens. We will win one way or another. We will win either the good way or the not-so-good way".
We will take control of the uranium
As he said, "we will take control of Iran's uranium". "We have secured concessions. Now the Iranians must honor those commitments, but there will be no nuclear weapons. We will take delivery of the enriched material. I am talking about the nuclear powder. I am not seeking regime change. We will also take control of its highly enriched uranium," Trump stressed, and referring to Hormuz, he said that "the Strait constitutes a huge money-making machine".
Araghchi (Iranian Foreign Minister): No talks as long as US threats continue
Talks to reach a definitive agreement between Tehran and Washington are not going to restart as long as threats from the United States continue, stated Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, following the warning by US President Donald Trump that he would "finish the job" if a deal is not reached. "Negotiations for a definitive agreement will not begin as long as threats continue. Honor your signature," Abbas Araghchi wrote in a post on the X platform.
Netanyahu to the US urgently
In the meantime, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is planning to travel urgently to the US. According to information from the Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahronot, Netanyahu will meet with Trump at the White House a few days after the completion of the NATO Summit to be held on July 7-8 in Turkey. The newspaper reports that Netanyahu wishes for the meeting to take place as soon as possible for several reasons. The most important, according to the publication, is the restoration of trust that has been disrupted between himself and Trump following the war with Iran. It is clear that relations between Netanyahu and Trump have deteriorated over the past month, with the main cause being their differing approaches toward Iran. 
Netanyahu was the one who convinced Trump to attack Iran. However, members of the MAGA movement, and particularly J. D. Vance, Trump's vice president, had opposed the war. For this reason, after the failure of the 39-day war, Trump preferred to align with his associates who supported de-escalation and to pursue a deal with Iran. This development, however, does not meet Netanyahu's expectations. Part of the mutual understanding between Iran and the United States involves restricting Israeli military actions in Lebanon. However, Netanyahu not only did not restrict operations, but intensified them instead. As a result, disagreements between the United States and Israel widened, leading at times even to public tensions between Netanyahu and Trump.
The need to restore relations
Netanyahu knows that to maintain his influence, he must first restore his relations with Trump. He estimates that the region is entering a particularly critical period and that, if Trump reaches a final agreement with Iran, Israel may lose significant capabilities to exert pressure toward Tehran. Given that negotiations between Iran and the United States have begun and are expected to culminate in the coming days, Netanyahu seeks to meet Trump immediately, improve their relations, influence the decisions of the American president, and prevent the conclusion of a final agreement with Iran.
"A wizard named Netanyahu"
Netanyahu has proven that he possesses a great ability to influence Trump. Through what is described as "indirect psychological influence," he attempts to steer his thinking in the direction he desires. Trump possesses "narcissistic" and "authoritarian" personality traits, desires to receive praise, and wants to feel that he fully controls developments. At the same time, he maintains that the United States won the 39-day war.
He will push for a new military operation
Based on this perception, Netanyahu is attempting to convince Trump that the war has not yet finished and that a new military operation is required so that its outcome is definitively in favor of the US-Israeli coalition. According to the publication, with a similar strategy, he had managed in the past to convince Trump to support the 39-day war. At the same time, Netanyahu seeks to present the latest information from the Israeli intelligence services to the American side before the resumption of negotiations between Washington and Tehran, in an effort to influence the stance of the US toward Iran. Under these circumstances, Netanyahu's visit to the United States could aim both at restoring relations between Tel Aviv and Washington and creating the conditions either for a new agreement or even for a new military confrontation with Iran. Netanyahu possesses a significant ability to influence Trump, something he has already proven.
Possible third round of Iran–US talks in Islamabad on July 14 and 15
The Pakistani newspaper Pakistan Observer claimed that the third round of talks between Iran and the United States may take place in Islamabad on July 14 and 15. According to the Pakistan Observer, the third round of talks may take place after the funeral of Iran's "martyr leader", Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. The two previous rounds of technical talks tookποιηθηκαν, according to the publication, in Burgen Stutch and in Doha, Qatar, where officials from both sides exchanged views on a wide range of technical and diplomatic issues. The release of frozen Iranian funds, as well as the status of the Strait of Hormuz, constituted core topics of the recent technical talks between Iran and the United States in Doha. At the same time, before the third round of negotiations, a high-ranking Iranian delegation led by Iranian Interior Minister Alexander Momeni is expected to travel to Pakistan in the coming days, following the leader's funeral. The visit had been announced earlier during a joint press conference of Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsen Naghavi and Iranian officials, during the Pakistani minister's visit to Iran. According to the publication, the Iranian mission will be composed of representatives from the ministries of Agriculture, Industry, Mines and Trade, Urban Development, Development, and Foreign Affairs, as well as representatives from the sectors of Culture, Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, aiming to strengthen bilateral relations. Previously, information had circulated that the next round of talks would take place on July 11. However, the Pakistan Observer now reports July 14 and 15 as the probable dates.
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