US-Iran War Highlights: Trump claims US has ‘Total Control’ of Hormuz, calls naval blockade a ‘WALL OF STEEL’

US intelligence detected a specific threat of a surface-to-air missile attack against Air Force One as Trump prepared to leave the NATO summit in Turkey on July 8.

Intelligence also indicated that someone near the NATO summit had been spotted with a shoulder-fired missile.

Iranian operatives reportedly knew where Trump was staying in Ankara, including the specific floor of the building, according to two US officials familiar with the intelligence.

The threat was considered credible enough to trigger an extraordinary security and decoy operation to get Trump out of Turkey.

Trump initially boarded an older Air Force One in front of cameras, after saying he would use it “for old time’s sake.”

Trump then secretly left Air Force One through an airport catering truck and transferred to a smaller military aircraft.

The apparent Air Force One departure served as a decoy, while Trump’s actual aircraft left Turkey without public disclosure. (NYT)

Trump also attacked Iran's economic condition, claiming the country has “No Money” and describing it as “shot.”

He accused Tehran of relying on “FAKE NEWS” and claimed inflation in Iran had reached “300%” and was getting worse.

“Iran is all talk and no action, the Bully of the Middle East No Longer,” Trump wrote.

Trump launched a sweeping attack on Iran's military capabilities, claiming the country has “no Navy” and “no Air Force.”

He also claimed that Iran's remaining soldiers are unpaid and that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has been “decimated and fleeing.” Trump further questioned the stability of Iran's leadership.

These claims were made by Trump in social media post.

US President Donald Trump has claimed that the United States has “total control” over the Strait of Hormuz, saying Washington could retain control of the strategically vital waterway amid escalating tensions with Iran.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “The U.S.A. has total control over the Strait of Hormuz. I THINK WE WILL KEEP IT!”

Trump also described the US naval blockade as a “WALL OF STEEL”, while asserting that Iran lacks the military capability to challenge the American presence in the region.

Iran has reorganised its military to adopt a more aggressive posture abroad as efforts to end its war with the US remain stalled.

Senior military appointments by Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei signal a shift from Iran’s previous defensive approach.

Mohammad Reza Naqdi, an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps general and adviser to the force’s new commander, announced the change on state television.

Naqdi said Iran’s military must be capable of conducting operations inside enemy territory whenever conditions are favourable and orders are issued.

The developments come amid a continuing dispute between Washington and Tehran over the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

Both Washington and Tehran claim control over the vital waterway, adding to tensions as diplomatic efforts remain stalled.

The June agreement had established a 60-day period, which could be extended by mutual consent. During that period, Iran and the US were expected to negotiate a final agreement involving restrictions on Tehran's nuclear programme in exchange for the lifting of US sanctions.

Iran has rejected reports that the two sides had agreed to extend the 60-day period.

The Iranian source said Tehran did not recognise the period as having begun because, in its view, the United States violated the interim agreement shortly after it was reached.

"There is no talk of an extension because, from Iran’s perspective, there is no period that began and therefore nothing to extend," the source said. (Reuters)

Washington and Tehran remain divided over the obligations contained in the interim agreement.

The US accuses Iran of failing to honour its commitment to reopen the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global energy supplies.

Iran, meanwhile, says the US has failed to meet its own commitments, including lifting a blockade on Iranian ports and releasing frozen Iranian assets.

The disagreement has made it difficult for mediators to revive the June arrangement or establish a framework for a longer-term settlement.

Iran and the US remain divided over efforts to secure a permanent end to the war, with Tehran saying there has been no progress on reviving the June interim agreement.

The agreement called for an “immediate and permanent termination of military operations”, but President Donald Trump declared it “over” on July 7. Iran later said the deal was “suspended”.

The US accuses Iran of failing to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while Tehran says Washington has failed to lift its blockade of Iranian ports and release frozen Iranian assets.

An Iranian source cited by Reuters said mediators have discussed the US returning to the interim agreement and setting a timeframe for its implementation, but “there has been absolutely no progress”.

Islamabad says it is working to support the peace process as talks continue over the US-Iran ceasefire and disputes surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, according to Al Jazeera.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said at a news conference that Pakistan was making efforts to “bring the two parties to the negotiating table” and prevent any attempts to derail the peace process.

His remarks come as efforts continue to implement the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) intended to restore the ceasefire between the United States and Iran while addressing disagreements over the Strait of Hormuz.

Andrabi said Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and deputy foreign minister held discussions with officials from Iran, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait on August 10. He added that the Pakistani and Iranian foreign ministers discussed “efforts to promote peace and stability”.

Iran is reorganising its military to be more agile and aggressive abroad in light of its war with the US and Israel, a sign that it’s positioning for a protracted confrontation even if the current conflict ends.

This week’s raft of top military appointments marks a shift to an “offensive doctrine,” Mohammad Reza Naqdi, a general in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps who advises the force’s new commander, said an interview on state TV late Tuesday.

“Whenever the conditions are favorable and the order is issued, we must be able to take the operation into enemy territory,” he said, contrasting the approach with a pre-war doctrine that was “primarily based on defense and the preservation of the country.”

The comments are the most detailed official explanation yet of the strategy behind Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s picks for key military posts, which promoted IRGC officers known for their hardline stances on the war and the Strait of Hormuz.

— Bloomberg

Ukrainian anti-ship missiles, jet-powered aerial drones and sea drones blitzed a major Russian naval base on the Black Sea coast in a "unique" nighttime operation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, PTI reported.

"We toured the Fordow nuclear site many times to understand the site," Yossi Cohen, who served as the chief of Mossad from 2015 to 2021, was quoted as saying by Israeli media.

“According to the information available so far, three Pakistani nationals have lost their lives and one has sustained injuries in the incident. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families,” Dar said in a post on X.

Global oil inventories will tumble this quarter at more than twice the rate previously estimated as the Iran war flares again, even as the hit to demand from high prices deepens, the International Energy Agency said, as per Bloomberg.

Four drones struck the Erbil province of Iraq’s Kurdish autonomous region on Wednesday, Al Jazeera reported.

Oil prices rose on Wednesday as doubts about a U.S.-Iran peace deal and attacks on two ships fuelled concerns about disruptions to Middle East supplies, although industry data showed swelling inventories of U.S. crude.

Brent futures were up 75 cents, or 0.84%, to $89.66 a barrel by 0553 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude climbed 72 cents, or 0.87%, to $83.92. Both contracts had risen more than $1 earlier in the session.

US President Donald Trump claimed an alternative plane he used in Turkey posed greater risk, prompting questions about his safety and the aircraft's security protocols. The new Air Force One features advanced security to protect the President amid threats.

The Pentagon told the US Congress this week that airstrikes carried out by the US army in Yemen last year resulted in the death of 153 civilians, The Hill reported.

'They don't have control. We have total control. We own it. And at some point, maybe they'll do something and then they get blown away,' the US President said.

Donald Trump said, "I don't trust Iran. I'm the last person who trusts Iran. They've lied to me constantly. We have total control over the Strait of Hormuz right now. They don't have control. We have total control. We own it. And at some point, maybe they'll do something and then they get blown away. Right now, we're in a very good position..."