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Iran, Iraq sign cooperation deals after Iraqi PM’s White House meeting with Trump
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi on Thursday and attended an honor guard ceremony ahead of talks.
“In the presence of the President, Dr. Pezeshkian, and the Prime Minister of Iraq, the following took place,” Pezeshkian said in a post shared on X following the meeting.
“The signing of four agreements and memorandums of understanding for cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Iraq: Documents covering road transport, the Khosravi-Baghdad railway, a sister-city relationship between Tehran and Baghdad, and government management and human resources.”
Ali al-Zaidi had met with President Donald Trump on July 14 as part of a multi-day trip to Washington.
During their meeting at the White House, Trump praised al-Zaidi, saying, “This man is going to be a great leader in the Middle East, beyond Iraq. His influence is going to spread all throughout the Middle East,” according to The Associated Press.
Iran warns UK over Diego Garcia after Britain vows to defend against attack
An Iranian lawmaker warned Thursday that Britain could eventually lose control of Diego Garcia, arguing that Western powers no longer dictate the Middle East.
“The era of Sykes-Picot is long over,” Mohammad Ebrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said, referring to the secret 1916 British-French agreement that divided much of the former Ottoman Middle East.
“The day is not far when you will lose Diego Garcia, like your other colonies,” he added.
“It would be wise for the United Kingdom to reflect on the fragility of its own borders and to recognize that Iran’s capabilities extend far beyond military options,” Azizi said in a post shared on X.
His comments came after a U.K. government spokesperson said Thursday that Britain’s military would defend the country amid heightened tensions with Iran.
“Our Armed Forces are ready to keep the United Kingdom safe from any kind of attacks, whether it’s on our soil or from abroad. The U.K. stands ready 24/7 to defend itself,” the spokesperson said, Reuters reported.
“This includes operating a layered approach to air and missile defense, provided by the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force, equipped with a range of advanced capabilities and working closely with our NATO allies,” the spokesperson added.
Reuters reported that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had warned Britain about allowing U.S. bombers to operate from U.K. bases
Kuwait sounds sirens as military says air defenses intercept Iranian missiles, drones
Sirens sounded across Kuwait on Thursday after the country’s military said its air defense systems were intercepting what it described as Iranian missile and drone attacks, as regional tensions continued to escalate.
“Kuwaiti air defenses are currently confronting hostile missile and drone attacks following the sinful Iranian aggression,” the military said in a statement posted on X.
“The General Staff of the Army notes that if explosion sounds are heard, they are the result of air defense systems intercepting the hostile attacks,” it added.
Earlier Kuwait also reported repeated drone attacks near its northern border.
Brig. Gen. Saud Abdulaziz Al-Otaibi, the official spokesman for the Ministry of Defense, said the Abdali border crossing was repeatedly targeted by drones, causing material damage but no casualties.
“The Abdali border crossing was subjected to repeated targeting by hostile drones, resulting in material damage, with no human injuries recorded, praise be to God,” Al-Otaibi said.
CENTCOM intercepts more ships as US tightens blockade on Iranian ports
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said Thursday it has redirected and disabled more ships in since resuming its naval blockade of Iranian ports.
“Since resuming the naval blockade against Iran nine days ago, CENTCOM has redirected 12 commercial vessels and disabled one vessel to prevent ships from entering or leaving Iranian ports or coastal areas,” the command said in a post shared on X.
Iran flew IRGC commanders, equipment to Yemen before Houthi attacks on Saudi ships: report
Tehran flew Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders and missile and drone-related equipment to Yemen ahead of this week’s Houthi attacks on Saudi ships, Reuters reported Thursday.
Citing sources, the outlet said that between 10 and 21 IRGC personnel, including senior commanders, were aboard a Mahan Air flight from Tehran to Yemen on July 13.
“The IRGC commanders traveled there to support Houthi operations and provide training on new missile systems,” one source told Reuters.
President Donald Trump on Thursday said he was “very disappointed” in the Houthis for attacking two Saudi ships earlier this week.
Trump says Iran has ‘got some evil intentions’ after US strikes, vows no nuclear weapon
President Donald Trump said Thursday that Iran remains a threat despite recent U.S. military action, warning the regime still has “evil intentions” but is “not ready yet” to act while vowing Tehran will never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon.
Trump made the remarks during an event at EPA headquarters on the Ratepayer Protection Pledge.
“We’re doing very well against the Islamic Republic of Iran. We’re doing extremely well. They would like to do something, but I say they’re not ready yet,” Trump said.
“They need more of the same. They’re not ready yet. They got some evil intentions.”
Trump also reiterated that Iran must never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon.
“We cannot let them have a nuclear weapon,” he said. “If we did all this that I’m talking about, about your data centers, isn’t that important.”
“When they start blowing away communities, one by one, we cannot let them ever even think about having a nuclear weapon.”
“And that’s exactly what’s happening. They’ll never have a nuclear weapon.”
Trump argued the issue should have been addressed years ago by previous administrations.
“This should have been done. They’ve been saying for 47 years now—for about three years—but it should have been done for 50 years by other American presidents or other countries. Didn’t have to be us.”
“But it seems that if we don’t do it, nobody else will. But I will, and nobody else has the capability to do it either,” he said.
Chris Murphy says Senate Democrats will force votes on ending Iran war ‘week after week’
Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., told reporters that his colleagues will attempt to bring War Powers resolutions to the Senate floor “week after week” until they can succeed in ending U.S. engagement in Iran.
“We’re going to continue to force these votes in the Senate week after week after week. And as we’ve seen, more and more Republicans every single time we bring these votes, are voting to end the war,” Murphy said immediately after one such resolution failed in the Senate on Thursday.
“I think as we get closer to the election, there are going to be more and more Republicans in the House and in the Senate who are going to be willing to vote to end this war because it is deeply unpopular by a two, or three to one margin,” Murphy added.
Murphy said he hoped more Republicans voting with Democrats on this issue “will convince the president to end this disastrous illegal war.”
Leavitt says Trump won’t approve Saudi nuclear deal without Abraham Accords
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said during Thursday’s briefing that the Saudi civilian nuclear agreement will only be finalized if the Middle East nation joins the Abraham Accords.
“The energy deal is contingent on this condition as far as the president is concerned. So we’ll continue to talk with our Saudi counterparts to get the deal finalized and hopefully see them joining the Abraham Accords very soon,” she said.
The Abraham Accords, brokered by the first Trump administration in 2020, normalized relations between Israel and several Muslim-majority nations, including the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.
If the nuclear deal were to be struck with Saudi Arabia, Leavitt said it would “give priority access for American companies in the Saudi nuclear energy program, which will ultimately benefit American industry workers and supply chain.”
She also stressed Trump’s earlier statement on Thursday that the deal will not allow Saudi Arabia to enrich nuclear materials to weapons grade.
Republicans fall in line with Trump on Iran war despite rising costs and US death toll
Senate Republicans, despite a mounting death toll, surging energy prices and growing uncertainty, batted down another attempt by Democrats to handcuff President Donald Trump in his war with Iran.
Democrats pulled the trigger on yet another war powers resolution, the first since Trump resumed strikes in the Middle East, and were again unsuccessful in convincing enough Republicans to force the administration to get authorization from Congress.
Thursday’s war powers resolution was forced by Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., who argued that, “the main thing is that we need to continue to hold senators of both parties accountable for ending this senseless war.”
The Senate’s failed effort comes after Democrats in the House scored a win against Trump, where they carved off just enough Republican support to pass their own war powers resolution.
US used B-1 bomber to strike Iran on Tuesday
The United States used a B-1 bomber to strike Iran on Tuesday, Fox News confirmed.
Citing U.S. officials, Axios first reported Thursday about the U.S. military deploying the B-1 long-range bomber on Tuesday to strike Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targets in Iran.
The B-1, which is built to fly faster than the speed of sound at low altitudes and can carry more bombs than any other bomber, was launched from an airbase in the United Kingdom, according to Axios.
B-1 bombers can carry two dozen 2,000-pound bombs or dozens of cruise missiles, according to the U.S. Air Force.
Tuesday’s use of a B-1 bomber against Iran marked the first time the U.S. military has deployed the aircraft in combat since airstrikes resumed 12 days ago. U.S. officials have not publicly identified the specific Iranian sites targeted by the B-1, saying only that it struck IRGC-linked targets.
Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report.
Trump says he is considering ‘massive attack’ on Iran, even bigger than Operation Epic Fury: Report
President Donald Trump is considering launching a “massive attack” on Iran that would eclipse the first strikes the U.S. and Israel carried out in the early days of Operation Epic Fury, Axios reported.
Trump has not made a decision on this and did not say when the attack may happen if he orders it.
“I am considering a massive attack. Bigger than ever before. I am close to making a decision. We are all set for it,” Trump told Axios in an interview.
Trump also said that Israel would join the proposed operation “in two minutes if I ask them to.” He stressed that “we don’t need anybody” to help in the campaign against Iran.
Schumer says Trump is wrong when he said ‘Americans aren’t against’ the war in Iran
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said President Donald Trump was wrong to say that “Americans aren’t against the war” in Iran.
Trump made the statement on Wednesday while speaking with reporters, arguing that Americans were unhappy with high gas prices but not the war itself.
“Trump, wake up,” Schumer said on the Senate floor Thursday morning. “No one wants this war but you and your cronies and the supine Republican senators and congressmen who go along. The American people are against this war.”
Schumer continued: “They’re against seeing our men and women in uniform get killed and wounded for a war that seems to have no direction or purpose. They’re against hearing Trump and Hegseth lie about casualties, and they’re definitely against paying over four bucks per gallon of gas.”
Schumer’s comments came ahead of a vote in the Senate to consider a War Powers Resolution that would seek to end U.S. involvement in Iran.
House passes another War Powers resolution amid resumed Iran strikes; 4 Republicans join Democrats
The House of Representatives passed a War Powers Resolution on Thursday to stop President Donald Trump from continuing U.S. strikes in Iran.
The final vote was 214-208, with four Republicans voting with Democrats. They included Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Rep. Warren Davidson of Ohio, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Rep. Tom Barrett of Michigan.
The Senate will vote to bring a similar resolution the floor later on Thursday morning. Both chambers of Congress voted to advance War Powers resolutions in June, though they lacked the force of law.
Massie, the most recognizable Republican to cross the aisle, lost his primary in May to a Trump-backed challenger.
Fox News’ Kelly Phares contributed to this report.
CENTCOM shares photo of F-16 launch from Middle East, says US forces ‘remain vigilant’
U.S. Central Command, which is leading the ongoing military operation against Iran, released a photo on social media of a U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jet taking off from a base in the Middle East.
“U.S. forces remain vigilant,” CENTCOM wrote in the Thursday morning social media post.
Overnight, U.S. forces completed the 12th consecutive night of strikes on Iran, targeting maritime capabilities, missile and drone storage facilities, coastal surveillance sites, and air defense assets, according to CENTCOM.
Since the war began on Feb. 28, 18 U.S. service members have been killed. This week, the U.S. identified two soldiers killed in an Iranian attack on a base in Jordan: 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, and Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19.
Senate Democrats to force another vote on War Powers Resolution to end Iran conflict
Senate Democrats are set to force another War Powers vote Thursday morning to end U.S. involvement in Iran.
Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said the Senate will vote at about 11:30 a.m. on whether to bring the resolution to the floor.
The measure will “direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress,” according to a statement from Durbin’s office.
This will be the 12th time the Senate has voted on a War Powers Resolution related to the Iran conflict, which began on February 28 with U.S. and Israeli airstrikes that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
In June, one of the measures passed the House and the Senate but because it was a concurrent resolution, it did not carry the force of law and President Donald Trump did not have to abide by it.
Fox News’ Tyler Olson contributed to this report.
Brent crude oil hits $100 a barrel, pushing prices at the pump higher
Brent crude oil, the world benchmark, hit $100 per barrel on Thursday morning.
That marks Brent crude’s highest level since late May, before the latest escalation in fighting between the United States and Iran.
According to AAA, prices at the pump have also been rising in the U.S. A week ago, the average price for regular gasoline was $3.94 per gallon. It has since jumped nearly 4% to $4.09 per gallon.
After a late-June ceasefire collapsed earlier this month, the United States resumed its blockade of Iran and has conducted airstrikes in the country for 12 consecutive days. The renewed campaign has coincided with continued Iranian attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump says ‘US will hold Iran responsible’ if Houthis continue attacking ships in Red Sea
President Donald Trump said Thursday morning that the United States will inflict “major military punishment” on Iran if the Houthis continue attacking ships in the Red Sea.
The Houthis, an Iran-backed terrorist group in Yemen, fired at two Saudi Arabian ships on Wednesday.
“A year ago the United States of America attacked, very powerfully, the Houthis, for their interference with commerce and trade, by shooting at ships,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, referring to U.S. military operations in March and May of last year.
“Since that time, and during our conflict with Iran, [the Houthis] have acted very responsibly. Unfortunately, now they are starting up again,” Trump continued. “Please let this TRUTH serve to represent that if they do this again, the U.S. will hold Iran responsible, in that the Houthis are a Surrogate and/or Proxy of Iran, and major military punishment will be inflicted upon Iran and, of course, the Houthis, themselves. who I am very disappointed with in that they have, until now, acted very professionally and smart.”
Trump says US-Saudi nuclear deal allows no enrichment, hinges on joining Abraham Accords
President Donald Trump said Thursday the proposed U.S.-Saudi civil nuclear deal will be approved only if Saudi Arabia joins the Abraham Accords.
Trump added there would be “no enrichment of material” under the agreement and that it would be limited to non-military civilian nuclear use.
“The Civil Nuclear Deal (There will be no enrichment of material!) being made between the United States Department of Energy and Saudi Arabia, which pertains only to non-military use such as the ones that Iran and UAE (and others) already have, will be approved, but is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “The United States is not opposed to Civil (Non-Enriched) Nuclear Facilities. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Rubio urges Houthis to stay out of conflict, says Iran ‘begging’ US for another deal
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, while on his trip to the Philippines, answered questions from reporters about the Iran war.
In response to a question about the Houthis attacking two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, Rubio urged the Iran-backed terrorist group to disentangle itself from the ongoing conflict.
“I hope that they’ll stop. They shouldn’t really do that. They got suckered into this by the Iranians,” Rubio said. “The Houthis largely were smart and stayed out of all this throughout the conflict.”
“They should stay out of it,” he added. “We’ll see what happens there. Obviously, it’s not a positive development.”
Rubio also said Iran is begging the U.S. “both directly and indirectly” to strike another deal to end the fighting.
“The problem with Iran is every time they make a deal, the people that are in charge there, they either break it or they want to change it. So, it looks like they’re not ready to make a deal, so they’re going to continue to pay a price,” Rubio said.
US rushes more forces to Middle East, expanding Trump’s Iran military options: report
The U.S. is moving forces, weapons and medics to the Middle East to give President Donald Trump broader military options, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.
Citing officials, the outlet said the recent “surge” in forces and assets comes as Trump considers widening the conflict against Iran.
Special operations forces have deployed to the region from their U.S. bases, according to flight-tracking data and U.S. officials, the report said.
Squadrons of jet fighters have also been staged across the Middle East.
Bomber aircraft at bases in the U.S. and U.K. are on high alert to ramp up operations, one official said.
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