Day 151 | Trump warns of return to ‘strong military action’ if Iran diplomacy fails

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Read more: Day 152 | Netanyahu, Trump hold talks as Iran vows to retain Hormuz control

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defense announced late Tuesday that it had intercepted drones targeting oil facilities in the Eastern Province over the past several hours, accusing Iran-backed groups of launching them from Iraq for the second consecutive day.

Defense Ministry spokesperson Turki Al-Maliki said that "air defenses intercepted and destroyed a number of drones over the past several hours that attempted to target oil facilities in the Eastern Province."

He added that "these terrorist attempts were once again launched from Iraqi territory and carried out by Iran-backed terrorist militias."

Riyadh had reported similar attacks on Monday and called on Iraq to prevent its territory from being used to launch attacks against the Kingdom.

While the Iraqi government announced it had opened an investigation, the "Islamic Resistance in Iraq," an umbrella group of Iran-aligned factions, denied carrying out any operation targeting Saudi Arabia.

‘Israeli’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that he had an "excellent" meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House, marking their first face-to-face talks since the war with Iran began in late February.

"I've just finished an excellent meeting with President Trump," Netanyahu said in a video statement, adding it touched on "our common goal: ensuring that Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons".

"It was one of the best conversations I've ever had with the President of the United States, our friend Donald Trump."

Newly released documentary footage shows late US Senator Lindsey Graham claiming he helped persuade President Donald Trump to launch military action against Iran and expressing strong support for the conflict.

The footage, obtained from a planned documentary by filmmaker Alex Holder and shared with the Wall Street Journal, shows Graham speaking with the production team after US and 'Israeli' strikes on Iran began on February 28.

"Look what we've done here. I almost cried," Graham said in the footage, claiming he had pushed for the decision despite opposition from some officials close to Trump.

WATCH: Unreleased documentary footage shows Lindsey Graham extremely happy that Trump finally bombed Iran.

“Look what we’ve done here. I almost cried… How long have we been pushing this?” Graham says after U.S. strikes begin.

Graham also says Trump told him the strikes were… pic.twitter.com/ULQrxwteyl

— Clash Report (@clashreport) July 26, 2026

Graham, a longtime ally of Trump and 'Israeli' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, praised the two leaders' partnership and compared them to former US President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill during World War II.

Another excerpt showed Graham speaking with Netanyahu about the possibility of expanding military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Graham told Netanyahu he would try to convince Trump to join 'Israel' in strikes against Hezbollah targets.

The footage was released after Graham's death on July 11 at the age of 71. The senator had been a prominent supporter of 'Israel' and a vocal advocate for a tougher US stance toward Iran.

‘Israeli’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump had an "extremely positive" meeting in Washington on Tuesday in which they committed to ensuring Iran never possessed nuclear weapons, a senior source in the premier's delegation said.

"It was an extremely positive meeting. The Prime Minister and President held an excellent and comprehensive discussion on the key issues of the day, first and foremost Iran," the source said in a statement to journalists.

"The leaders reaffirmed their ironclad commitment to ensuring that Iran never has nuclear weapons."

Yemen's Houthi forces said they carried out a military operation targeting the Saudi oil tanker NCC GHAZAL, accusing the vessel of violating a naval blockade imposed on Saudi Arabia.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the ship was targeted with several ballistic missiles after ignoring warnings, claiming the attack forced it to retreat and return.

Saree said the group would continue enforcing what it called a maritime ban on Saudi vessels as part of a broader escalation strategy.

Saudi response

Saudi Arabia's Cabinet said it would not tolerate threats to the Kingdom's security, national interests, or critical infrastructure, condemning attacks by "Iran-backed militias in Yemen and Iraq" targeting Saudi oil facilities and commercial vessels in the Red Sea, according to the Saudi Gazette.

The Cabinet added that Riyadh would respond decisively to hostile acts targeting its security and critical infrastructure, in accordance with international humanitarian law, customary international law, and the principle of proportionality.

Iran has warned France and the United Kingdom that any deployment of their mine-clearing vessels in the Strait of Hormuz would make them "legitimate targets," according to the country's deputy foreign minister.

The official said Iran had informed both countries that mine-clearing operations in the strategic waterway are "Iran's sole responsibility" under Article 5 of the memorandum of understanding with the United States. .

A spokesperson for Iran’s joint military command warned Tuesday that any country using frozen Iranian assets to pay for the damages in shipping will be barred from using the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump said earlier on Monday that the US would use frozen Iranian assets to pay for “the damage they did”.

"We're going to use Iran's money to pay for the damage they did. In other words, the Iran money that we control will be used to pay for damages. Sound good? Not bad, right?" Trump said on Air Force one.

“From now on, the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will not allow any of their vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz,” spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari said in a video statement released by Iranian media.

‘Israeli’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet US President Donald Trump at the White House to present intelligence on Iran’s efforts to rebuild its nuclear program at the heavily fortified Pickaxe Mountain facility near Natanz, according to a source cited by the New York Post.

The underground complex, also known as Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La and buried more than 300 feet beneath the mountain, has long been suspected of links to Iran’s atomic ambitions.

Construction began in 2020 after sabotage damaged centrifuge assembly facilities at Natanz.

‘Israeli’ intelligence assessments, reported by the Wall Street Journal and shared with the US, indicate that Iran moved thousands of uranium-enrichment centrifuges into the tunnels last fall following earlier US and ‘Israeli’ strikes on other nuclear sites.

The source told the New York Post that Netanyahu’s team would provide evidence of recent nuclear activity at the site and argue that Tehran is not negotiating in good faith during ongoing cease-fire talks.

The source added that ‘Israel’ would also share intelligence showing Iran is already rebuilding its missile and drone programs damaged by American airstrikes.

Ahead of the meeting, Trump pushed back against reports that he needed the briefing. “Well, I don’t need Bibi to tell me that. Bibi is telling me that because he wants me to stay involved,” Trump said on Fox & Friends.

He continued: “We know exactly what’s going on. But no, I heard Bibi announce that. I said, ‘Why don’t you just tell it to me? Why do you have to announce it to the world?’ I know exactly what’s going on at Pickaxe. It’s not a big problem. We took out their nuclear site, and we’ll have to take out Pickaxe if we don’t make a deal.”

Experts have warned that striking the site would be extremely difficult.

The GBU-57 bunker-buster bombs previously used against other Iranian facilities can penetrate only about 200 feet, falling short of Pickaxe Mountain’s depth.

Analysts note the site lacks the exposed ventilation shafts that made earlier targets more vulnerable, though some suggest attacking entrances or using larger munitions remains an option.

Iran has denied any nuclear activity at the location.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei called US focus on the site “nothing more than a fabricated pretext for aggression, destruction, and sabotage.”

Trump has paused recent airstrikes amid indirect talks aimed at ending conflict in the Strait of Hormuz and addressing Iran’s nuclear ambitions, while warning that military action could resume if no agreement is reached.

• Trump says US held positive talks with Iran.
• Says deal is better than destroying Iran.
• Highlights US military advantage over Tehran.
• Warns of further action if no agreement.

US President Donald Trump stated in a phone interview with Fox News that the United States has held "good talks" with Iran, asserting that securing a diplomatic deal remains a far better outcome than continuing military strikes that could destroy the remainder of the nation.

While pointing to diplomatic contact, Trump noted occasional mixed signals during negotiations. He remarked that while the US may be in the middle of great talks, Iranian representatives sometimes claim they are not speaking or have not discussed the nuclear file.

Threatens infrastructure targets

Reflecting on recent military actions, Trump declared that the US operates from a position of overwhelming strength, having eliminated Iran's air defense network alongside a substantial portion of its weaponry.

Trump issued a direct warning regarding Iran's vital infrastructure, asserting that US forces could destroy the majority of Iranian bridges in less than an hour if necessary.

Addressing Iran's heavily fortified "Pickaxe Mountain" underground nuclear facility, Trump downplayed its strategic threat, stating the site "is not a big problem" for US strike capabilities.

Trump warns against agreement breaches

Addressing domestic political dynamics, Trump acknowledged that many Republicans are urging him to press forward with continued military action against Iran.

However, Trump emphasized that if Iran fails to enter into a deal with the United States, he will return to "finish the job".

Stressing that Washington will no longer tolerate past infractions, Trump declared that Iran can no longer be permitted to violate agreements.

• Katz says US and 'Israel' have different Iran priorities.
• He orders expanded West Bank operations.
• 'Israeli' Military told to prepare refugee camp occupation.

'Israeli' Defense Minister Israel Katz revealed in an interview with 'Israel' Channel 14 that 'Israel' strongly favors striking Iran's energy infrastructure, but the United States is currently preventing such military action.

Speaking on the strategic divergence between Washington and Tel Aviv, Katz noted that the US administration maintains broader regional and global priorities regarding the Iranian file.

Expansion of West Bank offensive operations

In addition to addressing Iran, Katz announced major directives concerning military operations in the occupied West Bank, confirming he issued instructions to the armed forces to expand offensive measures across the territory.

Katz specifically stated that he instructed the military to prepare for the occupation of a West Bank refugee camp, drawing explicit parallels to earlier operations conducted in Tulkarm, Nur Shams, and Jenin.

Iranian Government Spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani visited Bushehr province and inspected the city's airport, officially announcing that the infrastructure has been taken out of operational service following a direct missile strike.

During her site visit to the southern airport complex, Mohajerani detailed the severe damage inflicted upon aviation assets stationed on the ground.

Direct strike destroys public transport aircraft 

In her statement, Mohajerani recounted observing the wreckage of a newly modernized aircraft that had been acquired to support public transportation and citizen welfare.

The spokesperson noted that a direct missile impact resulted in the complete destruction of the plane's entire fuselage, leaving behind nothing except a small fraction of the tail section.

Over 350 civil servants killed in line of duty

Following her assessment at the airport, Mohajerani met with the families of fallen service members and officials.

During the visit, she highlighted the human toll among state personnel, stating that over 350 government employees have been killed while carrying out their duties and providing services to the public during these events.

• The drone was intercepted over the Eastern Desert in accordance with the rules of engagement.
• The Jordanian Armed Forces reaffirmed their commitment to protecting the Kingdom's borders, sovereignty, and public safety.

The Royal Jordanian Air Force intercepted and shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) that entered Jordanian airspace at dawn on Tuesday, according to an official statement issued by the spokesperson for the Jordanian Armed Forces – Arab Army.

The drone was detected by the military's tracking and monitoring systems before being engaged and brought down in the Eastern Desert within the territory of the Kingdom, following established rules of engagement.

The official spokesperson emphasized that the Jordanian Armed Forces – Arab Army continue to carry out their duty in guarding the Kingdom's borders and safeguarding its national security and sovereignty.

The statement concluded by stressing that the military will not hesitate or tolerate any threat that compromises the security of the homeland or the safety of its citizens.

'Israeli' and Lebanese officials are set to meet in Rome next week for another round of US-led talks focused on implementing a framework agreement aimed at achieving a comprehensive peace between the two countries.

A US State Department official said the talks will take place in Rome from August 4 to 6, following the launch of initial "pilot zones" in southern Lebanon, where the 'Israeli' military said it transferred control to the Lebanese Armed Forces last week.

The upcoming discussions also follow a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun last week, as Washington pushes efforts to advance the agreement announced in late June.

The State Department official said the technical talks will focus on "advancing the full implementation of the framework agreement," including expanding the pilot zone process, addressing unresolved border issues, and working toward a broader peace and security agreement.

The official described the framework as "the only path to lasting peace," adding that lessons from the initial pilot zones would help improve the process before expanding it in phases.

"The first pilot zone is a concrete opportunity to deliver real progress on the ground, restoring Lebanese state authority through the verifiable disarmament of terrorist organizations and building the confidence needed for next steps," the official said.

The talks come as Washington seeks to strengthen Lebanese state control in southern Lebanon and address long-standing security concerns along the 'Israel'-Lebanon border.

'Israeli' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has arrived in Washington for talks with US President Donald Trump at the White House, before attending a memorial service for Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.

At least seven explosions were reported across Erbil in northern Iraq, including near the US Consulate, according to Iraqi media and Iran's Fars news agency. 

US President Donald Trump voices optimism over the prospects for a deal with Iran, as the two sides hold their fire for a third consecutive day. 

Asked on Air Force One how much patience he has for negotiations with the Islamic republic, Trump says: "I have a lot of patience... We'll see what happens. I think there is a good chance that something could happen."

For coverage of the previous day, visit the link below.

Read more: Day 150 | US pauses Iran strikes as diplomacy intensifies; Pentagon revises war casualty toll

This live thread has ended. Follow our online coverage of day 151 of the war.

Read more: Day 151 | Trump warns of return to ‘strong military action’ if Iran diplomacy fails