Day 185 | US and Iran trade attacks, marking first escalation in a month

US President Donald Trump reiterated that Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon, saying Tehran “won’t have a nuclear weapon” in an interview with Fox News.

Trump described Iran’s leadership as “very violent, evil people” and argued that Tehran would have used a nuclear weapon if it had acquired one.

He warned that the Middle East could have been “essentially gone,” claiming ‘Israel’ would have been destroyed and that the United States or Europe could have been targeted next.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces took “limited, precise action” against IRGC forces laying mines and posing an “imminent threat” in the Strait of Hormuz.

“In essence, Iran created the threat, and the US military eliminated it to protect civilian mariners, commercial shipping, and the free flow of global commerce,” CENTCOM said on X.

CENTCOM rejected Iran’s claim that the strikes constituted “an act of aggression.”

‘Israel’s’ Channel 13 has revealed details of what it described as a Mossad operation aimed at toppling Iran’s government. The report said the agency had pursued several projects to destabilize Tehran, including an influence campaign known as “Project Garden,” which later prompted an internal review over alleged financial mismanagement. The Mossad said the review found no evidence of embezzlement.

Following ‘Israel’s’ “Rising Lion” operation in June 2025, Mossad chief David Barnea reportedly promoted a plan codenamed “Booted Cat,” telling political leaders that removing Iran’s government was achievable. Former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was reportedly identified as a potential future leader, while the plan envisioned an ‘Israeli’ air assault in Iran’s Kurdish region to enable Kurdish forces to enter the country and potentially trigger mass protests.

Channel 13 reported that thousands of Kurdish fighters trained in ‘Israel’ for the operation. In January 2026, ‘Israel’ reportedly considered launching it amid mass protests in Iran but delayed the move over military readiness concerns. During a February meeting, US President Donald Trump reportedly asked Netanyahu when ‘Israel’ would be ready, with Barnea estimating about a year and military chief Eyal Zamir up to three years to remove Iran’s government.

Trump reportedly approved the operation, but the plan changed days later after the White House ordered ‘Israel’ to halt the entry of Kurdish forces into Iran. An ‘Israeli’ official told Channel 13, “After three days of the campaign, we received the word: Don’t.” The report attributed the decision to opposition from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and pressure from US Vice President JD Vance. An alternative plan proposed by Barnea was later considered weaker and ultimately failed to achieve its objectives, according to Channel 13.

The Jordan Armed Forces said it intercepted eight missiles that entered the Kingdom’s airspace early Monday morning. The military said its air defenses responded to the incoming threats to protect Jordanian territory.

Jordan’s Armed Forces said its air defense systems intercepted and destroyed eight missiles that entered the Kingdom’s airspace early Monday.

The military said the missiles were destroyed before posing a threat to civilians or property. It added that the interceptions were carried out based on operational assessments and established rules of engagement, with the armed forces remaining on high alert to protect Jordan’s airspace and security.

US Central Command says it has redirected 83 commercial vessels, disabled three and boarded two since reinstating its naval blockade of Iran on July 14.

The latest figures show one additional vessel was redirected over the past 48 hours, compared with 82 vessels reported on Friday.

A US source told Axios that US forces targeted Iranian military sites to prevent the deployment of sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz.

The strikes targeted two Iranian launchers on Larak Island that were reportedly being prepared to launch rockets carrying sea mines into the strategic waterway.

Iranian state television reported that missiles were launched from several locations across the country toward targets in the region.

‘Israeli’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that the “existence of the state of Israel is at stake” in the upcoming October legislative elections, amid pressure on his Likud party and its right-wing bloc.

Speaking to ‘Israel’s’ Channel 14, Netanyahu claimed his government had “changed the face of the Middle East” and said Iran would not obtain nuclear weapons as long as he remains prime minister.

Netanyahu also urged smaller right-wing parties that could split his bloc to unite, calling such a move “a huge blessing.” Recent polling has highlighted growing challenges within the right-wing camp ahead of the election.

The United States said Sunday it had carried out air strikes on Iranian rocket launchers on a small island in the Strait of Hormuz, its first attacks on Iran since late July.

"Earlier today, US forces struck two Iranian launchers on Larak Island. Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces were observed preparing to launch rockets with sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz," US Navy Captain Tim Hawkins said in a message.

Iranian border guards at the Bandar Abbas naval base prevented the transfer of 2 million liters (528,344 gallons) of diesel to a foreign vessel in the Gulf, Iran’s Fars news agency reported.

Fars said six of the main suspects in the alleged smuggling network were arrested and handed over to judicial authorities. The report did not identify the foreign vessel or provide further details about the operation.

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