After U.S. strikes cripple Iran’s nuclear facilities, Israel warns Tehran not to touch buried uranium—or face another wave of firepower.

Iran’s nuclear nightmare is far from over—and Israel wants to keep it that way. A senior Israeli official has revealed that enriched uranium may still be buried beneath Iran’s heavily bombed Isfahan facility, one of the key targets in the U.S.-led Operation Midnight Hammer. But the warning from Israel is clear: dig it up, and we strike again.

This explosive revelation comes as U.S. President Donald Trump continues to assert that Iran’s nuclear sites were “totally obliterated” in the June 22 attacks. While the White House maintains the line that Trump’s operation has made the world “safer,” intelligence agencies are painting a more complex picture—devastation, yes, but not total annihilation.

For Israel, that distinction is critical. Their assessment is that Iran’s nuclear program has been set back two years—but not erased. And any attempt by Iran to retrieve buried enriched uranium would be seen as a direct threat. The Israeli response? Immediate and decisive military action.

Iran, for its part, remains defiant yet constrained. President Mahmoud Pezeshkian admitted the sites were “severely damaged” and inaccessible, brushing aside the idea of immediate recovery. But in Tel Aviv and Washington, no one is taking chances.

Tehran is boxed in. Israel is on hair-trigger alert. And the U.S.—emboldened by Trump’s aggressive posture—has redrawn the red lines around Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Any movement beneath the rubble of Isfahan could ignite a new wave of fire and fury across the region.

The message to Iran is unambiguous: your program is buried, and if you dare to dig—it won’t just be cruise missiles next time.

Prime Minister Netanyahu nominates President Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize in a high-stakes bid to cement peace in Gaza. Explore the fragile ceasefire talks, regional power plays, and the stakes for Trump’s legacy.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to nominate Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize is far more than a symbolic gesture—it is a calculated move in a high-stakes political chess game amid one of the most volatile periods in Middle East history. As fragile ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas inch forward, Netanyahu’s endorsement elevates Trump’s quest for a peace legacy, even as the region remains gripped by war and uncertainty.

This nomination underscores how deeply intertwined the fates of these two leaders have become. Netanyahu needs Trump’s backing to solidify his own political standing at home and internationally, while Trump seeks a crowning achievement to validate his foreign policy credentials. Their alliance highlights the strategic imperative for both to deliver a tangible peace breakthrough—but it also reveals the peril of putting personal ambition before the complex realities on the ground.

The ongoing Gaza conflict is a brutal reminder that peace is far from assured. Netanyahu’s military gains against Iran-backed proxies have emboldened him, yet the humanitarian toll and geopolitical ripple effects remain profound. Trump’s push for a ceasefire dovetails with his broader ambitions for regional normalization, particularly with Saudi Arabia, but the delicate balance of power means any misstep could unravel months of painstaking diplomacy.

Moreover, the undercurrent of pressure from both leaders to finalize a deal masks deeper unresolved questions: What will the political future of Gaza look like? Can Hamas be contained or sidelined? And how will regional actors respond to a ceasefire that might only be a pause in a much longer conflict? The controversial proposal floated by Trump to reshape Gaza into a “Riviera of the Middle East” adds another layer of complexity—and potential outrage—that could jeopardize any peace dividend.

Netanyahu’s nomination of Trump is thus a double-edged sword: it signals a rare moment of alignment in their visions but also raises the stakes exponentially. If peace is achieved, both leaders will claim historic credit. If it collapses, their reputations will suffer irrevocably, and the region may descend further into chaos.

In the end, this Nobel Prize nomination encapsulates the essence of Middle East diplomacy today—fraught with hope, shadowed by skepticism, and propelled by the ambitions of leaders navigating a perilous path where peace and war remain inextricably linked.

Tensions escalate as Israel targets Iranian-backed Houthis after deadly drone attack on Red Sea shipping lane, with Houthis responding by firing missiles into Israel. 

Israel launches precise airstrikes on Houthi-controlled Yemeni ports amid fears of growing Iranian-backed militia threat. Houthis retaliate with missile strikes, raising stakes in Middle East’s fragile security landscape.

The volatile waters of the Red Sea have become the latest battleground in the expanding Middle East conflict, as Israel unleashed targeted airstrikes against Yemen’s Houthi rebels, striking key ports and military facilities reportedly used for transferring Iranian weapons. This comes after a brazen attack on the Greek-owned bulk carrier Magic Seas, suspected to be carried out by the Houthis using bomb-laden drone boats and rocket fire, forcing the crew to abandon ship.

Israel’s military declared that ports at Hodeida, Ras Isa, and Salif, along with a Houthi-controlled vessel rigged with radar equipment, were legitimate targets due to their use in weapons smuggling intended to strike Israeli and allied interests. The strikes signal Israel’s resolve to neutralize Iranian proxy threats in critical maritime corridors.

The Houthis responded with a missile attack on Israeli territory, which sirens warned of along the West Bank and Dead Sea regions. Although Israel claimed to intercept the missile, it reportedly impacted with no immediate casualties, escalating fears of a widening conflict.

This tit-for-tat exchange unfolds amid fragile efforts at ceasefires in the Israel-Hamas war and delicate negotiations over Iran’s nuclear ambitions. The Red Sea’s strategic importance as a global trade artery adds urgency to the conflict, with Houthi attacks threatening nearly $1 trillion worth of annual shipping.

The ongoing proxy war between Israel and Iran via Houthis in Yemen deepens regional instability and risks dragging international powers into a wider confrontation. Israel’s Defense Minister Katz’s warning that “anyone who raises a hand against Israel will have it cut off” highlights the brutal calculus at play.

As the Houthis intensify missile and drone campaigns, and Israel pushes back with precision strikes, the Red Sea corridor remains a dangerous flashpoint where global trade, regional power struggles, and militant warfare collide with deadly consequences.

Saudi Arabia inaugurates US-made THAAD system, boosting air defense alongside Israel’s recent deployment amid Iran threat.

Saudi Arabia activates its first US THAAD missile defense battery purchased during Trump’s presidency, joining regional missile defense efforts that include Israel’s recent THAAD deployment to counter Iran’s ballistic missile threats.

Saudi Arabia Joins Missile Shield as US THAAD System Goes Live Amid Iran Threat

Saudi Arabia’s Air Defense Forces announced the inauguration of its first battery of the THAAD missile defense system (credit: SCREENSHOT/X)

Saudi Arabia has officially inaugurated its first THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) missile battery, a critical milestone in the Kingdom’s effort to fortify its air defenses against missile threats — especially from Iran. This system, acquired in a landmark arms deal under President Trump’s administration, marks Riyadh’s entry into the elite club of nations equipped with America’s most advanced missile interception technology.

Built by Lockheed Martin, THAAD is designed to detect, track, and destroy short- and medium-range ballistic missiles at altitudes up to 150 kilometers, using a precision “hit-to-kill” method—colliding with targets to neutralize them without explosives. The battery’s activation follows rigorous testing and training within Saudi territory, demonstrating the Kingdom’s commitment to localizing defense manufacturing as part of its Vision 2030 plan. Significantly, Saudi Arabia has begun producing THAAD components domestically, a move that strengthens both its industrial base and the resilience of the US defense supply chain.

This development parallels a similar US deployment of THAAD to Israel in October 2024 amid escalating tensions with Iran. The Pentagon described that deployment as a clear signal of America’s “ironclad commitment” to protect Israel and American personnel from ballistic missile attacks by Tehran or its proxies. The US simultaneously inked multi-billion-dollar arms deals and expanded military infrastructure in Israel to buttress its regional ally.

Saudi Arabia’s activation of THAAD comes at a pivotal moment as Iran’s missile threats loom large over the Middle East. Riyadh’s enhanced missile defense capability not only safeguards its own airspace but also signals a growing regional alignment against Iranian aggression. With Turkey’s ambitions waning and Iran’s nuclear program under international scrutiny, the Kingdom’s THAAD inauguration is a concrete step in bolstering a collective missile shield—one where Israel and Saudi Arabia increasingly stand as frontline defenders.

In this volatile theater, the United States’ strategic arms partnerships underscore an unmistakable message: Israel and its Gulf allies are gearing up for a long, high-stakes contest with Iran — and the missile defense race is just the opening salvo.

Sharaa’s bold outreach to Israel could dismantle Turkish influence in Syria and redraw Middle East alliances.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is inching toward the Abraham Accords, signaling a seismic shift to escape Turkish control and align with Israel and the Gulf. Ankara is alarmed—and the Middle East power map could be redrawn.

In a move that’s sending geopolitical shockwaves through Ankara, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is quietly pursuing normalization with Israel—not out of ideology, but out of strategy. The goal? Sever Turkish influence and reclaim independence from the decades-old grip of Ankara’s power brokers.

The emerging pivot toward the Abraham Accords isn’t just symbolic. It’s a calculated play by Sharaa to gain Gulf support, attract post-sanctions investments, and carve out a sovereign path away from Turkey’s shadow. Dr. Hay Eytan Cohen Yanarocak of Tel Aviv University makes it clear: this is about Damascus regaining autonomy, not embracing Zionism.

Turkey, meanwhile, is panicking. From occupying northern Syrian zones to embedding its citizens and intelligence across Syrian institutions, Ankara has built a soft-colonial architecture in Damascus. Its power stretches from airports to ministers—some of whom hold Turkish passports. But if Syria formalizes ties with Israel, Turkey’s whole Syria policy unravels.

And the stakes are bigger than just Syria. Turkey wants to keep Syria, Qatar, and Hamas as part of its anti-Israel axis. A Syrian-Israeli accord would smash that triangle, isolating Turkey and Erdogan’s dreams of Islamic leadership. With Iran humiliated after its nuclear program was bombed and Hezbollah bruised in Lebanon, Turkey quietly enjoyed Israel’s demolition of Tehran’s regional influence. But now, Israel’s influence may come knocking too close to home—in the heart of Syria.

This isn’t just about peace. It’s about power. The Middle East is reshaping itself, and Erdogan knows that if Syria joins the Abraham Accords, he loses a pawn—and Israel gains a frontline friend.

The quiet war for Damascus has begun. And Sharaa’s Israel gamble could ignite the next phase of Turkish-Israeli rivalry—one not fought with rockets, but with red carpets, gas deals, and diplomatic betrayal.

New bill would authorize Trump to supply Israel with stealth B-2 bombers and 30,000-pound bunker busters to crush Iran’s nuclear revival.

Trump-era legislation could arm Israel with America’s deadliest weapons — B-2 stealth bombers and bunker busters — to neutralize Iran’s nuclear capabilities if Tehran resumes uranium enrichment.

Trump’s Bunker Bomb Diplomacy: Iran’s Nuclear Dream Faces Stealth Nightmare

A war doctrine once whispered behind Pentagon doors is now blazing into public policy: the arming of Israel with America’s most devastating non-nuclear tools—B-2 stealth bombers and 30,000-pound GBU-57 bunker busters. A bold, controversial bipartisan bill introduced by Reps. Josh Gottheimer and Mike Lawler could empower President Trump to transfer these elite weapons if Iran dares restart its nuclear program.

The implications are colossal. The United States has never shared custody of the B-2 Spirit, a flying ghost capable of penetrating the most fortified airspace on earth. Coupled with bunker busters that burrow 200 feet underground before detonation, these machines are designed for one mission: annihilate deep nuclear bunkers like Iran’s Fordow site.

The U.S. recently used this lethal combo in its surprise attack on Iran’s top three nuclear facilities—an assault Trump declared had “totally obliterated” Tehran’s capabilities. The International Atomic Energy Agency disputes that claim. Its chief Rafael Grossi admits “severe damage,” but warns Iran retains enough infrastructure to reboot uranium enrichment “in a matter of months.”

This new bill is not symbolic. It’s pre-positioning for a second strike—a green light to transfer war-fighting hardware that even NATO allies haven’t touched. Israel has the F-35s, but not the payload to eliminate underground fortresses. This legislation closes that gap, while signaling to Iran: rebuild and Israel will finish what America started.

Meanwhile, the Houthis launched another missile at Israel. U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee called for B-2s to hit Yemen again. The war theater is expanding, and Trump’s playbook is no longer about deterring enemies—it’s about vaporizing them before they can strike.

Whether deterrence or provocation, one thing is clear: the era of “strategic ambiguity” is over. Trump’s allies want Israel to carry the hammer of judgment across the Middle East.

Israel’s Mossad has escalated its psychological warfare campaign against the Iranian regime, claiming to know the identity of Tehran’s newly appointed top war commander—an individual whose name Iranian authorities refuse to reveal, citing security concerns.

In a pointed message Tuesday on its Persian-language X (formerly Twitter) account, the intelligence service wrote:

“We know exactly who he is and know him well. Unfortunately, such basic information is hidden from the Iranian people. Please send us your guesses about his name.”

The tweet directly referenced a Tasnim News Agency report earlier the same day, which stated that the identity of the new commander of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters would remain classified due to the assassinations of the last two commanders—believed to have been carried out by Israeli airstrikes.

The Shadow Commander No One Can Name

Iranian state media has offered no name, no photo, and no details about the man who now controls one of the most critical command posts in Iran’s military hierarchy. This comes just weeks after Maj.-Gen. Ali Shadmani, the last commander of Khatam al-Anbiya, was killed alongside another top IRGC official in a suspected Israeli strike.

Mossad’s taunt throws a spotlight on what critics call a widening gap between the regime and its people. While Iranian officials keep the public in the dark “for security,” Israel’s intelligence service claims to have penetrated the veil of secrecy with ease—and is flaunting it.

Psychological Ops in the Digital Age

The tweet is part of a broader Farsi-language influence campaign launched by the Mossad in recent weeks. Previous posts have:

Mocked senior Iranian officials for secretly following the account.

Offered VPN guidance to Iranian users.

Warned users not to engage with the account to avoid surveillance by Iranian intelligence.

The tone is provocative, taunting, and at times deeply personal—clearly aimed at undermining the regime’s credibility and creating friction between its leadership and the public.

A Direct Hit at Khamenei’s Narrative

Earlier in the day, the same account claimed that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had “surrendered” and approved backchannel negotiations with both the United States and Israel—a dramatic departure from his usual hardline stance. Mossad described this as “the beginning of the end of the Islamic Republic” and declared: “The countdown has begun.”

Khamenei, 86, last appeared on state TV on June 26, insisting that Iran would “never surrender.” The contrast between his public defiance and Mossad’s claims of secret negotiations is clearly part of the information war playing out online.

Behind the Curtain of a Secret War

The Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters is the nerve center of Iran’s strategic military planning. Its leadership is critical, particularly amid the aftermath of joint Israeli-American strikes that hit multiple Iranian nuclear and military targets last month.

That Iran now feels compelled to hide the identity of its top commander speaks volumes about its internal vulnerabilities. That Mossad is using this secrecy as a digital weapon shows how modern intelligence wars are being fought—not just with drones and missiles, but with tweets and narrative control.

Bottom Line

Mossad’s message is clear: “We see you.” Tehran’s refusal to name its war commander only adds weight to Israel’s campaign to frame the Islamic Republic as crumbling, paranoid, and penetrable. For the Iranian public—many of whom rely on VPNs and encrypted apps to access uncensored information—the battle for truth and trust has moved online.

Whether this campaign will shift public opinion or further destabilize Iran’s internal power structure remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: the war for hearts and minds inside Iran is fully underway.

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway through which nearly 20% of global oil passes, narrowly escaped becoming the epicenter of a major escalation in the Iran-Israel conflict. US officials have confirmed that Iran loaded naval mines onto vessels in the Persian Gulf last month—clear evidence that Tehran was seriously considering blocking the world’s most vital energy chokepoint.

While the mines were never deployed, the move revealed how quickly a regional conflict could have snowballed into a global economic crisis.

The Strait of Hormuz, only 21 miles wide at its narrowest, handles oil and gas exports from OPEC giants like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Iraq, and Qatar. Any disruption could send energy prices skyrocketing, hitting consumers worldwide and shaking already fragile markets.

This latest intelligence—first detected by the US after Israel’s June 13 missile strikes on Iran—suggests that Tehran was not bluffing when it warned of retaliatory action. Iran’s parliament even passed a non-binding motion to block the strait shortly after the US bombed three of its nuclear sites on June 22. The final decision rested with Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, and thankfully, that decision never came.

What the Mines Really Meant

The loaded mines may have served multiple purposes. They could have been a serious military preparation for a strait closure, a tactical bluff to send a message to Washington, or insurance in case Iran’s leadership chose to escalate. While it’s unclear if the mines were later offloaded, the fact they were put on ships at all signals Tehran’s readiness to weaponize the waterway.

Iran has a long history of threatening the Strait but has never closed it—likely because it relies on the route for its own oil exports. Still, its navy reportedly holds more than 5,000 naval mines and could deploy them swiftly using small, fast attack boats.

Anticipating possible retaliation, the US removed its mine-clearing ships from Bahrain—home to the Navy’s Fifth Fleet—before launching its strikes. The move suggests Washington was preparing for the worst: a direct Iranian attempt to choke off global oil flow.

A Conflict That’s Not Over Yet

So far, Iran’s retaliation has been limited—a missile attack on a US base in Qatar—but the threat of escalation remains. US officials haven’t ruled out further action from Tehran, and while the situation has calmed for now, the geopolitical risk lingers.

Iran’s quiet preparations to mine the Strait of Hormuz pulled the world to the brink of an energy crisis. Whether intended as a warning or a contingency, the move shows just how quickly local wars can threaten global stability. For now, the mines remain on standby—but so does the danger.