🛡️ U.S. ARMS PUSH, ISRAEL-SERBIA DRONES & IRAN-HORMUZ NEGOTIATIONS

🕑 Published: August 9, 2026 · 6:20 PM Israel time

🇺🇸 U.S.-ISRAEL MILITARY: CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper visited Israel and met IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and other senior military officials, according to KAN.

The Pentagon has ordered U.S. defense companies to propose significantly faster weapons production and delivery schedules as it seeks to replenish depleted munitions stocks. Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg gave industry leaders no more than 21 days to submit acceleration plans, according to The Washington Post.

Separately, Channel 12 reported that Israel's existing interceptor inventory requires the Air Force to manage risk at a high level and prioritize interceptions.

🇷🇸 ISRAEL-SERBIA DRONE PRODUCTION: Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić says Serbia plans to open a drone factory with Israel around September 15–20. Vučić contrasted the project with Ukraine's extensive drone-production capabilities, saying Serbia's project would be carried out in cooperation with Israel.

🔸 IRAN-HORMUZ NEGOTIATIONS: A diplomat from a mediating country told Axios on Friday that Iranian negotiators were awaiting final approval from Iran's Supreme National Security Council for the Oman-U.S. arrangement. "We expect this approval soon," the diplomat said.

As of Sunday, Iran said the Oman agreement remained in its "final stages," while direct U.S.-Iran negotiations had not resumed, according to Reuters.

Iran's top security body says full reopening of the Strait requires the U.S. to end threats and aggression against Iran and its regional allies, lift the blockade and sanctions, compensate Iran for wartime damage, and release frozen Iranian assets. Tehran says direct negotiations will not resume while Washington is violating the interim agreement, according to Reuters.

President Trump has privately floated ending the Iran war if Tehran fully reopens the Strait of Hormuz even without securing a nuclear agreement, according to The Wall Street Journal. The report says Iran's subsequent demands for major U.S. concessions have complicated that potential off-ramp.

The Wall Street Journal also reported that Trump believes Iran would struggle to restart its nuclear program following the destruction of its three main nuclear sites last year and that any attempt to rebuild would be detected.

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