⚠️ TRUMP SAYS U.S. STRIKES WILL EXPAND NEXT WEEK: President Trump told Fox News that operations against Iran will expand next week, declaring: “Iran will be defeated very soon.”
U.S. officials told Reuters and The Wall Street Journal that current strikes are intended to clear the Strait of Hormuz and degrade Iranian military capabilities “in preparation for potential complex operations.”
Following briefings from senior advisers and a Situation Room meeting Tuesday, Trump is reportedly leaning toward expanding the campaign but has not made a final decision.
Options under consideration reportedly include intensified airstrikes, attacks on Iranian energy facilities and the use of U.S. forces to seize Iranian islands near the Strait of Hormuz.
📍 KHARG ISLAND AND NUCLEAR-LINKED TUNNEL COMPLEX UNDER REVIEW: One proposal involves capturing Kharg Island, Iran’s most important oil export hub. Trump reportedly discussed controlling the island during Tuesday’s meeting.
Another option is bombing Pickaxe Mountain, a heavily fortified tunnel complex linked to nuclear activity that has not yet been targeted.
The tunnels are reportedly buried 300 to 475 feet inside granite, potentially beyond the reach of existing U.S. bunker-buster bombs.
Deploying ground forces would mark a major escalation beyond the air and naval campaign conducted so far. However, reports say Trump remains hesitant to use ground troops in direct attacks against Iran.
Trump said Iran “wants to settle so badly,” adding: “We’ll find out whether or not we settle with them or we just finish it off.”
💥 CENTCOM LAUNCHES SECOND WAVE OF STRIKES: U.S. Central Command said American forces launched a second wave of strikes against Iran at 3:00 p.m. ET.
The strikes are targeting Iranian military capabilities used to threaten vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a critical international waterway.
CENTCOM said the operation is being conducted at the direction of the Commander in Chief to hold Iran accountable.
⚓ U.S. AIRCRAFT DISABLES TANKER ATTEMPTING TO REACH IRAN: CENTCOM said U.S. forces enforced the naval blockade on July 15 by disabling the unladen, Curaçao-flagged M/T Belma as it sailed through international waters toward Kharg Island.
The vessel reportedly ignored multiple warnings. A U.S. aircraft then fired Hellfire missiles into the tanker’s smokestack, disabling it and preventing it from continuing toward Iran.
The blockade resumed at 4:00 p.m. ET on July 14. During the first 24 hours, U.S. forces redirected two compliant commercial vessels and disabled one non-compliant vessel.
CENTCOM said U.S. forces remain prepared to ensure full compliance.
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