Donald Trump speaks at the NATO Summit in Ankara as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio looks on, July 8, 2026
UPDATES: US-Israel Wars, Day 133 — Clashes Resume Between Iran and US
UPDATE, JULY 15:
I spoke with France 24 English on Tuesday afternoon about the renewed US-Iran clashes in and near the Strait of Hormuz.
I analyze the “concerning” extent of the escalation from Iranian attacks on vessels to US strikes across southern Iran to Tehran’s retaliation on Gulf States.
“We have neither all-out war nor effective negotiations at this point,” I summarize.
I focus on the status of the Strait of Hormuz with Iran’s control of the waterway and the Trump camp’s attempt to break it.
And I note the folly of Donald Trump’s statement that he will take over the Strait and charge a 20% toll, unsettling Gulf States and handing the political initiative to Tehran.
Watch from 2:40:
UPDATE 1055 GMT:
I joined Pakistan TV on Monday night for a deep dive into the state of the US War on Iran, assessing the escalation of conflict — in the midst of a supposed ceasefire — and whether talks can be revived.
The other guest is Shukriya Bradost of Virginia Tech University.
Watch from 3:33:
UPDATE 0755 GMT:
I spoke with Pakistan’s Express 24-7 on Monday about the ongoing limbo in the US War on Iran, with clashes spreading in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran, and the Gulf States.
In the 14-minute analysis with host Zunaira Azhar, I focus on the central role of the Strait as the US tries to break Iranian control, supporting the crossing of tankers without Iranian permission and trying to block an Iran-Oman deal for management of the waterway.
ORIGINAL ENTRY: I joined Saudi outlet Al Arabiya on Wednesday to analyze the “limbo” in the Trump camp’s war on Iran, with renewed clashes in and near the Strait of Hormuz and stalled talks to end the conflict.
I cut through the bluster of Donald Trump and his inner circle to explain how they still face a fundamental choice: send in ground troops to pursue “regime surrender” or accept the negotiations, based largely on Iranian terms.
I detail how the Trumpists are trying to avoid that choice by forcing open the Strait and how Iran is blocking that with its attacks on shipping, triggering US retaliatory strikes.
Watch from 19:54:
Jordan Is Becoming a New Focus in the U.S.-Iran War: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/18/world/middleeast/iran-war-jordan-attacks.html
“The Iranian attack that killed two U.S. soldiers and left one service member missing on Friday was the fourth in five days on U.S. forces in Jordan, multiple American officials said. Taken together, the attacks have wounded dozens of U.S. service members and damaged a number of helicopters. The flurry of attacks and the losses they have caused are a sign that Iranian forces not only still have ample missile stocks but have also become more adept at evading U.S. air defense systems, said the U.S. officials, who were speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss operational matters.”
Iran war cost could be as much as $100 billion: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/iran-war-cost-much-100-billion-rcna587362