The White House has begun replacing temporary barricades at its main entrance with a permanent wall as part of a broader effort to modernize and strengthen security for President Donald Trump. A White House official told CNN that the construction, located at the North Portico, could take several months to complete. Workers are also repairing exterior columns at the president’s request, and the area is currently covered with scaffolding and large printed screens.

The U.S. Secret Service had long advocated for reinforcing the northern entrance, and the project is described as a security measure rather than a decorative one. In addition, the Trump administration has submitted a proposal to encircle Lafayette Park, north of the White House, with a permanent wall to replace temporary barriers. The proposal, jointly filed by the Secret Service, the Executive Office of the President, and the Department of Homeland Security, has been sent to the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts for approval.

Following multiple assassination attempts on President Trump, the administration is also planning a 90,000-square-foot ballroom with advanced security features, including a drone port, sniper posts, and an underground bunker.

The Trump administration has expressed growing frustration over Iran’s conduct, saying the chances of reaching a nuclear agreement are diminishing. According to a Wall Street Journal report cited by Al Jazeera, Washington believes a peaceful resolution to limit Tehran’s nuclear program may no longer be possible. Senior US officials said Iran continues to violate interim maritime agreements, leaving little hope for a broader deal. President Donald Trump recently remarked that he was uncertain whether any agreement would be reached.

Officials warned that for a nuclear deal to proceed, Iran must hand over control of its underground enriched uranium to the United States. Failure to do so would mean no agreement. They also indicated that Washington has low-cost military options ready to permanently block Iran’s access to its nuclear materials.

The report underscores a deepening stalemate between the two countries, with the US signaling readiness to pursue alternative measures if diplomatic efforts fail.

The United States has attached several conditions to any future agreement with Iran, according to a senior U.S. official. Washington has made it clear that Iran must meet all American demands related to nuclear restrictions and hand over nuclear materials as required. Without fulfilling these conditions, no agreement will be signed. Despite these firm terms, diplomatic discussions between the two sides are continuing and have been described as positive and productive.

The development follows recent incidents in the Strait of Hormuz, where a memorandum of understanding was allegedly violated and a ship was fired upon. Iranian officials explained to the U.S. that a faulty component in their system caused the incident. However, Washington rejected this explanation and issued an ultimatum to Tehran. The U.S. demanded that Iran publicly declare it will never again fire on any vessel and ensure that all maritime routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, remain fully open.

The U.S. official warned that failure to comply with these conditions and maintain open sea routes would bring serious consequences for Iran.

A new survey has found that public support for Israelis among Americans has declined significantly since the Gaza war. According to the findings, only 52 percent of Americans now hold a favorable view of the Israeli people, down from 67 percent in 2022. In contrast, attitudes toward Palestinians have remained largely unchanged. The survey also indicates that most respondents view the Israeli government, the Palestinian Authority, and Hamas negatively, with disapproval of the Israeli government rising sharply in recent years.

The generational gap is particularly pronounced among younger Americans. Among those under 30, 59 percent express positive views of Palestinians, while only 32 percent feel positively about Israelis. The divide is even wider among young Democrats, with 72 percent favoring Palestinians compared to just 26 percent for Israelis. Meanwhile, young Republicans now show nearly equal levels of support for both sides, a notable shift from previous years when their backing for Israelis was much stronger.

The survey results suggest a continuing shift in US public opinion, especially among younger demographics, regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

U.S. President Donald Trump is facing a deepening crisis over his Iran policy following renewed American airstrikes in the Hormuz Strait last Wednesday. The attacks came after an assault on ships in the area, leaving Trump with two difficult choices: escalate the conflict, risking major human, economic, and political costs, or attempt to revive a flawed memorandum of understanding with Tehran that has already collapsed. The memorandum, signed just three weeks earlier and drafted by Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner, has been criticized for its vagueness and lack of enforceable terms.

As Trump travels to a NATO summit in Turkey, he has declared the Iran memorandum “finished” and called Iran “crazy,” though he left open the possibility of further talks. Analysts cited by CNN say expanding the war would be costly and risky, while economic pressure might be a more viable path. Critics within the U.S. have questioned the administration’s lack of consultation with experienced officials, and experts warn that either escalation or withdrawal could damage U.S. interests and global energy stability.

Trump’s social media threats and unverified claims of Iranian eagerness for a new deal have further fueled uncertainty about Washington’s next move.

Former US Marine Corps officer Dan Grazier said that the United States has given an appropriate response to Iran’s attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. He noted that US forces have carried out strikes on Iranian military installations along the southern coast and targeted small Iranian vessels operating in the strait. These vessels are reportedly used by Iran to obstruct ships passing without Tehran’s authorization.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Grazier explained that Iran’s advantage lies in not needing to project military power far from its shores. Even minor disruptive actions by Iran can create significant challenges for the United States and Israel. He emphasized that Washington now needs to find a way to end the ongoing conflict, describing it as a complex asymmetric war.

According to Grazier, the United States has yet to find a solution to this type of warfare, underscoring the difficulty of managing the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.

Democratic Congressman Jimmy Panetta has sharply criticized US President Donald Trump over the ongoing military conflict with Iran. In a post on social media platform X, Panetta described the administration’s actions as a major failure of diplomacy and strategic planning. He warned that renewed US strikes and Iranian drone attacks show that current negotiations are flawed and the ceasefire is ineffective.

Panetta argued that the crisis continues because the administration engaged in conflict without a clear strategy, congressional approval, or public consensus. He urged Congress to keep working to end the Iran war, ensure the Strait of Hormuz remains open, and lower oil prices for American citizens, regardless of whether the Speaker supports such efforts.

The report also notes that Jimmy Panetta is the son of Leon Panetta, who served as US Defense Secretary and CIA Director under the Obama administration.

The United States’ Strategic Petroleum Reserve has fallen to its lowest level since 1983, according to data from the Department of Energy. The decline comes as tensions between the US and Iran intensify, raising global concerns about oil supply stability and price volatility. On Wednesday, President Donald Trump acknowledged that oil prices rise whenever the US strikes Iran. That same day, Brent crude prices climbed 5.2 percent to reach 78.02 dollars per barrel, the highest since June 19.

The Energy Department reported that for the week ending July 3, the reserve dropped by 6.2 million barrels to 319.5 million barrels, far below its total capacity of 713.5 million barrels. The drawdown was part of Washington’s effort to stabilize global oil markets during the ongoing conflict with Iran and to prevent a severe crude shortage.

Analysts warn that maintaining adequate reserves is crucial for signaling market confidence. The current depletion could limit President Trump’s strategic options in managing the conflict and global oil policy.

A recent survey by the Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Research found that overall American support for Israel has dropped significantly. One in three adult Americans believe Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The poll also revealed that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, known for his strong criticism of Israel, is more popular among Jewish Americans than Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Among Jewish-American respondents, about 30 percent said Israel has committed genocide, while 49 percent disagreed. Netanyahu remains deeply unpopular among Jewish Americans, with nearly six in ten expressing dislike and only one-third viewing him favorably. In contrast, 44 percent of Jewish respondents said they like Mamdani, while 39 percent view him negatively and 17 percent had no opinion.

The survey further showed that Netanyahu’s popularity is low among the general US population, with only 20 percent expressing a favorable view and 38 percent unfavorable, while 41 percent offered no opinion.

U.S. President Donald Trump said he will not use a Boeing aircraft gifted by Qatar to return home, citing security concerns linked to Iran. Speaking to reporters at the NATO summit in Turkey, Trump stated he would instead travel on a former Air Force One plane. He claimed Iran had published a list naming him as its top assassination target and warned that Tehran would attempt to kill him if given the chance.

The statement came amid renewed hostilities between the United States and Iran, despite a ceasefire memorandum signed in June. Reports said Iran attacked ships in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting U.S. strikes on Iranian air defense systems, radar sites, and naval vessels. Iran later retaliated with attacks on several military installations in the Gulf region, though U.S. officials confirmed no American casualties.

Trump accused Tehran of repeatedly violating the ceasefire and described Iran as a regional aggressor. He warned that the U.S. could launch further military strikes and prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, even targeting its energy infrastructure if necessary.

U.S. President Donald Trump claimed at a White House press conference that he is the number one person on TikTok, citing newly released statistics. During his remarks, he jokingly referred to the platform as “Tik Tak.” However, a video he had shared earlier on his own social media did not make such a claim. That video described him as the most followed and most viewed world leader on TikTok, not the most popular user overall.

Reports indicate that the 425 billion views cited in support of Trump include all videos related to him, whether supportive, neutral, or critical, and not just those from his official account. Therefore, these views are not a direct measure of personal popularity. In terms of followers, Trump has about 16.7 million, far behind Taylor Swift’s 33.5 million. TikTok’s top creators include Khaby Lame with over 160 million followers, followed by Charli D’Amelio and MrBeast.

Trump also discussed TikTok’s Chinese ownership and potential security risks. Available data suggest he may be the most popular among world leaders, but not the top user across the platform.

A Bangladeshi expatriate named Md. Mahfuzul Haque was shot dead while delivering food in Philadelphia, United States. The incident occurred on Tuesday night in the Kingsessing area around 9:30 p.m. local time. Police arrived at the 1000 block of South Ethan Street after receiving reports of gunfire and found Mahfuzul lying on the ground with a gunshot wound to the back of his head. His car was still running, and a delivery bag was found nearby. He was taken to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead around 10 p.m.

Investigators recovered two shell casings from the scene and believe the victim was shot at close range. Police suspect the killing was targeted or planned. Three individuals dressed in black and wearing masks have been identified as suspects, though their images have not yet been released. Officers also discovered that the address where Mahfuzul was delivering food had not placed any order.

A food bag was found about one block away, but authorities have not confirmed whether it is connected to the murder.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the recent military tensions with Iran would end very soon. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday in Ankara, Turkey, during a NATO summit, Trump said he did not want a prolonged conflict with Iran. Responding to questions about the Strait of Hormuz, he noted that the region would become safer once tensions subsided and that oil tankers would soon move freely through the waterway.

Trump also told reporters aboard Air Force One that if Iran attacked any ship in the Strait of Hormuz, the United States would retaliate with twenty times greater force. At the same time, he dismissed the idea of diplomatic talks with Iran, calling them a “waste of time.” He expressed doubt about whether Iran was capable of making a deal.

The remarks highlight Trump’s dual stance of avoiding long-term conflict while maintaining a threat of overwhelming military response if provoked.

US President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran listed him as the top target on its assassination list. Speaking to reporters at a NATO summit in Turkey, Trump said a new list was released showing his name at number one. He added that due to security concerns, he would not return home on a Boeing aircraft gifted by Qatar but would instead use a former Air Force One plane.

The remarks came as tensions between the United States and Iran escalated again despite a ceasefire agreement signed in June. Reports said Iran attacked ships in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting US strikes on Iranian air defense systems, radar sites, and naval vessels. Iran later retaliated with attacks on several military installations in the Gulf region, though US officials reported no American casualties.

Trump accused Tehran of repeatedly violating the ceasefire and warned that the US could launch further military strikes if necessary. He also said Iran would never be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons and suggested possible attacks on Iran’s infrastructure or renewed sanctions if tensions persist.

US Vice President JD Vance has issued a direct warning that the United States will launch military action if Iran attempts to close the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking at a press briefing in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Vance said that any such move by Iran would trigger a firm response from US forces. He described this as the final position of the US government.

Vance referred to an earlier understanding between the two sides, explaining that the agreement required Iran to stop attacking ships in exchange for the lifting of US blockades. However, he stated that continued attacks on vessels would invite retaliatory strikes. Pointing to an incident that occurred the previous night, Vance cautioned Iran that it could either comply with the rules or face similar consequences.

He further emphasized that US measures would continue as long as Iran failed to keep the shipping route open and persisted in attacking ships, underscoring Washington’s readiness to maintain pressure until maritime security is restored.