Analysts have warned that U.S. President Donald Trump may be heading toward another prolonged conflict with Iran, despite his earlier pledge to avoid new wars. The report describes how U.S. and Israeli strikes have failed to achieve Trump’s stated goals of regime change or halting Iran’s nuclear program. Instead, the fighting has disrupted the strategic Strait of Hormuz, and a ceasefire and diplomatic memorandum have both collapsed within a month.

Experts cited in the report, including Ali Vaez, Lawrence D. Freedman, Vali Nasr, Aaron David Miller, and Suzanne Maloney, argue that both sides view temporary agreements as tactical pauses rather than steps toward peace. They warn that without a clear political or diplomatic plan, the conflict could become another “forever war” similar to those in Iraq and Afghanistan. The U.S. reliance on air and naval power, without ground deployment, is seen as a strategic limitation.

The analysis concludes that the Strait of Hormuz may no longer return to prewar conditions, and the U.S. might need to maintain a larger military presence in the Middle East to secure maritime routes, while Iran remains determined to sustain pressure.

The Trump administration is considering imposing a $100,000 advance fee or bond on foreign nationals applying for U.S. permanent residency, according to reports on July 16, 2026. The U.S. State Department is reviewing the proposal, which aims to make immigration more difficult for low-income applicants. The policy could initially be tested in several countries, requiring applicants to deposit the amount, refundable upon obtaining U.S. citizenship.

Officials said the bond would serve as financial security to ensure that green card holders can support themselves in the United States. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott told The Wall Street Journal that the review aligns with President Trump’s stance that immigrants must be financially self-reliant. Analysts believe the high bond amount is designed to discourage applicants from lower-income nations.

The proposal follows a series of Trump administration measures to restrict immigration, including visa suspensions for 75 countries and a blocked $100,000 fee plan for H-1B visa sponsors. A previous “Trump Gold Card” program requiring $1 million saw minimal participation, with only one approval out of 338 applications by May 2026.

The United States has approved an arms sale worth approximately $1.96 billion to Saudi Arabia, according to a statement from the US Department of State released on Wednesday. The announcement comes as conflicts in the Middle East continue to intensify, highlighting Washington’s ongoing defense cooperation with Riyadh.

In its statement, the State Department said the proposed sale would strengthen the security of a key non-NATO ally that plays an important role in achieving political stability and economic progress in the Gulf region. The department added that the move supports US foreign policy and national security objectives by reinforcing the defense capabilities of Saudi Arabia.

The report was carried by AFP from Washington, underscoring the strategic importance of the deal within the broader context of regional tensions.

Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar has introduced a proposal urging the United States to join the International Criminal Court (ICC). The move marks the first congressional counteraction against the Trump administration’s earlier efforts to undermine the war crimes tribunal through sanctions and diplomatic pressure. Omar’s bill came two days after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed his intention to dismantle the court.

Omar described the ICC as a vital instrument of justice for victims with no other recourse, emphasizing that the US should strengthen, not weaken, international justice. European lawmakers have also voiced support for the ICC, rejecting claims that it threatens US sovereignty. EU spokesperson Anwar El Anoni reaffirmed the bloc’s firm backing for the court and condemned any threats against its officials or collaborators.

The proposal coincides with lawsuits filed by two US human rights groups against the Trump administration, alleging that a 2025 executive order prevents them from cooperating with ICC investigations into alleged Israeli war crimes. Legal experts told The Guardian that the ICC lacks jurisdiction over crimes committed on US soil since the country never ratified the 2002 Rome Statute.

US President Donald Trump said Iran is making desperate efforts to reach an agreement with the United States. Speaking at a conference in Pennsylvania, he warned that if no deal is reached, the US could continue military operations. Trump asserted that everything regarding Iran is progressing well but added that Iran is not happy with the situation. He claimed that Iranian leaders want to sit for talks to end the conflict.

Trump stated that Iran is eager to reach a settlement quickly and that the US actions are displeasing to Tehran. He emphasized that the US will see whether a deal can be reached or if the matter will end without one. The president also stressed the need to accelerate production in the US defense sector.

The report noted that despite a memorandum of understanding signed under Pakistan’s mediation to halt the conflict, the US and Iran continue to attack each other, indicating ongoing tensions between the two nations.

US President Donald Trump withdrew his plan to impose a 20 percent cargo toll on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, just 24 hours after announcing it. The reversal came following urgent diplomatic outreach from Gulf leaders, including those of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Qatar, who persuaded Trump to abandon the proposal. The initial announcement had caused confusion within the White House and alarm among America’s regional allies.

Trump had earlier declared on his social media platform that the United States would act as the “guardian” of the Hormuz Strait and would charge all cargo vessels using the route. White House officials reportedly lacked clarity on how the toll would be implemented or collected. Following discussions with Gulf rulers, Trump said the countries agreed instead to increase their investments in the United States.

According to CNN, Trump’s advisers had long opposed the toll idea, fearing it could raise oil and gas prices and contradict US maritime policy. Iran, meanwhile, used Trump’s remarks to justify its own claim for compensation for securing the strait’s safety.

CNN reported that the Trump administration has repeatedly made inaccurate and contradictory claims about the ongoing Iran war. Over the past four and a half months, several confident predictions by President Donald Trump and his aides have proven false. These include assertions about controlling the Strait of Hormuz, the war’s short duration, and Iran’s willingness to negotiate.

Trump announced that the United States would soon take control of the Strait of Hormuz and impose a 20 percent cargo fee, contradicting earlier statements by Secretary of State Marco Rubio that such tolls were illegal. Advisors later persuaded Trump to withdraw the plan. His prediction of a four-to-five-week war has also failed, with no end in sight after more than four months. Trump’s shifting tone toward Iranian leaders—from calling them “reasonable” to “mad” and “evil”—reflects the administration’s inconsistent messaging.

The report further notes that expectations of an Iranian uprising did not materialize, oil prices have risen instead of falling, and Iran has regained leverage by canceling a previous memorandum of understanding. The U.S. economy has also suffered from disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.

On the 136th day of the U.S.-Iran war, President Donald Trump announced a plan to impose heavy tolls on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for American protection. Within hours, he reversed the decision after strong protests from Arab allies, highlighting growing disarray in the White House’s handling of the prolonged conflict. The war, initially expected to last only four to six weeks, has stretched into its twentieth week with no clear resolution.

Experts cited in the report describe Trump’s Iran strategy as impulsive and lacking coherent direction. Analysts from Johns Hopkins University, Brookings Institution, and other think tanks argue that Trump underestimated Iran’s resilience and over-relied on military power and social media threats. They note that his administration ignored experienced advisers and failed to anticipate Tehran’s resistance.

A recently collapsed 60-day ceasefire had aimed to open dialogue on Iran’s nuclear program but quickly fell apart. Facing domestic opposition to the war, Trump has ordered a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz and threatened strikes near Iran’s nuclear facilities, though analysts say he now appears trapped by his own inconsistent policies.

US Senate Democrats have blocked a motion to begin debate on the Trump administration’s annual defense policy bill. The vote, held on Tuesday, ended 50–46, falling short of the 60 votes required to proceed. As a result, approval of the proposed $1.15 trillion military budget has been temporarily halted.

Democratic senators opposed the bill not only because of President Donald Trump’s stance on Iran but also due to provisions that would deepen military and intelligence cooperation between the United States and Israel. They accused the administration of intensifying military actions against Iran without congressional authorization and objected to the overall size of the Pentagon’s proposed budget.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer stated before the vote that passing the bill would effectively grant the Trump administration permission to continue military operations against Iran without congressional oversight.

U.S. President Donald Trump said that military attacks on Iran will continue until he personally orders them to stop. In an interview with Fox News, he warned that if Tehran does not return to the negotiating table, American forces will begin targeting Iran’s power plants and bridges starting next week. Trump stated that if Iran refuses to make a deal, nothing will be left in the country.

During the interview, Trump added that the coming week would be very difficult for Iran, as strikes on key infrastructure are planned. He said energy facilities would be targeted last, but all power plants would be disabled and bridges destroyed until Iran agrees to negotiations.

The remarks, reported by CNN, signal an escalation in U.S. pressure on Iran and suggest that Washington is preparing for broader military action if diplomatic efforts fail.

U.S. President Donald Trump has paid $5.6 million in damages to writer and journalist E. Jean Carroll, following a federal court order. According to court documents, the payment was transferred to Carroll last week from an escrow account after all appeals against the 2023 jury verdict were exhausted. The jury had found Trump liable for sexually assaulting Carroll in a Manhattan department store in the 1990s and for later making defamatory remarks about her.

The U.S. Supreme Court recently declined to hear Trump’s appeal, prompting the presiding judge to release the compensation funds. The court’s online docket confirmed the payment on Tuesday. Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, said in a statement that they were pleased to confirm Carroll had received the compensation determined by the jury.

When asked for comment, the White House referred inquiries to Trump’s personal legal team, while his attorney Aaron Harrison did not immediately respond.

US Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a close ally of former President Donald Trump and a longtime supporter of US military operations abroad, died suddenly late Saturday night. His death came only hours after a phone call with Trump in which he reportedly said he could not die yet because he still had much work to do. His passing leaves countries such as Ukraine and Israel without a strong advocate in Congress and removes a key voice close to Trump.

According to Axios, in his final weeks Graham was actively pursuing a diplomatic initiative to normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. During his last conversation with Trump, he briefed him on a recent trip to Ukraine, where he visited a military drone production facility and met President Volodymyr Zelensky. They also discussed plans to advance a Senate bill imposing new sanctions on Russia and the progress of the Safe Act on voter verification.

Following his death, Trump ordered national flags to be flown at half-mast until the following Saturday, while South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster appointed Graham’s sister, Darlene Graham Nordone, to fill his remaining Senate term.

U.S. President Donald Trump has withdrawn his earlier decision to impose a 20 percent tariff on maritime trade passing through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Announcing the reversal, Trump said the controversial proposal would no longer proceed, marking a shift from his previous stance.

Despite canceling the tariff plan, Trump reaffirmed that existing U.S. sanctions on Iranian ports will remain in place. In a social media message, he stated that the strait will remain open to ships from all countries except Iran. He also criticized Iran’s leadership, accusing it of deceit, violence, and hostility that have led the country into deeper crisis.

Trump indicated that instead of tariffs, the United States will pursue new trade and investment-based agreements with Gulf countries as part of a revised strategy for the region.

A new Reuters-Ipsos poll has found that a majority of Americans believe the ongoing U.S. military operations in Iran could continue for a long time. According to the survey, about 79 percent of respondents—roughly eight out of every ten Americans—expect the conflict to be prolonged. This marks a significant increase from a similar poll conducted at the end of March, when 65 percent expressed the same concern, showing a 14 percent rise in just a few months.

The poll also revealed that public sentiment remains largely against the war. About 58 percent of respondents said they oppose the military campaign, while only 37 percent expressed support for U.S. air and ground strikes. When asked whether the military action has benefited the United States, 51 percent said it has not been worthwhile, compared to 24 percent who viewed it as successful. The remaining 23 percent were uncertain.

Overall, the findings indicate widespread dissatisfaction and uncertainty among Americans regarding the ongoing conflict with Iran.

US President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran has been pushed 'largely back to the Stone Age' following American military strikes. In an interview with US media outlet Newsmax, Trump said Iran’s military capabilities had been severely diminished, asserting that the country’s power had been largely stripped away.

Trump detailed the extent of the reported damage, saying Iran’s 159 naval vessels were now underwater and that all 200 of its aircraft had been destroyed. He added that Iran’s radar systems, air defense networks, and weapons production capacity were mostly wiped out, estimating an 84 percent loss in manufacturing capability. According to him, Iran is now a completely different country from what it was four months ago.

The president further stated that the US had taken Iran back to a different era within four months, though he acknowledged that Iran still retained some missiles and limited capabilities. He described Iran as the 'bully of the Middle East' that could not intimidate him.