United States escalates pressure on Iran amid Trump‑Netanyahu talks

Iran accused the United States of deliberately striking two Iranian humanitarian rescue vessels, Naji‑15 and Naji‑16, in the Hormozgan Strait on July 23, calling the attacks a war crime under international humanitarian law.

President Donald Trump has spoken publicly about a possible new agreement with Tehran while also meeting with senior advisers to consider intensifying U.S. strikes against Iran, citing intelligence that Supreme Leader Maj‑id Khamenei is pursuing a nuclear program. At the same time, Trump announced that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will travel to Washington for discussions, a visit that comes as the United States weighs broader military options against Tehran. Trump also used a White House journalists’ dinner to declare his intention to run for a third presidential term in 2028, reiterating that Iran and its nuclear ambitions remain a central element of his foreign‑policy agenda.