WHO’S TALKING TO WHOM? It doesn’t bode well for a successful end of a negotiation when the two sides can’t agree on whether they are even talking. President Donald Trump for at least the fifth or maybe eighth time — depending on how you’re counting — insists that Iran is “begging” for a deal to end the war, and has agreed to the “perimeters” of an agreement.
“We are talking. Right now, we’re talking. And we’re talking at the request of Iran. This is the last chance for them to sign a good document,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office Monday. “They’re going to go quickly, one way or the other. It’s not very complex. We’re talking about the strait, the opening of the strait.”
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Iran says it is negotiating — just not with the U.S. Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said talks are underway with Oman over a temporary safe route through the Strait of Hormuz, not an agreement to open the strait on Trump’s terms.
It’s driving Trump to distraction. “[For] some reason, when they’re talking, they don’t like saying that they’re talking,” Trump complained. “So I say, ‘We’re in talks.’ Big deal, We’re in talks. And they’ll sometimes deny it, even though they spend hours and hours together talking.”
On Truth Social Trump called Iran’s leaders “unbelievably duplicitous!”
“They ask for a meeting, some would say ‘beg,’ talks begin, with more scheduled in the immediate future, and they say, openly and proudly, that they’re not having any discussions, that nothing is being talked about, and they’re only dealing with ‘Oman,’” Trump said. “They then go on to give their usual blather in saying, the Strait of Hormuz will be operated powerfully by them, when it is already completely controlled by the United States Navy.”
According to the New York Times, Iran and Oman are close to agreement whereby ships entering the Persian Gulf will have to use a channel that hugs the Iranian coast and pay a “service fee,” while ships exiting the Gulf will use a channel near Oman.
The White House “reading of reality appears increasingly disconnected from developments on the ground,” Iran expert and former Israeli intelligence official Danny Citrinowicz writes on X. “President Trump often speaks as if Iran is desperate for negotiations and that continued pressure will eventually force Tehran to back down. That assumption is not supported by Iran’s behavior.”
“Iran is not negotiating from a position of desperation. It is not pleading for a deal, and there is little evidence that it is prepared to make major concessions on Hormuz simply because of American pressure,” Citrinowicz argues.
TRUMP WANTS TO GIVE IRAN ‘LAST CHANCE’ TO STRIKE A DEAL
MOU REDUX: It appears that Trump is relying on intermediaries and mediators in the region, and that there are no direct talks involving Vice President JD Vance or U.S. negotiators Steve Wikoff or Jared Kushner.
And the goals remain remarkably similar to the failed Memorandum of Understanding Trump signed in France June 17. “The first phase is the opening of the straits. The second phase will be the denuclearization. And that will take a little while,” Trump said.
Trump insists there can not be any tolls or fees on ships transiting the strait. “I’m not going to let them charge. If anybody’s going to charge, we’ll charge. We’re the one that has total control.”
“We have a thing called a blockade … They call it a wall of steel. The United States wall of steel. And no, no, there’s not going to be charging. We’re not talking about charging at all.”
Time after time, Trump has expressed his reluctance to carry out the apocalyptic threats he continues to issue. “I want to give them every last chance before decapitation,” he said yesterday. “Very tough to do what I, what we, have planned.”
“I’m very proud of the fact that I will give people — I’ll give people a chance. This is a big move,” Trump said. “I’d rather not do it … hopefully they’ll come to their senses.”
US MILITARY OFFICIAL ASKS COLLEAGUES FOR CREATIVE WAYS TO PUNISH IRAN IN ‘UNUSUAL’ REQUEST
SHIPS STILL UNDER FIRE: While Trump continues to assert that the U.S. has “total control” of the Strait of Hormuz, international shipping continues to come under what appears to be drone attacks from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The British office of Maritime Trade Operations reported that a cargo ship reported it was “hit by an unknown projectile” off the coast of Oman in the early hours of Monday.
Meanwhile the U.S. Central Command says, “U.S. forces continue to strictly enforce the U.S. blockade against Iran,” and notes as of yesterday “CENTCOM has redirected 44 commercial vessels, disabled two, and boarded two.”
“The public comments coming from Tehran are totally different than President Trump. They sound victorious. They seemingly have no plans to give up the strait or make any nuclear compromises,” Karim Sadjadpour, an Iran expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace said on CNN last night. Iran Expert. “ And the President, on a day-to-day basis, is essentially almost debating with himself about whether a deal is imminent or he will need to take military action.
“The bottom line is, I fear that we have lost deterrence against Iran. I don’t think Tehran is taking either the President’s words or his threats seriously anymore,” Sadjadpour said.
TRUMP SAYS CHEVRON, EXXON MOBIL MAKING ‘TOO MUCH MONEY’ AMID IRAN WAR
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DEMOCRATS FUME OVER BLANCHE DEAL: The nomination of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to head the Justice Department is back on track after Blanche produced two documents that clarified the status of the proposed $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” and tax immunity agreement that prompted two senators to withhold their support.
While lame-duck Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) pronounced themselves satisfied with the written assurances that the fund was dead, and the tax agreement limited, Democrats are fuming that the documents are riddled with loopholes and provide no guarantee that the proposed fund might be revived in the future.
“It’s an attempt to deceive the public that somehow there’s been a solution. And in fact, there’s nothing to it,” Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), said on MS NOW. “If you look at the language of it and you look at Todd Blanche’s language, it’s all ‘there is no fund.’ It’s all present tense. There is no fund now and so on. Nothing about ‘there will be no fund.’”
“This supposed ‘deal’ doesn’t prevent payouts to violent insurrectionists in the future,” Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) posted on X “It doesn’t prevent the admin from bringing the slush fund back from the dead next week or using DOJ’s Judgment Fund for the same illicit purpose.”
In a written clarification, the Justice Department said the tax audit immunity agreement “applies by its terms only retroactively” to claims open at the time of the settlement and does not protect the president from examination of future tax filings. It also makes clear that only the parties that brought the lawsuit — Trump, two of his sons, and the Trump Organization — are covered by the tax agreement.”
Yesterday Trump said the audit immunity protects him from what he described as a politically motivated tax prosecution from a decade ago. “Think of it. I had a case — there’s a 10-year old case and it was settled. It was done. The case was over. I announced I’m running for president, and they terminated the settlement in Washington and they went after me.”
TWENTY-FIVE STATES SUE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OVER LATEST ROUND OF GLOBAL TARIFFS
THE RUNDOWN:
Washington Examiner: Trump wants to give Iran ‘last chance’ to strike a deal
Washington Examiner: US military official asks colleagues for creative ways to punish Iran in ‘unusual’ request
Washington Examiner: Trump says Chevron, Exxon Mobil making ‘too much money’ amid Iran war
Washington Examiner: Board of Peace demands Netanyahu cease Gaza airstrikes as Israel refuses to comply with peace plan
Washington Examiner: Twenty-five states sue Trump administration over latest round of global tariffs
Washington Examiner: Trump says Pirro ‘choked’ in Reflecting Pool vandalism case
Washington Examiner: Border wall crews ordered to stop drilling wells in New Mexico
Washington Examiner: Denmark’s military conscription ‘expanded and strengthened’ as tensions mount with DC and Moscow
Washington Examiner: Trump to create military spouse commission
Washington Examiner: Opinion: North Korea isn’t building a military line. It’s building a new Berlin Wall
Washington Examiner: Analysis: How Mohammed bin Salman earned Trump’s ear over Netanyahu
AP: Cargo ship reports being struck in Strait of Hormuz as US, Iran claims about talks diverge
Washington Post: Trump claims active ceasefire talks, but Iran denies direct negotiations
New York Times: An Emerging Deal Could Cement Iran’s Control of Strait of Hormuz
Washington Post: Trump’s National Guard deployment in D.C. set to cost additional $1.4 billion
Air & Space Forces Magazine: Air Force Seeks New Ideas for Cheap MQ-9 Alternatives by Year End
Breaking Defense: Northrop Gets $3B Framework Deal To Increase Motor Production for PAC-3, THAAD
Bloomberg: Pentagon Seeks $18.2 Billion in War Funds for Interceptors
The War Zone: Ukraine’s Fire Point CEO On How It’s Making Missiles and Drones to ‘Destroy The Russian Empire’
Defense News: Poland Readies Ukraine ‘Coalition of Willing’ Drills, Eyes NATO Support for Border Defense
Military Times: US Air Force Jet Engine Manufacturing Plagued by ‘Significant Challenges’
Oilpricecom: Iraq Leader’s Successful Visit to Washington Shows New Path Forward with U.S.”
Stars and Stripes: A-10 ‘Warthog’ Takes Final Active-Duty Flight at Arizona Air Base
Air & Space Forces Magazine: White House Nominates New 3-Stars for Air University, Deputy CSO for Ops
Task & Purpose: New Airman Records Perfect Score at a Top Air Force Intelligence School
DefenseScoop: Pentagon Exploring AI to Monitor Military Inmates’ Phone Calls
Air & Space Forces Magazine: Space Force Picks 15 Firms to Build Test and Training Infrastructure
Air & Space Forces Magazine: F-22s Visit Kadena as 18th Wing Still Awaits Arrival of F-15EX
Washington Post: Opinion: My company’s drones hit Russia — and showed what the Pentagon doesn’t know
THE CALENDAR:
TUESDAY | AUGUST 4
9 a.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual discussion: “Navigating the Strait of Hormuz Energy Crisis: Trends and Variety Across Global Policy Responses,” with Jerome Bilodeau, head of analysis for energy efficiency and inclusive transitions at the International Energy Agency https://www.csis.org/events/navigating-strait-hormuz-energy-crisis
9 a.m. 300 Army Navy Dr., Arlington, Va. — Federal Business Council Irregular Warfare Center Annual Symposium: “Threat Vectors & Critical Infrastructure,” with Derrick Anderson, assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low intensity conflict https://www.fbcinc.com/e/IWC/default.aspx
10 a.m. 1400 L Street NW — Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center discussion: “What is Driving Ukraine’s Momentum in the War?” with George Barros, director of innovation and open source tradecraft at the Institute for the Study of War; retired Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute, former U.S. ambassador to NATO and Atlantic Council board member; former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst, senior director of the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center; and Debra Cagan, senior adviser at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/what-is-driving-ukraines-momentum-in-the-war/
4 p.m. — Hudson Institute virtual discussion: “Taiwan’s Ever-Changing Security Environment,” with Liang-chic Evans Chen, associate research fellow at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research’s Division of Defense Strategy and Resources; Michael Hunzeker, director of the Taiwan Security Monitor; Can Kasapoglu, Hudson nonresident senior fellow; and Riley Walters, Hudson senior fellow https://www.hudson.org/events/taiwans-ever-changing-security-environment
WEDNESDAY | AUGUST 5
9 a.m. 25 Massachusetts Ave. NW — Google Defense Roadshow: “The AI mission advantage, with Cameron Stanley, chief digital and AI officer at the Defense Department https://cloud.google.com/events/googledefenseroadshow26
9 a.m. 300 Army Navy Dr., Arlington, Va. — Federal Business Council Irregular Warfare Center Annual Symposium: “Adversaries in the Homeland,” with National Guard Bureau Vice Chief Gen. Thomas Carden https://www.fbcinc.com/e/IWC/default.aspx
10 a.m. — Carnegie Endowment for International Peace virtual discussion: “The Russia-Ukraine War: Not Forever, But No End in Sight,” with Andrew Weiss, CEIP vice president for studies; Aaron David Miller, senior fellow at the CEIP American Statecraft Program; and Dara Massicot, senior fellow at the CEIP Russia and Eurasia Program https://carnegieendowment.org/events/2026/07/the-russia-ukraine-war-not
THURSDAY | AUGUST 6
9 a.m. 300 Army Navy Dr., Arlington, Va. — Federal Business Council Irregular Warfare Center Annual Symposium: “A Whole-of-Society Response,” with Joseph Humire, deputy assistant secretary of defense for Americas security affairs https://www.fbcinc.com/e/IWC/default.aspx
