Saturday, July 25, 2026

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US President Donald Trump warned on Saturday that if his administration does not get what it wants in negotiations with Iran, it will definitely resume large-scale attacks on the country. A reporter for the French network LCI wrote on X that, in a phone interview with Trump, they had asked whether he was considering resuming a full-scale war against Iran. The US president replied: “If we don’t get 100 percent of what we want, definitely.” @ VahidHeadline 📡 @VahidOnline

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American singer Katy Perry criticized the White House for using her song “Firework” in a video of the U.S. attack on targets in Iran, saying it was used without her knowledge or consent. She added that she was deeply shocked and furious about it. On Thursday, the White House posted a video to its official TikTok account in which the “boom, boom, boom” section of “Firework” was synchronized with footage of U.S. attacks on targets in southern Iran. The White House captioned the video: “Iran was warned.” On Saturday, Katy Perry wrote on X: “I am deeply shocked and furious that ‘Firework’ was used as background music for a video of military attacks on the White House’s TikTok account. I did not approve this use, no permission was sought from me, and I do not in any way endorse or support it.” @VahidOOnLine 📡 @VahidOnline

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Axios: Trump Ordered the Military Not to Strike Iran on Friday Machine translation: Two sources familiar with the decision said President Donald Trump ordered the U.S. military on Friday not to carry out new strikes in Iran, bringing an end to a nearly two-week run of daily attacks. Why it matters: The president’s order came after he had approved attacks every day for the past 13 days. It is still unclear whether Trump’s order on Friday was a one-time decision or whether the pause will continue. ▪️ Trump’s decision signals both a willingness to give diplomacy more room and a judgment that the current level of U.S. attacks has reached the limits of its effectiveness—unless the U.S. returns to large-scale combat operations. ▪️ If Trump orders the attacks to resume, the U.S. military could be ready to carry them out in a relatively short time. ▪️ Sources said the U.S. military is still drawing up plans for a possible return to large-scale combat operations, but Trump has not yet ordered it to move in that direction. ▪️ The White House did not respond to a request for comment. What led to the news: Over the past two weeks, each afternoon Trump approved attack plans presented by the military, and the strikes were carried out within hours. ▪️ A similar plan was presented to Trump on Friday, but he did not approve it. Instead, sources said, he ordered the military not to strike. ▪️ Shortly after issuing the order on Friday, Trump told reporters at the White House that he could continue the attacks or even intensify them, including by “destroying everything they have.” ▪️ But he made clear that he believes the “smarter strategy” is to “make a deal” with Iran. ▪️ Trump said: “We’re talking to [the Iranians] right now. I think they’re getting more and more serious with each passing day. We’re fully armed and ready, but we’re talking to them.” ▪️ Later on Friday, in remarks at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, Trump said he did not think Iran was ready to make a deal at present, “but I’m ready to listen.” The latest: Trump’s order to halt the attacks came just hours after an Omani delegation arrived in Tehran on Friday to discuss new arrangements for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. ▪️ Two regional sources familiar with the negotiations said talks had made progress and a deal between Oman and Iran could be reached over the weekend. ▪️ After that, President Trump will have to decide whether to accept the proposed deal. Axios: Barak Ravid Trump’s decision signals both a willingness to give diplomacy more time and an understanding that—unless there is a return to large-scale combat operations—the current level of U.S. attacks has reached the limits of its effectiveness. BarakRavid 📡 @VahidOnline

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Government spokesperson: A change in gasoline prices or quotas is certain. Fatemeh Mohajerani, spokesperson for President Masoud Pezeshkian’s government, said a change in gasoline prices or quotas is certain and that the government will have to adopt new measures to manage fuel consumption. She said the government continues to subsidize gasoline, but that, given the need to balance consumption, a decision on how the fuel is supplied is unavoidable. @VahidHeadline 📡 @VahidOnline

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The Israeli news website Ynet reported that Israeli officials had estimated a major U.S. attack on Iran—which U.S. President Donald Trump had said he was considering—would begin Friday night and continue into early Saturday. But by the end of Friday, they had concluded that Trump had paused the attack for now and given Tehran another opportunity. According to the report, behind the scenes, Qatar and Oman put considerable pressure on the Islamic Republic to soften its position and avert what appeared to be an imminent, near-certain U.S. military operation. The report added that Israeli officials still believe the understanding between Tehran and Washington has effectively collapsed, and that the chances of reaching a lasting agreement that would compel Iran’s government to accept U.S. demands are close to zero. According to the report, from Israel’s perspective, the new opportunity Trump has given Tehran merely allows the Islamic Republic to buy a little time, and does not change Israel’s overall assessment. @VahidOOnLine 🔄 Barak Ravid: The Americans did not prepare yesterday for a broader operation in Iran. They prepared for an attack exactly the same size as the strikes carried out every night over the past two weeks. BarakRavid Iranian state media wrote about this tweet that Axios had rejected the “Hebrew media” report. But Barak Ravid himself is Israeli, and in addition to being an Axios reporter, he is also a correspondent for Israel’s Channel 12. 📡 @VahidOnline

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country’s forces had targeted a Russian warship, as well as vessels that, he said, were used to transport military cargo linked to Iran, in the Caspian Sea. In a message posted on X on Saturday, 3 Mordad, Zelenskyy wrote that Ukraine had achieved “very good” results in overnight long-range strikes in the Caspian Sea. Among the targets, he said, were vessels used “with Iran’s involvement” to transport military cargo. The Ukrainian president did not provide further details about the identity of the warship or the vessels targeted. Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) also reported that day that Ukrainian drones had struck the Filanovsky oil platform, owned by Russian company Lukoil and located in the Caspian Sea. The agency said two cargo ships, Port Olya 2 and Begi, were also hit in the operation. According to the SBU, the vessels had played a role in transporting military cargo between Russia and Iran. So far, neither Moscow nor Tehran has responded to the claims, and Ukraine’s reports have not been independently verified. @ VahidHeadline 📡 @VahidOnline

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Trump’s speech at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, excerpts about Iran, machine translation: ... They asked, “Are you staying?” I said, “Yes, I’m staying. I mean, I think I’m staying.” What else would I do? I’ve got Iran; I’ve got this, I’ve got that. All of it is going incredibly well, too. Don’t believe the fake news. We were talking earlier. I said, “We’ve hit Iran very hard. Their navy is gone; their air force is gone, too. There are 250 fewer fighter jets. 159 boats; they were good boats. I actually said, ‘Why didn’t we keep them for ourselves? We could have used them.’ But all 159 boats are at the bottom of the sea. They have no radar. Contrary to what you see, they have very few drones left. Every now and then they show things off, but they don’t have much left. By the way, they’re talking to us right now. They’d really like to make a deal. I don’t think they’re ready for it yet. I don’t think the time has come yet, but I’m willing to listen. But they cannot have nuclear weapons. We don’t want Washington, D.C., any of our cities, Israel or, frankly, the Middle East destroyed by a nuclear weapon, because I know the power of nuclear weapons. I see it; I’m allowed to see it. We will not let that happen. So, this whole thing is about not letting them have nuclear weapons.” [Applause] “And if they had one, they’d use it. If they had one, they’d use it.” --- We have a great many achievements that the media never talks about. For example, under my administration, a powerful regime that was once terrifying and relentlessly attacked America has finally been overthrown. Its former leaders have been removed, and it is now run by a gay dictator who is facing internal divisions. The White House 📡 @VahidOnline

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Tim Sheehy, the U.S. senator [and former Navy SEAL], sharply criticized the actions of the Islamic Republic, calling Iran’s government “a group of extremists and terrorists” that has taken over the country for 47 years and is spreading its hateful ideology. He said: “This regime we’re fighting doesn’t care about party politics or who you voted for. They want to kill all of us. We didn’t start this war, but we will finish it.” The U.S. senator went on to stress that sporadic missile attacks or boat movements in the Strait of Hormuz are not signs of military strength, but rather “the flailing of a crumbling empire.” @ VahidOOnLine 📡 @VahidOnline

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The French Embassy in Tehran strongly denied a claim by the English-language newspaper Tehran Times that European and Asian diplomats had held a secret meeting at the French ambassador’s residence, responding with a sarcastic remark. Tehran Times had earlier claimed that on 20 July, a meeting attended by the ambassadors of several European countries, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand had been held at the French ambassador’s residence, where the departure of British diplomats and coordination to exert political pressure on Iran were discussed. But the French Embassy flatly rejected the claim, writing to “Tehran Times reporters”: “To the esteemed reporters of Tehran Times: Next time, please check your information with your friends in Iran’s intelligence services, who have around ten cameras monitoring the French Embassy. Unfortunately, no event was held at our embassy on 20 July!” FranceenIran @ VahidOOnLine 📡 @VahidOnline

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Karim Khan, the International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor, has been suspended from his post pending an investigation into allegations of “sexual misconduct.” The ICC’s oversight body announced the news on Monday evening, 18 Khordad, adding that Khan’s suspension came after disciplinary proceedings into the allegations against him reached the stage of a conclusion. Khan, a prominent British lawyer, has repeatedly denied the allegations, which were first made in 2024. The ICC’s oversight body says its executive committee voted to refer Khan’s case to a special session of the member states, which will decide his professional future. The committee, made up of representatives from 21 member states, concluded by the required majority that Khan had committed “serious misconduct” in connection with the sexual misconduct allegations. The allegations were made by a woman who worked for Khan at the court’s headquarters in The Hague. Their emergence in 2024 caused turmoil and a crisis during his leadership of the ICC’s prosecution division. Referring the case to the court’s 125 member states is unprecedented in the history of this international judicial body and could ultimately lead to a vote on removing the prosecutor from his post. In a statement, the ICC’s governing body stressed that Khan’s suspension “does not determine the final outcome of the case.” Khan had previously stepped aside temporarily from overseeing the court division responsible for investigating and prosecuting people accused of international crimes. The statement said the executive committee based its decision on a report by a United Nations oversight body, the opinion of a panel of judicial experts, and written submissions from Khan and the complainant. The latest ruling is the most recent development in a process that has embroiled the International Criminal Court for nearly two years. @ VahidHeadline Karim Khan, 56, who was seeking the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has been accused of sexual misconduct involving a female aide. The Associated Press previously covered the sexual allegations against Khan in a series of reports; Khan has denied them. According to documents reviewed by the Associated Press, Khan had a sexual relationship with his aide and then tried to prevent her legal claims from being pursued. @ VahidHeadline 📡 @VahidOnline

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The Joint Forces Command of the Coalition announced in a statement Friday night that, in response to the Houthi militias’ “cowardly and reckless” actions in targeting commercial vessels in the Red Sea, it had carried out a proportionate military operation against the group’s legitimate military targets in Al Hudaydah Governorate. Turki al-Maliki, the Coalition’s official spokesperson, stressed that the retaliatory military operation had concluded in accordance with international law and with all operational objectives fully achieved. He stated: “The port of Al Hudaydah was not targeted, and all Yemeni ports, including Al Hudaydah, Ras Isa, and Al Salif, remain open to shipping and the entry of food aid and fuel.” He also added that Saudi Arabia would always stand by the people and government of Yemen, and warned that if the Houthis continued their hostile actions, the Coalition Command would act again “without any leniency” to protect ships and national interests. @VahidOOnLine 📡 @VahidOnline

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Machine translation: Erbil, Iraq (Associated Press) — The U.S. military said Friday that it had fired on another commercial vessel attempting to violate the blockade of Iranian ports.... ... Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for U.S. Central Command, told the Associated Press that U.S. forces disabled the M/T Lavine in the Gulf of Oman after the vessel tried at least four times to pass through the blockade. Hawkins stressed that the crew had been warned and did not follow orders. The military then fired on its engine room. It is the second commercial vessel disabled by the military since the blockade was reinstated. U.S. Central Command said it had also diverted 12 ships. .... apnews 📡 @VahidOnline

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Trump’s speech, sections related to Iran — machine translation of the subtitles in the video above U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday, 2 Mordad, that he believes the Islamic Republic of Iran is becoming “more serious every day” in its negotiations with Washington, although he stressed that the outcome of the talks is still uncertain. Saying he prefers the path of negotiation, he added: “There are two ways; I think one is wiser, but the other is probably easier.” Referring to the participation of officials such as J.D. Vance and Marco Rubio in the negotiations, the U.S. president said the main issue is “not complicated” and stressed that Iran “must not acquire a nuclear weapon.” Trump also claimed that if negotiations fail, the United States could take its actions “to a much higher level,” adding that Tehran is in a position where it is “practically forced to reach an agreement.” At the same time, he said he was in no hurry to reach an outcome and stressed that the process must proceed “properly.” @VahidOOnLine He said he trusts the statements by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin that they would not provide assistance or sell weapons to Iran. These remarks came after U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said at a Senate question-and-answer session that China and Russia are “facilitating” the Islamic Republic’s actions at various levels. Trump nevertheless told reporters that the leaders of both countries had promised him they would not get involved in the matter, adding: “I think I trust them. They don’t want to disappoint me.” @VahidOOnLine 📡 @VahidOnline

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Akbar Abdi, a film and television actor, died on Friday, 2 Mordad, at the age of 66. @ VahidHeadline 📡 @VahidOnline