★USA

1. U.S. Hits 170 Iranian Targets In Two Nights

CENTCOM said U.S. forces completed a second night of strikes on Iran, hitting nearly 90 military targets along the Iranian coast after striking about 80 targets the night before. The latest round targeted air defenses, coastal surveillance assets, missile and drone storage sites, naval capabilities, and military logistics infrastructure, while the earlier round hit more than 60 IRGC small boats. 

2. White House Shifts From Nuclear Campaign To Hormuz War

U.S. officials say the conflict has evolved from degrading Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities into an open-ended campaign to secure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Officials believe hundreds of tankers exiting the Gulf gave Washington more room to escalate, even though oil prices still rose nearly 3% after the latest U.S. strikes. 

3. NATO Backs U.S. Response But Avoids Iran War

President Trump and NATO leaders addressed the Iran crisis in Ankara one day after U.S. strikes followed Iranian attacks on commercial vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, including a Qatari-linked tanker. Trump said Washington would respond much harder if Iran struck again, while NATO’s summit declaration said Tehran must never acquire a nuclear weapon and must respect freedom of navigation. Secretary General Mark Rutte backed the U.S. response but stressed NATO itself is not a party to the conflict, keeping the alliance politically aligned with Washington while avoiding formal military involvement.

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★IRAN

4. Iran Violates Hormuz Memorandum Ten Times In Twelve Days

Since signing the June 27 memorandum with Washington, Iran has carried out at least ten violations involving commercial shipping and Gulf states. The incidents include attacks on the Ever Lovely, a U.S. cargo vessel near Oman, the Qatari LNG tanker Al Rekayyat, a Saudi tanker, and a third commercial ship off Oman, followed by missile and drone attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait. President Trump said the memorandum with Iran is “over” after new Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, while describing the latest U.S. strikes as “20 times tougher” than previous attacks. Qalibaf then endorsed the escalation, warning that “if you strike, you’ll get hit” and insisting Hormuz will only open under “Iranian arrangements.” 

5. US Strikes Kill Fourteen Disrupt Rail Link Across Northeastern Iran 

US strikes killed 14 people in Iran, including eight air and naval personnel, according to Iranian authorities. The attacks also damaged the Tehran–Mashhad railway, forcing passenger services to stop while repair crews responded. Iranian officials arranged bus transport for stranded travelers as the United States said it targeted military sites along Iran’s southern coast.

6. Araghchi Warning Pulls NATO Into Hormuz Crisis

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reportedly told U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner that he could not guarantee the IRGC would stop striking ships in Hormuz. That message ended the lull and pushed Trump to order a more intensive strike on Iran. Iranian outlet Islam Times framed the Hormuz escalation as proof that Tehran is imposing a new deterrence equation against the U.S. and NATO. 

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★THE GULF

7. Saudi Arabia Studies Syria Route For IMEC Excluding Israel Corridor

Saudi Arabia is considering rerouting the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) through Syria instead of Israel, according to sources familiar with the discussions. The proposed change follows the Gaza war and stalled Saudi-Israeli normalization talks. The alternative route would connect Gulf states to the Mediterranean through Syria, bypassing Israeli territory.

8. Canada’s Prime Minister Begins Historic Saudi Visit Strengthening Ties

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Jeddah for the first Canadian prime ministerial visit to Saudi Arabia in 26 years. Carney will meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to expand cooperation in energy, investment, critical minerals, infrastructure, advanced technology, and regional issues. Bilateral trade reached 11 billion riyals ($2.93 billion) in 2025.

9. Iran Qatar Stress Diplomacy To Prevent Further Regional Escalation Risks 

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani stressed the need to avoid regional escalation during a phone call. They discussed developments in the Strait of Hormuz, emphasized diplomacy and continued coordination, following recent US-Iran clashes and attacks on shipping that included a Qatari tanker.

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★IRAQ

10. Iraq Agrees To Block Dollar Transfers Reaching Iran Allied Militias

Iraq agreed with the Trump administration to enforce stricter controls preventing US dollars from reaching Iran and allied militias, ending a four-month suspension of dollar shipments to Baghdad. The agreement requires tighter oversight of exchange companies and blocks militia access through salary payments. Cash deliveries resumed late last month.

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★SYRIA

11. Trump Starts Process Removing Syria From State Terrorism List Officially

President Donald Trump launched the process to remove Syria from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism after meeting Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the NATO summit in Ankara. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the move would enable international trade, attract investment, support Syria’s reconstruction, and mark a new chapter after decades of sanctions.

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★ Disclaimer: This publication is a digest of various news sources compiled by the Early Phoenix team and edited by Rania Kisar. The items are curated, concise summaries of news items hyperlinked within each story. The items and summaries presented do not necessarily represent the views of the American Center for Levant Studies.