US strikes 'on a hold,' as talks, battle for Strait of Hormuz control loom with Iran

Iran sold $11.5 billion worth of oil during the war and another $6.5 billion during the subsequent ceasefire, Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad claimed July 25, according to Reuters.

Paknejad also said the lower risk to tanker traffic during the ceasefire boosted exports and had allowed Iran to sell part of its roughly 100 million barrels of stored crude oil and gas condensate.

The combined $18 billion in sales generated more than 60% of the oil revenue projected in Iran's annual budget, Paknejad claimed, according to the outlet.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said Sunday that Tehran would maintain its support for Hezbollah as a strategic policy in a letter to the terror group's secretary-general, while declaring there was no path forward except "jihad and resistance."

“In line with the policy set by the great martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution, the Islamic Republic of Iran considers the defense of these oppressed yet powerful mujahideen [of Hezbollah] to be its strategic mandate,” Khamenei said in a series of posts shared on X.

“Today, as the nations of the world have grown weary of the tyranny and oppression of the U.S. government and the criminal Zionists, who are the destroyers of lives and generations, there remains no path forward except jihad and resistance,” he added.

The Iranian leader also said that Tehran has “designated the preservation of Lebanon’s territorial integrity and the absolute, unconditional termination of the Zionist regime’s aggression as the primary condition for any agreement to end the imposed war against the aggressive U.S.”

Cutting off funding for the Iran war is not a viable solution, but Trump administration must soon seek congressional approval for its strategy, according to Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La.

“We’re not going to abandon our men and women on the front line,” Cassidy told Sunday's CNN "State of the Union," warning against allowing Iran to control the Strait of Hormuz or rebuild its conventional and nuclear capabilities.

Cassidy said the U.S. needs an alternative to either withdrawing and empowering Tehran or continuing to spend tens of billions of dollars on a campaign that has not yet delivered clear results.

“The president needs to come to Congress, the American people, and say, ‘These are the facts,’” Cassidy said, calling for a broader debate if the administration cannot bring the conflict to a quick end.

Reopening the Strait of Hormuz and lowering energy prices would not justify allowing Iran to retain a path to nuclear weapons, Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, warned Sunday.

“The foolish trade is to say, well, we’ll have the straits open, we will have lower gas prices, but we’ll have a nuclear Iran,” Turner told ABC’s “This Week.”

Turner, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, said the White House is taking a methodical approach as it balances military force with negotiations.

He also clarified that previous U.S. strikes may have destroyed Iranian enrichment sites without eliminating Tehran’s broader nuclear ambitions.

Bipartisan frustration on Capitol Hill over how the conflict has been handled and how the White House and Pentagon have explained it was acknowledged by Turner, but he noted that “America, the United States cannot do this alone."

U.S. Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper reportedly recommended pausing the bombing campaign around the Strait of Hormuz before a massive campaign to finish the job against Iran.

U.S. officials have not publicly confirmed the recommendation, but sources indicate that 20% of the original Epic Fury targets remain.

President Donald Trump has warned Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping against helping Iran target American forces in the Middle East, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said Sunday.

“The president," Waltz told Sunday's “Face the Nation” on CBS, "has put both on notice, frankly, that they should not be assisting and that bad things will happen if they are."

Waltz pointed to the close military relationship between Russia and Iran, including Tehran’s past transfer of drones and drone technology to Moscow for use against Ukraine.

His comments came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy alleged that Russian satellite surveillance of U.S. military installations in the Gulf had been shared with Iran.

Waltz did not confirm the claim, saying Zelenskyy’s statement and Trump’s warning should “stand on their own.”

The U.S. may be using the pause in strikes on Iran to reposition forces for a larger military operation, including the possible deployment of ground troops, retired Vice Adm. Robert Harward said Sunday.

"Any singular bomb isn't the answer to the overall efforts and capabilities have, and I think the real options they may be preparing now for his boots on the ground to really show the Iranian people that we're moving to the end of this government in Iran," Harward, a former deputy commander of U.S. Central Command, told “The Sunday Briefing,” noting "he's come to the realization – he tried to MOU; he gave them the opportunity; they responded with aggression going after the Straits.

“I think the president’s preparing to go the full way on this,” Harward concluded, arguing the pause could allow the military to prepare for “the next step of escalation.”

Ending the U.S. campaign against Iran now would be a “huge mistake,” according to Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., who urged the Trump administration to maintain pressure on Tehran while avoiding the deployment of American ground troops.

“We need to stay the course, at least for a few more months,” Kennedy told CBS's "Face the Nation," arguing that Washington should not “cut and run” despite rising energy costs.

The U.S. should tighten sanctions on Iranian oil, continue its blockade and consider bombing Pickaxe Mountain, according to Kennedy.

Kennedy did criticize the timing of a U.S. civilian nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia, saying it could send the wrong message while Washington is fighting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

“The world’s on a hair trigger,” Kennedy said, adding that the Saudi deal might make sense in the future but is “not good timing” during the Iran conflict.

Despite narratives the Congress is underfunding Pentagon weapons stockpiles, the military has all the weapons it needs to continue operations against Iran, according to U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz on Sunday.

“The U.S. military," Waltz told NBC’s “Meet the Press,” "has everything that it needs to conduct this campaign as effectively as it needs to be.”

Waltz acknowledged that years of support for Ukraine and operations against the Houthis had strained some inventories, but said the Trump administration is rebuilding stockpiles and investing in cheaper munitions and new technology.

He also sharply criticized officials leaking information about U.S. weapons supplies, saying those responsible “deserve to be in jail.”

Democrats are trying to limit President Donald Trump’s ability to confront Iran, Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., warned Sunday.

“The president is going to continue to negotiate from a position of strength,” Barrasso told “The Sunday Briefing.” "But right now, the Democrats in the House and in the Senate are trying to tie the president's hands."

Democratic opposition to military funding and weapons spending could leave U.S. troops without the resources they need as tensions with Iran remain high.

"They are voting against funding for the troops, against the weapons that the troops need, and it’s disgraceful what the Democrats are doing now,” Barrasso said.

"We need to make sure that our troops are fully funded and have the resources they need to be the greatest fighting force on Earth."

Four U.S. service members have been killed and 207 injured in overseas operations since July 7, according to the Defense Casualty Analysis System.

The Pentagon database, maintained by the Defense Manpower Data Center, identifies all four fatalities as active-duty Army personnel. The figures were current as of July 25.

1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii

Died July 18 from wounds suffered in a July 17 enemy attack at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan. He was an air defense artillery officer assigned to 2nd Battalion, 55th Air Defense Artillery Regiment at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Pfc. Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas

Killed in the July 17 attack at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base. She was an air and missile defense crewmember assigned to 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery Regiment in Ansbach, Germany.

Staff Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad, 28, of Ozone Park, New York

Killed in the same July 17 attack in Jordan after initially being listed as missing. Her identity was formally confirmed July 25. She served with the same battalion as Gonzales as a signal operations support specialist.

Staff Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30, of Fayetteville, North Carolina

Killed July 19 during the controlled detonation of a downed one-way attack drone at Erbil Air Base in Iraq. He was a Patriot fire-control operator and maintainer assigned to 2nd Battalion, 55th Air Defense Artillery Regiment. The incident remains under investigation.

Calls to defund the Pentagon are immature from leftists, according to Michigan Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers, arguing the proposal would weaken the U.S. as Iran pursues nuclear capabilities and Russia and China maintain nuclear arsenals.

“It is absolutely immature,” Rogers told Fox News' “The Sunday Briefing,” pointing to the threats posed by America’s adversaries.

"It seems like they don't care about average American citizens."

Rogers made the remarks while attacking the Democratic Socialists of America’s platform and warning that major defense cuts would leave the country less prepared to confront Iran and other global security threats.

Iran and its proxies might not have the capability to shoot down Air Force One, but their repeated threats show a clear intent to target U.S. leadership, retired Vice Adm. Robert Harward said Sunday.

“That’s the great uncertainty,” Harward, a former deputy commander of U.S. Central Command, told “The Sunday Briefing.”

“They may not have the capability, and maybe they do, but the fact that they've been saying this for years and for years, we've had to provide protection to our leadership in the US because of surrogates and agents of Iran is completely unacceptable."

Harward concluded that is "indicative" of the need for regime change: "Why we have to move to a government in region in Iran, which no longer supports these policies."

Russia and China are supporting Iran with intelligence, material and other assistance as part of a broader effort to undermine the West, retired Vice Adm. Robert Harward said Sunday.

“There’s no doubt that Russia and China are involved,” Harward, a former deputy commander of U.S. Central Command, told “The Sunday Briefing.” "This is in their strategic efforts."

Harward pointed to China’s purchases of discounted Iranian oil and described the alignment among China, Russia, Iran and North Korea as “irrefutable.”

"So, of course, they're assisting and providing – enablers with material, with intelligence, anything they can get away with because it's obviously we've been in conflict with all of them for decades, and none of them want to confront us militarily," he added.

"They threaten our people in our countries, especially the Iranians.

"So, yes, I think it's pretty obvious the they mutually support each other's interests."

Any Iranian attack on Israel — whether direct or carried out through proxies — would prompt a powerful military response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Sunday.

“If Iran attacks Israel, either directly or through proxies, either with ballistic missiles or UAVs or killer drones, it will make a terrible mistake,” Netanyahu told Fox News' Maria Bartiromo on "Sunday Morning Futures."

“Israel’s response will be very, very forceful.”

Netanyahu said Iran must ultimately end its nuclear program, “with a deal or without a deal,” while backing President Donald Trump’s efforts to resolve the conflict without returning to intense fighting.

U.S.-Israeli strikes had set Tehran’s nuclear program back “a good few years,” according to Netanyahu, but he cautioned that Iran could attempt to rebuild its capabilities.

President Donald Trump will discuss the Iran war with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a White House meeting this week as both leaders weigh diplomacy against the possibility of renewed military action.

Netanyahu said U.S. and Israeli intelligence agencies are closely coordinating on Iran’s nuclear program and that he expects to hear Trump’s plans during their meeting.

“In many ways, it’s his decision,” Netanyahu told Fox Business Network’s Maria Bartiromo on "Sunday Morning Futures."

The Israeli leader said Iran’s nuclear program must be ended “with a deal or without a deal,” while warning that any direct or proxy attack on Israel would trigger a “very, very forceful” response.

Netanyahu said previous U.S.-Israeli strikes had set Iran’s nuclear efforts back several years but cautioned that Tehran could attempt to rebuild.

Technical and political consultations between Iran and Oman over the Strait of Hormuz are ongoing, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said early Sunday morning, describing the talks as productive.

The diplomatic push comes as U.S. military strikes against Iran remain “on a hold,” according to the Department of Defense.

The U.S. military said its naval blockade of Iran remains in full effect, despite the pause in attacks.

President Donald Trump has, for now, stepped back from plans to expand U.S. strikes, giving diplomacy an opportunity to work as he sits on a major assault on Iranian infrastructure.

The U.S. paused its bombing campaign in Iran after Omani officials traveled to Tehran on Friday for talks, CBS News reported, citing sources.

Reuters contributed to this report.

A U.S. Navy MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter delivered supplies to the guided-missile destroyer USS Mason during operations in the Arabian Sea, U.S. Central Command reported Sunday.

CENTCOM shared a photo of the at-sea resupply mission, which allows the warship to remain operational without returning to port.

President Donald Trump is giving Iran talks "some space," U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz told "Fox News Sunday."

"He's giving talks some space, he's giving it a little bit of room," Waltz said.

Waltz did not provide further detail on the nature of the talks, but there has been a weekend lull in the fighting between Iran and the United States.

The Pentagon paused bombing operations after 13 nights of escalating strikes and there were no weekend reports of attacks by Iran on its neighbors.

Asked about the pause, a senior official in ​Trump's administration said Saturday that the president "has always been clear that his preference is diplomacy, but he has shown Iran what will happen if they fail to come ​to the table in a serious way."

Reuters contributed to this report.

Iran is halting its attacks as long as the U.S. maintains its latest pause in strikes, a senior Iranian source told Reuters on Sunday.

The source cautioned there was “more skepticism than optimism” following the U.S. decision to pause attacks, underscoring uncertainty over whether the lull could lead to a broader diplomatic breakthrough.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said President Donald Trump is allowing negotiations more time.

“He’s giving talks some space, he’s giving it a little bit of room,” Waltz told "Fox News Sunday."

Reuters contributed to this report.

Any U.S. operation targeting Iran’s fortified nuclear facilities would carry major risks because Tehran would likely know an attack was coming and has prepared defenses, retired CIA station chief Dan Hoffman warned Sunday morning.

“There’s no element of surprise here,” Hoffman told Fox News' "Fox & Friends Weekend." “Iran would know we’re coming, and presumably they’ve got a plan to defend that site with booby-trapped explosives, among other things.”

Hoffman said intelligence on the location of Iran’s centrifuges, enriched uranium and nuclear scientists would shape the military options presented to President Donald Trump.

Those choices could include additional airstrikes or a ground operation requiring a secure air corridor and defensive perimeter.

Both approaches would be “highly risky,” he said, particularly because Iran retains dispersed ballistic missiles and drones capable of striking U.S. forces and bases across the region.

Hoffman said Trump’s national security team is likely reviewing those options ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s planned visit to Washington next week.

The U.S. is considering a highly complex military operation to seize enriched uranium from Iran’s fortified nuclear facilities, according to a New York Post report citing people familiar with the planning.

The proposed mission could require thousands of troops to secure sites, clear damaged entrances and establish protected routes while a small special operations team retrieves and transports the nuclear material.

Experts described the potential raid as extraordinarily dangerous and logistically demanding.

Iran has reportedly reinforced facilities including Isfahan with mines, booby traps and additional security forces, limiting the element of surprise.

Other potential targets include the damaged Fordo complex and a site near Natanz known as Pickaxe Mountain, where Iran is believed to have moved centrifuges.

Analysts said airstrikes or demolition missions could remain alternatives if removing the material proves too risky.

Lawmakers offered sharply different reactions to the White House’s new nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia, with Republicans emphasizing the need to preserve key U.S. partnerships in the Middle East and Democrats warning the deal could trigger a regional arms race.

Reps. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn.; Jamie Raskin, D-Md.; Mark Alford, R-Mo.; Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y.; and Shomari Figures, D-Ala., weigh in on the agreement and its broader security implications.

Supporters framed the deal as an important step in maintaining U.S. influence in the region.

Critics raised concerns about nuclear proliferation and whether the agreement could encourage other Middle Eastern nations to pursue similar capabilities.

A tanker reported a splash from an unknown projectile near the vessel while transiting the southern Red Sea, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported Sunday.

The ship and its crew are safe.

Authorities are investigating the incident, and vessels in the area have been advised to proceed with caution and report suspicious activity.

The battle over the Strait of Hormuz control has reported moved to other regions in the Middle East, including the Red Sea.

An Israeli airstrike killed a senior Hamas security official and an associate Sunday as they traveled through Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza, according to medics and police officials.

The strike killed Col. Wael El-Ledawi, who led the Hamas-run internal security service in central Gaza, and Maj. Ramez Abu Zraiq, the officials said.

The Israeli military said it had targeted a Hamas terrorist but provided no additional details.

Israel has killed dozens of members of Gaza’s Hamas-led police force in recent months, saying many were tied to the group’s armed wing and posed threats to Israeli troops.

Four Israeli soldiers have been killed by terrorists in Gaza over the same period.

The truce ended full-scale fighting but has not stopped near-daily strikes across the territory.

Reuters contributed to this report.

The U.S. military has paused its airstrikes on Iran after nearly two weeks of intensifying bombing, while diplomatic efforts have pushed forward to try to avert a return to all-out war.

But it remains to be seen whether the U.S. and Iran are at an inflection point in a mercurial conflict that will reach the five-month point Tuesday.

President Donald Trump both has threatened more strikes and said talks are pressing on.

Adding to the uncertainty is the impact of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s planned visit with Trump next week in Washington. Israel, which launched the war alongside the U.S. on Feb. 28, has been notably absent from the renewed American attacks over Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping corridor through which 20% of the world’s oil normally flows.

“The Iranians understand that perhaps it could get worse because Israel could come into the conflict,” said Michael Singh, managing director at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

On the other hand, Israel’s lack of involvement so far “may signal to the Iranians that we’re looking to limit the conflict.”

Singh, who was senior Middle East director on the National Security Council during the George W. Bush administration, said he was hesitant to read too much into the lull in fighting.

“If it turns into a multiday pause, that’ll be something significant,” he said. “But it’s hard to know. Is it an operational pause? Is it a pause to allow for some kind of behind-the-scenes diplomacy?”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.