Trump on the Strait of Hormuz being open:

It's open if people want to go through it.

It's only close for Iran, both in and out.

We're coming up with great alternatives, including Texas and Alaska.

Trump:

I don't want to negotiate now.

Trump:

We're being very careful with the civilian population, as you know.

But I said, "You better make a deal. You're not going to have anything left."

President Trump held a Situation Room meeting Tuesday to discuss plans for a much broader U.S. offensive against Iran, including strikes on strategic targets beyond the current campaign in the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump also said the U.S. plans to escalate attacks over the coming days unless Iran agrees to negotiate over its nuclear program.

Source: Axios

WATCH: An Iranian Shahed-136 drone strikes an oil storage facility in Kuwait.

CENTCOM releases footage of its overnight strikes on Iran.

Senate Democrats blocked debate on the annual defence bill in a 50-46 vote, arguing Congress should not advance a $1.15 trillion military budget while Trump expands the war on Iran.

They also opposed provisions to deepen US military ties with Israel, including expanded intelligence sharing, closer defence technology cooperation and greater integration between the two militaries.

The Pentagon has publicly estimated the war with Iran has cost about $30 billion, but internal U.S. estimates put the total cost at $80–100 billion.

Source: NBC News

The U.S. House voted 308–117 to approve the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time permanent and end the twice-yearly clock changes.

The bill now moves to the Senate.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth blocked the promotions of seven senior Navy officers—including five women or people of color—without publicly explaining why.

The move means no active-duty female Navy officer is likely to be promoted to admiral this year for the first time in over a decade.

Source: NYT

Netanyahu:

Lindsey Graham's death is a great loss for Israel.

Netanyahu:

Israel is the one country in the Middle East that is holding the Middle East together.

We are preventing Islamist radicals from taking over the Arabian Peninsula, Jordan, and Egypt.

Netanyahu:

If you compare to where we were on October 7th, Israel has had the greatest comeback in history.

Netanyahu:

Hamas burned our babies alive.

Netanyahu on Turkish President Erdogan:

I don't think Erdogan should get any weapons.

He makes his own.

Q: Zohran Mamdani has threatened to arrest you time and time again. Are you nervous that he may try that when you come here in September for the UN General Assembly?

Netanyahu: No, I'm not.

Netanyahu on Zohran Mamdani:

I think Zohran Mamdani secretly hates America.

Netanyahu:

I intend to be around for a long time.