🇺🇸🇮🇷⚡️- Reports of an explosion in Shiraz, southern Iran within the last 10 minutes.

🇮🇷⚡️- Iranian media reports the explosions were apart of controlled mining operations at a cement factory, and not the result of an attack.

🇺🇸🇮🇷⚡️- "At 6 a.m. ET today, U.S. Central Command forces began launching a wave of strikes against Iran. The strikes are designed to further degrade military capabilities Iranian forces have used to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz." - US Central Command.

6 AM Eastern Time was 26 minutes ago.

🇺🇸🇮🇷⚡️- Around the same time as the explosion was reported in Shiraz, there were also some reports of explosions at Isfahan, and Chabahar, southern Iran. Although we were unable to confirm these.

🇺🇸⚡️- "As America commemorates 250 years of independence, the United States Mint will begin striking this new $1 gold coin to honor the enduring legacy of liberty and a lasting symbol of patriotism. Featuring President Trump, it celebrates the strength of American values, and the promise of a nation dedicated to preserving freedom for all." - Scott Bessent, US Treasury Secretary.

🇺🇸⚡️- "The men and women of ICE are doing a GREAT job, one that has to be done. CRIME IS WAY DOWN IN AMERICA, in many cases with numbers that haven’t been seen in decades. The Open Border Policy of Sleepy Joe Biden allowed 25,000,000 people to pour into our Country, unchecked and unvetted. Many were Criminals, and we have to get them out. In order to do this, we must be strong, tough, and smart, and we CANNOT give up one of I.C.E.’s most important and effective Crime Fighting tools, THE TRAFFIC STOP! Once we do, we are playing right into the criminal’s hands. The Radical Left Dumocrats would like to see this done, but it won’t happen on my watch. I.C.E., be judicious, fair and smart, and go back and do your very important job. Keep those Crime Stat Records coming! Remember, you are loved and respected in America. Thank you for your attention to this matter! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP" - President Trump via Truth Social.

🇺🇸🇮🇱⚡️- After pressure from the Israeli Defence Force, up to 20 US Aerial Refuelers will be allowed to park at Ben Gurion Airport, Israel, and the rest will be moved to Israeli Airforce Bases.

🇺🇸🇮🇷⚡️- Reports of an explosion in Bandar Abbas, southern Iran, about 10 minutes ago.

🇮🇷⚡️- An Iranian delegation from Tehran is heading to Qatar.

🇺🇸⚡️- Jay Clayton, President Trump's nominee for Director of National Intelligence, will have a confirmation hearing this morning.

Clayton has no previous history in the Intelligence community. He currently works as the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

During Trump's first term as President in 2017, Jay Clayton was nominated by Trump for the position of Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission. After completing his tenure as Trump's SEC Chairman, Clayton would be appointed independent director of Apollo Global Management to lead the company through a management transition period, following the revelation that its Former CEO, Leon Black, had paid Jeffrey Epstein $158 million for "Tax and Estate planning".

In November of 2024, for Trump's second term as President, Trump would nominate Clayton to be the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, New York’s top federal prosecutor.

During his time as the Attorney, Clayton's office was responsible for reviewing the Epstein Files that were *supposed* to be released after Congress passed a law requiring their release, some of which specifically mention leaders of Apollo Global Management, Clayton's former colleagues.

Former Attorney General Pamela Bondi (Fired by Trump) had also directed Clayton to lead the investigation into Democrats' involvement with Jeffrey Epstein.

Jay Clayton also signed the Justice Department's indictment of Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

🇺🇸🇮🇷⚡️- "U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) completed a morning round of strikes against Iran at 7:30 a.m. ET on July 15.

CENTCOM launched precision munitions against coastal defense systems and cruise missile storage and launch sites on Greater Tunb Island during the 90-minute wave. The strikes further degraded Iran’s ability to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz." - US Central Command.

🇺🇸🇱🇧🇮🇱⚡️- Israeli media report that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is likely to visit President Trump on Monday, July 20th, and that Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is expected to meet with Trump on Tuesday, July 21st.

🇹🇷🇮🇷🇴🇲⚡- Turkish-operated cargo vessel LUNI has broke in half and is now sinking off the coast of Iran, near Bandar Abbas.

Cause remains unknown, but likely struck an Iranian sea mine.

🇺🇸🇮🇷⚡- "Today, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is intensifying its efforts to disrupt and degrade the illicit shipping and sanctions evasion network of Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani (Shamkhani).

This action is part of Treasury’s ongoing efforts to ramp up economic pressure on the Iranian regime after it resumed destabilizing attacks in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Shamkhani network remains a major force behind Iran’s oil exports and has expanded into global containerized shipping and commodities trading," - Department of the Treasury.

🇮🇷🇶🇦⚡- Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrives in Doha.

🇺🇸🇮🇷⚡- "Since restarting the naval blockade against Iranian ports 17 hours ago, U.S. forces have redirected 2 commercial vessels attempting to run the blockade. The U.S. military remains vigilant and prepared to ensure full compliance," - U.S. CENTCOM.

🇸🇩🇸🇦⚡- "Riyadh has established an air bridge between Jeddah and Port Sudan, transferred heavy artillery and ammunition to the Sudanese Armed Forces, and facilitated the flow of explosives and military materials through its ports. Some of this support has also reached Islamist militias [al-Baraa Brigades] operating alongside the army, including groups designated as terrorist organizations by the United States," - Global Institute for Strategic Studies.

🇷🇺🇸🇾⚡- "Putin despised and grew tired of [former Syrian President ] Bashar al-Assad. Russia considered appointing his wife, Asma al-Assad, as President of Syria who had an extensive economic network connected to Moscow and was influenced by the dominance of the "men of six" [six Syrian businessmen tied to Russia] over major deals," - The Observor.

🇺🇸🇮🇷⚡- US Navy struck locations on Iran's Hengam Island, the Gulf.