As reported by The Times of Israel on July 9, 2026, US President Donald Trump approved an expanded military operation against Iran after receiving reports from envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. According to the report, the envoys conveyed that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had stated he could not guarantee the Revolutionary Guards would halt attacks on ships and oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
The report said intelligence officials in both Israel and the United States assessed that the Revolutionary Guards’ leadership believed it could gain further concessions from Washington by maintaining pressure in the strategic waterway. Among the reported objectives was securing approval to impose passage fees on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
Following the intelligence assessment, Trump reportedly met with senior ministers and key advisers before authorizing a wider round of strikes than those carried out previously. However, according to the report, the operation was carefully calibrated to stop short of actions that would “break the rules,” signaling an effort to intensify military pressure while avoiding a broader escalation of the conflict….See More