US moving towards reduction of forces at Nato's disposal

Donald Trump summoned his national security advisers on Iran on Monday evening. Axios reports this, pointing out that the meeting was held just hours after the president announced that he had suspended the planned attack on Tuesday. The meeting also included a briefing on military options. According to reports by some officials, Trump had not decided to attack before announcing the suspension of the raid.

"It is not clear what" Iran wants "to achieve with the negotiations", its negotiating position is not yet clear. This was stated by Vice President JD Vance.

The Israeli political leadership expects and declares itself ready to participate in a US attack on Iran, even after US President Donald Trump said he cancelled an attack planned for today because some Gulf countries would have convinced him that a deal with Tehran could be reached. This was reported by Israeli broadcaster Channel 12. According to the report, Jewish state officials are convinced that Trump's announcement has only further narrowed his options, estimating that unless Tehran comes up with a significantly improved proposal - which Israeli authorities believe is unlikely - the president will eventually be forced to respond militarily.

"We have two paths we can take with Iran": one option is to negotiate, "option B is to restart the military campaign. Trump would not want option B." Vice President JD Vance said this, calling Iran a "complicated" country.

The United Arab Emirates stated that its air defence intercepted and neutralised six drones in the past 48 hours, accusing them of attempting to strike civilian and strategic areas across the country. The UAE Ministry of Defence clarified that the interceptions caused no casualties and had no impact on the security of vital infrastructure. This was reported by Iran International.

The Israeli army has once again called on the inhabitants of twelve towns in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley (in the east of the country) to evacuate, a few hours after issuing the first warning. The towns in question are 'Toura, Nabatieh, Habbouche, Bazouria, Tayr Debba, Kfar Hounah, Ain Qana, Labaiah, Jebchit, Chehabiye (Tayr Zibna), Bourj Al Shamali (Tyre) and Houmine El Faouqa', according to a post on X by the Israeli army's Arabic-language spokesman, Avichay Adraee.

The US is using its declarations on peace with Iran as a threatening tool against Tehran, following US President Donald Trump's statements about a possible military offensive. This was emphasised by the deputy foreign minister of the Islamic republic, Kazem Gharib Abadi. According to Trump, the US had planned to launch a military strike against Iran this Tuesday, but decided to postpone it at the request of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates to give a chance to a possible peace deal. "The US is talking about temporarily postponing the attack against Iran to give negotiations a chance, while at the same time warning that it is ready for a full-scale attack at any time. In other words, the opportunity for peace is actually a threat," the official wrote on the social network.

The US and Israeli bombings against nuclear facilities in Iran 'almost caused an irreparable tragedy and it is disconcerting that no one has been held responsible'. This was stated by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. "It is disconcerting that those who committed this atrocity not only do not feel responsible, but also continue to intimidate Tehran with new bombings to complete what they started," Zakharova said in a commentary published on the ministry's website and picked up by Russian agencies. At the same time, Zakharva noted, Russia condemns the actions of those who targeted the UAE nuclear power plant. "We strongly condemn the reckless and illegal actions of those who, as in the case of Russian and Iranian nuclear infrastructure, targeted the UAE nuclear power plant," the spokeswoman said.

Despite polls citing the war against Iran as one of the reasons for the US president's sharply declining approval ratings, Donald Trump himself claims that the conflict launched by the US together with Israel on 28 February is 'very popular. Everybody tells me it's unpopular, but I think it's very popular," he explained referring to the risk of Tehran obtaining a nuclear weapon. "I don't have enough time to explain" the war "to people. I am too busy carrying it out. Regardless of whether it's popular or unpopular, I've got to get it done," he told the press from the White House ballroom construction site. Trump also thinks 'it's important to get the nuclear powder, maybe psychologically more than anything else'. The reference is to the 440 kilograms of enriched uranium that Iran is estimated to have and that the US president would like delivered to the US as part of a deal with Tehran. Convinced that Iran 'has little capacity to fight back' because of the attacks that he says have taken out '82% of their missiles', Trump added that if he abandoned the Iranian issue now, the country would 'take 25 years to rebuild. But we're not leaving."

NATO is considering a mission to facilitate the passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz if it is not reopened by early July. This was said by a commander of the military alliance, according to Bloomberg. Commander Alexus Grynkewich said that a potential military alliance mission in the Strait of Hormuz would be a political decision. "The conditions under which NATO would consider an intervention in the Strait of Hormuz is ultimately a political decision," Grynkewich said in Brussels, where he met with the military leaders of NATO countries. The idea has the support of several Nato members, but has not yet achieved the necessary unanimity, said a diplomat from one Nato country. The leaders of the Nato countries will meet in Ankara on 7 and 8 July.

Donald Trump gives Iran 'a limited period': '2-3 days, maybe until the beginning of the week'. The US president said this while reiterating that Iran cannot have the nuclear weapon. "I have no doubt it would use it. It would be a nuclear holocaust. I will not allow that to happen on my watch," Trump added. "I was called yesterday and asked to cancel the attack because it is close to a deal. I have heard this in the past as well and then they changed their minds," the president explained referring to the call from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called on US allies to step up actions against Iran's financial networks, urging them for greater international coordination. "We call on our partners to stand with us in full," he said in a prepared speech for a conference on countering the financing of terrorism on the sidelines of the G7 proceedings in Paris. "This will require, for example, that our European partners join the United States in taking action against Iran, naming its financiers, exposing its shell and shell companies, shutting down its banking subsidiaries, and dismantling its proxy networks. Bessent also urged countries in the Middle East and Asia to take action against Iran's so-called 'shadow banking networks'. "It will require those in the Middle East and Asia to dismantle Iran's shadow banking networks," he said. Finally, the Treasury Secretary emphasised the need to update the US sanctions architecture, saying: 'To strengthen national security outcomes, Treasury is adapting its sanctions programme to the 21st century'. Bessent concluded by adding that the measures must be 'aggressive and targeted' and that 'sanctions are designed to change behaviour, not punish populations'.

"Global economic uncertainty has exacerbated risks to growth and inflation amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East, particularly through pressures on energy, food and fertiliser supply chains, which particularly affect the most vulnerable countries. To mitigate these negative impacts, we recognise that an early return to free and safe movement across the Strait of Hormuz and a lasting solution to the conflict are imperative'. This is stated in the final communiqué of the G7 Finance meeting just concluded in Paris.

At least one person has been killed in a car bomb explosion in central Damascus near the predominantly Christian neighbourhood of Bab Sharqi. This was reported by the National Observatory for Human Rights in Syria and local media according to which the explosion took place in front of a building belonging to the Syrian Ministry of Defence and in front of the ancient city walls.

"The double shock to which we have been subjected as an Italian economy, first to the Ukrainian energy crisis and now to the Middle East energy crisis, is unique in the whole of Europe, along with that suffered by Germany," Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said at the end of the G7 Finance meeting in Paris. Responding to a question from journalists on the content of the discussion with partners on the war and on possible pressure on the US representative, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Giorgetti said: 'Pressure? It seems to me an exaggerated term, certainly we all expressed the desire for a stable peace as soon as possible, not only in the Middle East but also in Ukraine'.

An explosion was heard in the Syrian capital Damascus. State media reported this. (

Qatar said negotiations between the US and Iran, mediated by Pakistan, need more time to reach an agreement, a day after President Donald Trump said he had postponed the attacks to give the process a chance. "We support Pakistan's diplomatic effort, which has shown seriousness in bringing the parties together and finding a solution, and we believe more time is needed," Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari told a press conference.

"We expect a slowdown in the European economy and an increase in inflation, with negative impacts on consumer demand. A recession becomes more likely the longer the Strait (of Hormuz, ed.) remains effectively closed". This is stated in a report by S&P on the impact of the war on Iran. "We expect disrupted energy flows, weaker economic prospects and worsening market sentiment" to push "the European default rate on speculative-grade debt to 3.75% by March 2027, up from 3.3% in March 2026". In the pessimistic scenario 'the default rate could rise to 5%'.

Iran reportedly used the month-long ceasefire in the war against the US and Israel to prepare for the resumption of fighting by repositioning ballistic missile launchers. This was written by the New York Times, which quoted a US military official. According to the report, since the ceasefire took effect on 8 April, Iran has been working to 'unearth dozens of bombed ballistic missile launch sites, relocate mobile launchers and, despite significant losses, adapt its tactics to a possible resumption of attacks'. According to the official, US attacks against Iranian missile infrastructure targeted the entrances to the sites, but not the launchers themselves, as these were buried in deep underground caves to protect them from attack.

The United Arab Emirates and Israel have set up a fund for the joint purchase and development of new defence systems. This was reported by the Middle East Eye citing a serving and former American official.

The serving official said that the two countries would make "joint purchases" of weapons as part of the new defence partnership, and the UAE could also finance the technological development of Israeli air defence systems. This understanding was reportedly reached during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to the UAE, which took place in the midst of the Israeli-American war against Iran. This visit was reported by the PM's office, which was later denied by the Emirates.

116 health workers have been killed by Israel in Lebanon since 2 March. This was told by the Lebanese Health Minister, Rakan Nasreddine, to the Director General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who met in Geneva on the sidelines of the World Health Assembly.

According to Lebanese news agency Nna, the minister then reported 263 workers were injured in the Israeli attacks, which destroyed or damaged numerous ambulances, health centres and hospitals. Nasreddine then invited Tedros to visit Lebanon and thanked the WHO for its continued support to the Ministry of Health and the Lebanese health system since 2019.

Iran has reportedly used the month-plus of ceasefire in the war against the US and Israel to prepare for the resumption of fighting by repositioning ballistic missile launchers. According to an article in the New York Times, quoting a US military official, since the ceasefire went into effect on 8 April, Iran has worked to 'reposition dozens of ballistic missile launch sites hit by shelling, move mobile missile launchers and, despite significant losses, adapt its tactics to a possible resumption of attacks'. The official explained that the US strikes against Iranian missile capabilities hit the access gates to the sites, but not the launchers, as these were buried in deep underground caves to protect them from the raids.

Iran must give up its nuclear ambitions. This was said by White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly after Donald Trump's decision to suspend the attack on Tehran. Iran - she explained - cannot have enriched uranium, and this represents a red line in the negotiations along with a complete halt to Iran's nuclear programme.

The commander of the Central Command of the Iranian Armed Forces, General Ali Abdollahi, warned "the United States and its allies not to repeat their strategic and evaluative mistakes", stressing that Iranian forces "are more prepared and powerful than before and are ready to respond decisively to any new act of aggression".

"They must know that any new aggression or invasion by the enemies of our land and our proud nation will be met with a swift, decisive, powerful and widespread response," he added in the statement reported by local media.

"If our enemies make another mistake, we will respond with far greater strength and capability than ever before. The US and its allies must not make another strategic mistake or miscalculation'. This was stated by Ali Abdollahi, chief of the army general staff, warning the US against an attack on Tehran. "The enemies must know that Iran and its forces are better prepared and stronger than ever," he added, "Our forces are ready and will respond quickly, decisively, forcefully and on a large scale to any aggression by the enemies. We will defend ourselves with all our strength and cut off the hand of any aggressor'.

The Indian Adani Group has agreed to pay USD 275 million to close a US investigation into its alleged imports of Iranian hydrocarbons. This was reported by the US government. The company was suspected of violating US sanctions by purchasing hydrocarbons of Iranian origin 32 times between November 2023 and June 2025, according to the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (Ofac). The LPG was allegedly purchased "from a Dubai-based middleman who claimed to be supplying Omani and Iraqi gas. There were important signals that should have alerted the company to the fact that the LPG actually came from Iran,' Ofac states. Adani allegedly used US financial institutions to pay a total bill in excess of USD 192 million. The group confirmed the agreement with the US authorities in a statement. The agreement points out that 'on at least four occasions between March 2023 and February 2024', the group 'was informed by third parties that shipments supplied by the Dubai seller may have originated from Iran'. It is also pointed out that the sale price, 'below market price', should have aroused suspicion, as Iran is 'almost the only' country in the Middle East to sell LPG 'at a significant discount'. The Indian group had stated in February that it was cooperating with the US authorities in the investigation and had contacted Ofac after the US Wall Street Journal newspaper revealed in June 2025 that its LPG purchases were under scrutiny by the US judiciary. The group is led by billionaire Gautam Adani, considered close to Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Iran's Defence Ministry spokesman dismissed Donald Trump's recent claims about the destruction of Iran's defence capabilities, stressing that a significant part of the country's military power has yet to be deployed and that "the axis of resistance is now more united and stronger than ever". Speaking to Yemeni broadcaster Al Masirah, Brigadier General Reza Talaei-Nik dismissed Trump's statements as "falsehoods" and "nonsense", stating, "Trump continues to spread baseless claims and lies about the destruction of our defence capabilities."

"America's aura of power has collapsed at the hands of our forces," pointing out that "a considerable part of Iran's defensive capabilities has not yet been deployed," he stressed.

The Iranians are preparing for a possible resumption of attacks and have hinted that they will not hesitate to inflict a severe blow on neighbouring countries and the world economy in the event of an attack. This is how Iran might react, writes the New York Times in an analysis. In the first conflict this year, the Iranians were preparing for a protracted war of about three months. Consequently, Iran limited the use of missiles to sustain weeks of attacks against Israel and regional targets, it added. In contrast, should war break out again, Iranian leaders anticipate 'short but high-intensity' fighting, including heavy, coordinated attacks against their energy infrastructure. How might Iran react this time? In a new round of fighting, Iran could launch dozens or hundreds of missiles a day to "effectively confront the enemy and also turn the tables". This would force the Gulf Arab nations to prepare for an intensification of attacks against their energy infrastructure. Should the damage be large enough, it could drag countries like the UAE, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia even deeper into a war that many Gulf leaders have tried to avoid. Iran could also try to exert control over the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a narrow arm of sea connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, through which one-tenth of world trade passes. The strait lies close to territory controlled by the Houthis, a Yemeni militia backed by Iran. In the latest phase of fighting, the Iranians have used their proximity to the Strait of Hormuz to exert enormous influence on the world economy. If the Iranian government believes its control over that strait is in danger, it may want to 'force the United States to focus on two maritime fronts instead of one'. The Houthi militia promised to defend Iran in the event of a regional war, but reacted cautiously in the latest phase of the fighting.