US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held their first face-to-face meeting since the onset of the US-Israeli war against Iran, behind closed doors in the Oval Office. The 90-minute talks were described by the White House as 'positive and productive.'
In a social media video, Netanyahu called it 'one of the best conversations I've ever had with the president of the United States,' adding that they discussed 'our common goal: ensuring that Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons.' According to Reuters, Netanyahu seeks Trump's support ahead of Israel's October 27 elections.
Meanwhile, Iran's judiciary announced the execution of two men convicted for their role in anti-government protests in January. The Mizan Online portal identified them as Abolfazl Sepahi and Amir-Hossein Safari, found guilty of 'attacking police officers with machetes and knives, tying them to road signs, dousing them with gasoline, and setting them on fire.' The executions took place publicly in Malekshahr, Isfahan province.
Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed to have forced a Saudi-flagged oil tanker, the NCC Ghazal, to turn around in the Red Sea after striking it with ballistic missiles. The Houthis said the vessel ignored warnings. Saudi Arabia did not comment on the claim.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas condemned an 'aggression' by Iranian security forces against two French diplomats in Tehran, calling it a 'blatant violation of the Vienna Conventions.' France described the detention as 'an extremely serious act of intimidation.' Iran summoned the French ambassador in protest.
The situation in the Strait of Hormuz remains tense. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi discussed the waterway with his Omani and Saudi counterparts. Oman reportedly proposed a joint regional management mechanism, potentially limiting Iran's sole control.
Ukraine's strike on Iran-linked vessels and the Trump-Zelenskyy meeting highlight the intertwining of the two conflicts. US public support for the Iran war has dropped to 33%, with 69% saying Trump has failed to explain the intervention's goals. 18 US service personnel have been killed.
The Israeli air force intercepted a drone near the Jordanian border. The US State Department confirmed the next round of Israel-Lebanon talks will begin in Rome on August 4.
Source: www.dw.com