Netanyahu says too early to judge outcome of Iran-US MoU

A military option against Iran is still “on the table” as senior Israeli officials are expected to travel to Washington for high-level meetings in the coming days and weeks, Israeli outlet i24NEWS reported, citing a source familiar with the matter.

The expected visits come as concerns grow over US-Iran negotiations and against the backdrop of reported difficulties in the talks, the report said.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar is expected to travel to Washington in about a week and a half for talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to sources familiar with the plans.

Sa’ar’s office confirmed an official invitation had been received but said he had not yet given final confirmation that he would attend.

Negotiations are also underway over a possible visit by Defense Minister Israel Katz, with senior Israeli defense officials also expected to travel to Washington as part of what sources described as an “air bridge” of diplomatic and security consultations.

The planned ministerial visits could be canceled if a meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump is scheduled in the near future, the report said, citing sources familiar with the matter.

Seven OPEC+ countries agreed on Sunday to raise oil production by 188,000 barrels per day in August, the group said, marking the fifth consecutive increase since Israel and the United States began attacks on Iran on February 28.

Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria and Oman decided on the increase during a virtual meeting to review global oil market conditions and the outlook, OPEC said in a statement.

The group did not mention the US-Iran conflict or disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, where traffic remains below prewar levels, but said it would continue to monitor market conditions and retain flexibility to increase, pause or reverse the phase-out of voluntary production cuts.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei reappointed Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei as head of the judiciary, state media reported.

“With appreciation for your valuable and sincere efforts, and pursuant to Article 157 of the Constitution, I appoint you as head of the judiciary,” Khamenei said in a decree dated July 4.

Ejei was sanctioned by the United States in 2010 over serious human rights abuses after Iran’s disputed 2009 presidential election. Rights groups have repeatedly accused him of involvement in the repression of dissidents, protesters and journalists during decades in senior security and judicial posts.

The head of the Iranian parliament’s national security committee said the Islamic Republic’s armed forces had moved from a “deterrent doctrine” to an “offensive, deterrent and regret-inducing doctrine.”

Ebrahim Azizi said the world should know that the Islamic Republic would avenge the killing of Ali Khamenei, military commanders and members of the “resistance front.”

He said Iran would seek revenge for all those killed, including Khamenei and military commanders.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf told Mohammad Darwish, chairman of the Hamas Shoura Council, that the Islamic Republic had “no peace” with the United States and described vengeance for slain former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei as “the liberation of Jerusalem,” state media reported.

“We have no peace with the United States and will not recognize Israel,” Ghalibaf said.

“Vengeance for the martyred imam is the liberation of Jerusalem,” he added.

Ghalibaf said Iran would continue to help Muslims and the “resistance front” under the guidance of Iran’s new Supreme Leader, adding that the assistance would be “with missiles” if needed, and through negotiations if political pressure was required.

Ghalibaf said diplomacy and negotiations should be able to “resolve the military deadlock” and preserve the gains of fighters, adding that this could be achieved only if the country was prepared for defense alongside diplomacy.

He also said Muslim governments had realized that cooperation with the United States and Israel would not bring them security.

Darwish said what was achieved in the Iran-US memorandum of understanding was “a major victory for the resistance front,” adding that every clause of the memorandum was “a victory for Iran and a defeat for the United States.”