Iran has reportedly rejected a U.S. ceasefire proposal delivered by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi Thursday, following his meeting with President Donald Trump, citing the deal's failure to resolve control over the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials dismissed the offer as an unacceptable "temporary deal," with top negotiator Brig. Gen. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stating that the core issue is America's "outlook" rather than a lack of mediation.
Trump has threatened a "massive attack" on Iranian infrastructure and declared on Thursday, in a Truth Social post, that frozen Iranian assets will be used to pay for any future damage to ships or cargo on the Strait of Hormuz.
A frustrated Trump reportedly in "revenge mode," vented in a recent Oval Office meeting, calling Iranian leaders scumbags and lunatics. Administration officials say Trump believes force is the only thing Iran understands and sees few options besides continuing strikes. Vice President JD Vance and Trump's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff reportedly still believe a deal can be reached with the Iranians, while other advisers have given up on one.
Top White House aides have reportedly been warned by intelligence agencies that Iranians are trying to kill them, and told to stop using commercial car services.
Iranian military has proven to be an asymetrically formidable fighting force, frustrating Trump's hope that the Persian nation will agree to Washington's demands.
Satellite images reportedly show Iran rebuilding faster than expected. The Iranians have quickly rebuilt infrastructure damaged during months of U.S. and Israeli bombing, from missile bases deep inside mountains to bridges, ports and production facilities.
Planet Labs and Airbus imagery reportedly showed repairs at missile bases near Kangavar, north of Kermanshah, and at Dezful, where crews reopened collapsed tunnel entrances and repaved access roads within weeks. Partial reconstruction was visible at an IRGC-linked shipyard in Bandar Anzali on the Caspian and at Raja Shimi Industries near Tehran, assessed to produce missile components.
One Israeli military official said Iran repaired a bridge hit by three Israeli bombs within days. Officials also said that some strikes only collapsed entrances to deeply buried facilities, leaving the missiles inside intact. Ran Kochav, former commander of Israel's air and missile defense forces, said the recovery matches Iran's rebuilding record after the 12-day war in June 2025.
Trump reportedly said he is “close to making a decision” on a “massive attack” bigger than previous ones, adding the U.S. is “all set.” This follows a Situation Room discussions on wider escalation against Iran.
In response, Iranian officials warned that further U.S. aggression could trigger strikes on Tel Aviv and a Houthi-led blockade of the Bab al-Mandab strait, while global oil prices surged.
"Seizing another nation's assets to pay for unrelated future claims is an incendiary precedent," Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi wrote on X. "Those who celebrate or profit from such funds should remember: once governments normalize confiscation, no one's assets are safe. Ensuing chaos will not be pretty or peaceful."
At the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Manila, Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Trump’s policy toward Iran is “a head for an eye,” directly countering Araghchi’s declaration that Tehran’s defense doctrine is “an eye for an eye.”
Rubio asserted that Iran would “pay a very heavy price” for its actions, warning that the U.S. would “bomb and destroy” Iranian infrastructure (such as bridges or power plants) in response to attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. He claimed Iran is “begging” for a deal but is “not ready” because Tehran repeatedly breaks or attempts to change agreements. He warned that the cost to Iran rises “every night” as its industrial and defense infrastructure suffers damage.
Reacting to Houthis' attack on Saudi-flagged tankers, Rubio expressed hope that the Yemeni militants would stop, accusing Iran of having “suckered” the Houthis into targeting Saudi vessels in the Red Sea, which he described as a negative development for global stability. He emphasized that the U.S. goal is denuclearization rather than regime change.
US Military Strikes Iranian Targets For The 13th Consecutive Night
Meanwhile, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) carried out its 13th consecutive night of strikes on Thursday, beginning at 2245 UTC (6:45 p.m. ET) and concluding around 0100 UTC, July 24, (9 p.m. ET, Julky 23).
The military strikes targeted Iranian command centers, drone storage facilities, communication networks, and coastal surveillance sites to diminish threats to commercial shipping, claiming that the Strait of Hormuz remains open under U.S. military support. Explosions were confirmed in sensitive southern locations including Ahvaz, Omidiyeh, Bandar Abbas, Qeshm Island, Andimeshk, Khandab, and Jask.
In response, Iran attacked U.S assets and bases in Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait.
The U.S. military deployed over 50,000 troops to the region for operations against Iran, and to secure maritime commercial traffic on the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20% of global oil flows.
Last month, Washington and Tehran signed a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding designed to pause military hostilities and restart formal nuclear and maritime negotiations. The agreement collapsed shortly after, triggering open conflict. Mediators (Iraq, Qatar, Egypt, Pakistan, Oman, etc.) have tried various short-term truces, but deep disagreements over Hormuz control and other issues persist.
As U.S. forces conduct nightly bombing runs, regional proxies including the Houthis in Yemen have launched attacks on Gulf oil tankers, driving global oil prices above $100 per barrel.
