Iranian IRGC official, Basij commander
Iran has appointed Mohsen Rezaee as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council and elevated its top commanders, reshaping the security and military leadership amid ongoing US-Israel war. The moves consolidate Mojtaba Khamenei’s influence and signal a hardline stance, even as some officials call for de-escalation and negotiations.
Bloomberg reports that Cooper, host of Call Her Daddy, is navigating employee turnover, a slipping slate of shows and internal discord with husband and co-CEO Matt Kaplan, as the company restructures to stabilize operations.
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked and under its control, while other parties push back with assertions of American influence and international concern. The dispute follows a series of public statements and threats as talks to reopen the waterway stagnate.
US forces have carried out strikes on Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island after they detected efforts to deploy rockets with naval mines into the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has launched missile and drone attacks at US bases in Jordan and the UAE in response. Both sides are signalling readiness to hit back again while diplomatic and economic pressure continues.
Iranian hard-liners have driven a July strike on three vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, derailing a U.S.-backed ceasefire. Mojtaba Khamenei’s absence fuels internal power struggles as the regime confronts renewed conflict and scrutiny over written messages attributed to the supreme leader.
Iran’s hard-liners are pressing for a tighter clampdown on headscarves as wartime conditions limit government action, while authorities warn activists of risks. Public spaces show growing divergence in dress codes since the 2022 protests sparked by Mahsa Amini’s death.
The Iranian government has mobilised civilians to receive limited military training alongside the IRGC and Basij as part of the Janfada campaign. State media report hundreds of thousands have registered in Tehran, with authorities claiming up to 1 million participants. Demonstrations and displays of weaponry signal broad state messaging of national unity amid economic strain and ongoing conflict.