US military refutes claims of planned Iran strikes as Mossad assesses Tehran's missile capacity

The situation in the Persian Gulf continues in the same pattern: rudimentary dialogue and deadlocks.

Iran is not backing down; on the contrary, it insists that Hormuz remains closed to US and Israeli vessels, while on the night of August 13 they also struck two ships belonging to the United Arab Emirates. Indeed, the interesting detail is that the Iranian religious leadership instructed the Iranian military to shift its doctrine from defense to full offense. However, in the US, both the Secretary of War and Admiral Cooper, head of US CENTCOM, are advocating for an escalation of strikes against Iran…

However, while the news was cited by Israeli media, a denial later arrived stating that Admiral Cooper never made such a statement. Nonetheless, Israeli Mossad is astonished by the speed at which Iran is replenishing its missile capabilities. Brent crude remains in the 87 dollar zone with no light visible on the horizon. Meanwhile, the statement by US Vice President Vance that the goal of the US is cheap oil for Americans as the main objective in the war with Iran does not align with the absurdity of escalation.

The Wall Street Journal cites US officials, emphasizing "they will send the aircraft carrier George Washington to the Middle East to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln, where sailors are close to losing their minds." At the same time, in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait of the Red Sea, the situation remains murky as Yemeni Houthis have increased tension.

Vance intervention: Cheap oil for Americans is the main goal of the war in Iran

US Vice President J.D. Vance named the main objective of American forces in the Persian Gulf and the war with Iran. Speaking to Fox News, he stressed that cheap oil is the primary goal of the US in the conflict with Iran.

"Goal number one: to keep oil and gas cheap for Americans across our entire country. The second goal is to receive guarantees that Iran will never acquire nuclear weapons." Previously, J.D. Vance noted that some progress had been made in negotiations with Iran in recent days. He stated that Iran is interested in ending the conflict, but the outcome of negotiations will depend on the Iranian side's ability to agree to terms acceptable to Washington. Earlier, President Trump made a new statement regarding the situation in Iran: "We are only negotiating in part with them. We will simply watch Iran, which has massive inflation and no money at all."

Controversial claim – US Secretary of War: We have the capacity to blockade Iran and will continue

The United States Secretary of War claimed in a statement that the US has sufficient capacity to continue the siege of the Islamic Republic of Iran and will maintain this approach for as long as necessary. The US Secretary of War essentially reiterated the hostile stance of the US toward the Islamic Republic of Iran and emphasized the continuation of all-out pressure against the Iranian regime. The United States has the capability and necessary tools to impose restrictions on Iran, saying: "We have the ability to blockade Iran for as long as needed, and we will continue this process."

Channel 13 (Israel): CENTCOM commander: I will push for resumption of strikes on Iran… followed by denial

Israeli Channel 13, echoing positions of the Israeli establishment, reported that Admiral Brad Cooper, Commander of US CENTCOM, emphasized "that intensifying military pressure is the only way to force Iran to alter its position, and there is a possibility that the United States will rejoin joint strikes targeting Iranian energy infrastructure." Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM, informed Israeli authorities during his recent visit to Tel Aviv that he is pushing for the resumption of military strikes on Iran. Stressing that increased military pressure could force Tehran to change its stance, he acknowledged that the United States may ultimately have no choice but to adopt the Israeli position. Indeed, the commander of American forces in the region raised the prospect of targeting critical Iranian infrastructure, including oil, gas, and electricity networks. Israeli Channel 13 also highlighted that Brad Cooper's positions and aggressive proposals have been forwarded to Trump and General Dan Kane, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff. Continuing verbal threats against the Islamic Republic of Iran, the CENTCOM commander advocated for escalating military pressure and opening new fronts against Iran, arguing: "Targeting infrastructure inside Iran changes the rules of the game." These stances by the American military come at a time when international experts and observers have previously warned of the catastrophic consequences of any adventurism and infringement upon vital regional infrastructure.

CENTCOM denies scenarios of an attack on Iran

The newspaper Jerusalem Post, citing US CENTCOM, declared that published reports regarding claims made by Admiral Brad Cooper during his visit to Israel are false. According to the official statement from CENTCOM, reports claiming that this senior US military official had pushed for a military strike against Iran during his meetings in Israel are untrue and fully denied.

Israeli Mossad shocked: Iran can replenish its missiles by early 2027

Israeli military officials and Mossad (Israeli Intelligence) are shocked by the speed of recovery of Iran’s defense industry following the 40-day war. According to Israel, Iran has found creative ways to focus on the modernization of missile systems. If Iran manages to produce 100 to 300 missiles per month, it could restore its missile arsenal to June 2025 levels by early to mid-2027. According to the Jerusalem Post, Israeli military officials are shocked by the astonishing and rapid recovery of Iran’s missile capabilities, which they did not expect, observed not just in one or two specific areas, but primarily in ballistic missiles. Numerous foreign media reports have long questioned Israel's claims that Iran had lost the capacity to produce missiles and modernize. According to the Jerusalem Post, the Israel Defense Forces have been stunned by the unexpected, rapid recovery of Iranian ballistic missile stocks.

IRGC: We fully control Hormuz, Americans are lying and disinforming

Responding to recent claims and positions taken by American officials that Hormuz is open, the Commander of the IRGC Navy stressed that "the Strait of Hormuz is closed, and our control over all movements is complete and decisive, so that no movement in this strait escapes the eyes of the Revolutionary Guard sailors." He added, "Reality must be seen on the ground, not in announcements and statements by US officials who deliberately disinform."

Two UAE national oil company ships attacked in Hormuz

"On the evening of August 13, 2026, two vessels belonging to the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) were attacked while passing through the Strait of Hormuz. As a result of the incident, no one was injured and the situation is under control," ADNOC reported. In turn, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates blamed Iran for the attack. The UAE also demanded that Iran cease aggressive actions and "fully and unconditionally open the strait." Since the beginning of the conflict in the region, 15 vessels belonging to the UAE National Oil Company (ADNOC) have been attacked by missiles and drones in the Strait of Hormuz. As a result of these attacks, 1 crew member was killed and another 20 were injured.

American "bombing" against Hegseth: "He should be dismissed immediately"

The leader of the Democratic minority in the US Senate, Chuck Schumer, launched a fierce attack on President Donald Trump's Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, calling for his immediate removal amid allegations surrounding the condition of the crew aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. Schumer's intervention followed reports detailing severe psychological and physical exhaustion among sailors after an exceptionally prolonged deployment at sea as part of US operations against Iran.

Schumer: "Hegseth must be fired immediately"

Schumer reacted to Hegseth's statements asserting that reports of deteriorating conditions among the crew of the USS Abraham Lincoln were false or distorted. In a post, the Democratic senator argued that Hegseth's inadequacy was already known when he was nominated for the post. "When Pete Hegseth was nominated, everyone knew he was completely unqualified. Now our brave sailors are paying the price in a horrific and unimaginable way," Schumer stated, concluding: "Pete Hegseth must be fired immediately."

Thousands of tons of weapons arrive in Israel – Maariv: "The Israeli army remains exhausted"

Thousands of tons of military equipment and weapon systems arrived on Thursday, August 13, at the port of Haifa, as Israel attempts to replenish the depleted stockpiles of its Armed Forces following years of military operations on multiple fronts. However, according to the Israeli newspaper Maariv, the arrival of new hardware is insufficient to resolve the issue of extensive wear and tear on the Israeli military, with the replenishment of military material estimated to take years.

Thousands of tons of equipment in Haifa

Israel's Ministry of Defense announced the unloading of a cargo ship carrying thousands of tons of military equipment and weapon systems. The shipment is intended to restore the stocks of the Israeli military, which have come under heavy strain following nearly three years of war operations in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank.

Among the equipment that arrived were:

• D9 bulldozers

• Hummer vehicles

• JLTV vehicles

• Oshkosh trucks

• Equipment and materials for ground forces.

The procurement was carried out through the delegation of the Israeli Ministry of Defense in the US.

Khamenei advisor: Iran's military doctrine shifting from defense to offense will alter international power equations

An advisor and assistant to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, says that the Leader's strategy for Iran to shift the war into an offensive phase if conditions are not met will "unquestionably change the equations of power in the world." Mohammad Mokhber, advisor to Khamenei, linked this strategy to developments surrounding the Strait of Hormuz and the failure of the United States to protect its allies in the Persian Gulf.

"Today, after the largest military deployment and aggression by the world's bullies in the region and the shameful defeat of the United States in its plans, a new chapter is unfolding for the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz," Khamenei stated. He said that Iran will secure the Persian Gulf and eliminate abuses in Hormuz.

Iran's military doctrine shifts from defense to offense

The military doctrine of the Islamic Republic of Iran has shifted from a defensive posture to an offensive one, as the armed forces introduce more advanced weaponry and new tactics in relentless retaliatory attacks targeting US and Israeli interests. In this context, Mokhber stated that Iran's next step will depend on whether its conditions are met. Iran's conditions include an end to threats against Iran and insults to its religious and national values, a permanent end to war and aggression against Iran and its allies in Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen, and Iraq, an end to the US naval blockade, the withdrawal of US naval and air forces from around Iran, and the payment of damages for destruction caused by the two aggressive wars against Iran. Mokhber also stated that the inability of the United States to protect its allies in the Persian Gulf creates a new reality, as a new regional security arrangement independent of the US is being sought.

War of statistics in Hormuz – Why is Trump's oil narrative being questioned?

A major discrepancy in statistics regarding Middle Eastern oil exports has become one of the most prominent topics in regional and international media these days. A discrepancy that is not merely a numerical difference and could pull back the curtain on a broader battle over the narrative of the war between Iran and the United States. The US Secretary of Energy claimed that nearly 9 million barrels of oil pass through the Strait of Hormuz daily and, including alternative routes, total regional oil exports have reached about 15 million barrels per day!

However, data from ship-tracking firms presents a completely different picture. The independent organization Kpler estimated that crude oil passing through Hormuz for the week starting August 3 was only 1.74 million barrels per day—not 9 million—and recorded its highest performance since the start of the war at 6.98 million barrels per day. In presenting this gap, Reuters cites three possibilities: ranging from covert shipments and calculation errors to the deliberate presentation of statistics aligned with the political narrative of the Trump administration.

The significance of this discrepancy becomes especially crucial at the level of politics and the war of narratives. The war has reached a stage where firepower has, at least temporarily, receded, but the battle over "who has the upper hand" continues. For Washington, the preferred narrative is clear: military pressure on Iran has been effective, the US dominates Hormuz, oil flow has been restored, and Iran will eventually be forced to accept a deal. In such a narrative, the figure of 9 million barrels is not just an energy metric; it is part of the image of US success in the war.

But an important contradiction arises here. If, as the US Secretary of Energy says, nearly 9 million barrels of oil pass daily through Hormuz and total regional production has reached around 15 million barrels, why does opening Hormuz remain one of the central axes of diplomatic efforts and mediation? Why are mediators seeking to revive the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and establish a mechanism for returning to normal shipping? The US wants Hormuz open, while Iran demands an end to the blockade, the unfreezing of Iranian assets, and an end to military pressure and threats on all fronts. Ultimately, if Hormuz is essentially open from the American perspective, why are there still active negotiations over reopening Hormuz?

On the other hand, oil market behavior is not at all consistent with the narrative of a "full return of oil flow." Of course, oil prices are subject to many variables, such as global demand, US reserves, and geopolitical risks, making it difficult to draw definitive conclusions. Meanwhile, Trump's need for a domestic political achievement cannot be ignored. The November 2026 midterms for Congress are approaching, and a war with Iran could present both a campaign opportunity and a severe political cost for the Trump administration. To solidify his victory narrative, Trump needs the argument that the war has been won, pressure on Iran is working, and the United States has managed to control Hormuz. But the problem is that diplomatic reality does not support such a picture.

The official narrative from Washington regarding oil flow contains a significant gap when compared against independent ship-tracking data. And that gap has itself become a political reality. America wants to present Hormuz as a symbol of its success, while Iran, using the leverage at its disposal, has made it part of the equation for ending the war and securing mutual guarantees and concessions. What matters is the gulf between "fantasy" and "reality on the ground." The more visible this gap becomes, the higher the political cost of the official American narrative grows. The credibility of US claims will now be measured not by rhetoric, but by tanker tracking data, market behavior, and negotiation outcomes.

Washington Post: Astonishingly, US military has lost 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones, or about 25% of its fleet

In a startling revelation, the Washington Post reported: The US Military has lost at least 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones, or roughly 25% of its fleet, during the war with Iran. The Air Force notes that the Reaper is utilized for surveillance and targeted strikes and can cost between 30 and 50 million dollars, depending on the sensors and weaponry carried. The potential cost to taxpayers from recent losses exceeds 1.3 billion dollars for the weapon system alone.

The drones have been widely deployed around the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway that has become a flashpoint in the conflict—and a key obstacle in negotiating a lasting peace agreement. However, these drones fly slowly and often at low altitudes, making them relatively easy targets for the Iranian military and its regional proxies in Yemen and Iraq. Another US official mentioned that not all lost Reapers were shot down. The official noted that an unspecified number crashed after operators lost contact with the aircraft.

www.bankingnews.gr