🇮🇷⚡️- An Iranian delegation from Tehran is heading to Qatar.

🇺🇸⚡️- Jay Clayton, President Trump's nominee for Director of National Intelligence, will have a confirmation hearing this morning.

Clayton has no previous history in the Intelligence community. He currently works as the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

During Trump's first term as President in 2017, Jay Clayton was nominated by Trump for the position of Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission. After completing his tenure as Trump's SEC Chairman, Clayton would be appointed independent director of Apollo Global Management to lead the company through a management transition period, following the revelation that its Former CEO, Leon Black, had paid Jeffrey Epstein $158 million for "Tax and Estate planning".

In November of 2024, for Trump's second term as President, Trump would nominate Clayton to be the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, New York’s top federal prosecutor.

During his time as the Attorney, Clayton's office was responsible for reviewing the Epstein Files that were *supposed* to be released after Congress passed a law requiring their release, some of which specifically mention leaders of Apollo Global Management, Clayton's former colleagues.

Former Attorney General Pamela Bondi (Fired by Trump) had also directed Clayton to lead the investigation into Democrats' involvement with Jeffrey Epstein.

Jay Clayton also signed the Justice Department's indictment of Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

🇺🇸🇮🇷⚡️- "U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) completed a morning round of strikes against Iran at 7:30 a.m. ET on July 15.

CENTCOM launched precision munitions against coastal defense systems and cruise missile storage and launch sites on Greater Tunb Island during the 90-minute wave. The strikes further degraded Iran’s ability to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz." - US Central Command.

🇺🇸🇱🇧🇮🇱⚡️- Israeli media report that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is likely to visit President Trump on Monday, July 20th, and that Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is expected to meet with Trump on Tuesday, July 21st.

🇹🇷🇮🇷🇴🇲⚡- Turkish-operated cargo vessel LUNI has broke in half and is now sinking off the coast of Iran, near Bandar Abbas.

Cause remains unknown, but likely struck an Iranian sea mine.

🇺🇸🇮🇷⚡- "Today, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is intensifying its efforts to disrupt and degrade the illicit shipping and sanctions evasion network of Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani (Shamkhani).

This action is part of Treasury’s ongoing efforts to ramp up economic pressure on the Iranian regime after it resumed destabilizing attacks in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Shamkhani network remains a major force behind Iran’s oil exports and has expanded into global containerized shipping and commodities trading," - Department of the Treasury.

🇮🇷🇶🇦⚡- Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrives in Doha.

🇺🇸🇮🇷⚡- "Since restarting the naval blockade against Iranian ports 17 hours ago, U.S. forces have redirected 2 commercial vessels attempting to run the blockade. The U.S. military remains vigilant and prepared to ensure full compliance," - U.S. CENTCOM.

🇸🇩🇸🇦⚡- "Riyadh has established an air bridge between Jeddah and Port Sudan, transferred heavy artillery and ammunition to the Sudanese Armed Forces, and facilitated the flow of explosives and military materials through its ports. Some of this support has also reached Islamist militias [al-Baraa Brigades] operating alongside the army, including groups designated as terrorist organizations by the United States," - Global Institute for Strategic Studies.

🇷🇺🇸🇾⚡- "Putin despised and grew tired of [former Syrian President ] Bashar al-Assad. Russia considered appointing his wife, Asma al-Assad, as President of Syria who had an extensive economic network connected to Moscow and was influenced by the dominance of the "men of six" [six Syrian businessmen tied to Russia] over major deals," - The Observor.

🇺🇸🇮🇷⚡- US Navy struck locations on Iran's Hengam Island, the Gulf.

🇮🇷🇰🇼⚡- Two Iranian drones were intercepted outside of Kuwaiti airspace.

🇮🇷⚡- "Iran's Majlis Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf to release explanatory statement on war and country developments within hours," - Mehr News.

🇾🇪⚡- Ansarullah authorities have announced that Sana'a International Airport has been repaired and is once again operational, just two days after sustaining damage during the Saudi attacks.

🇺🇸🇮🇷⚡️- Major US strikes on Ahvaz, Iran.

🇺🇸🇮🇷🇧🇭⚡️- Reports of direct missile impacts on Sheikh Issa Air Base in Bahrain

🇺🇸🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇦🇷⚡- Argentina joins Spain in the final of the World Cup.

🇺🇸🇨🇺⚡- "Military planners have in recent weeks examined a range of options for possible action against Cuba, including an Army-led air assault involving thousands of U.S. soldiers to be carried out by the 101st Airborne Division, the only unit trained for such a task," - A U.S. officials tell CBS News.