US-Iran war: Trump praises Iran just days after ‘sleazebags’ insult

The latest barrage of American strikes on Iran has ended, US Central Command (CENTCOM) wrote in an X post.

“US forces struck Iranian command centres, air defence sites, missile and drone capabilities, and coastal surveillance facilities to further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten innocent mariners crewing commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz,” CENTCOM wrote.

“CENTCOM used precision munitions to hit targets in multiple locations including Bandar Abbas.”

Earlier, American forces struck coastal defence and cruise missile sites on Greater Tunb Island during a 90-minute assault, CENTCOM wrote.

Iranian state media is reporting air defences have been activated in parts of the capital Tehran.

“Tehran’s air defence systems have been activated to counter enemy reconnaissance aircraft,” the semi-official Fars news reported.

A resident of the capital told CNN they were awoken by a loud explosion early today.

The Tasmin news agency, which is affiliated with Iran’s revolutionary guards, said air defences had been triggered in the eastern and western parts of the city.

Here is more on our earlier news about Trump’s announcement that Iran was freeing an American woman.

The US citizen has been identified as Dena Karari by her lawyer in an X post.

Jared Genser says his client has been held in Iran since December 2024 “on bogus charges” and that “this would not have happened but for the extraordinary and relentless efforts” of the US president.

“Dena is now safe and travelling back to the United States,” wrote Genser.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has launched a program to monitor the testosterone levels of American troops.

In a video posted on X, captioned “High-T Department”, he says screening for “testosterone deficiency” will help them operate at their highest level.

The screenings will be conducted annually as part of service members’ required medical screenings for those 30 and older.

Troops under 30 can volunteer to be tested.

Hegseth said receiving testosterone replacement therapy would be voluntary.

In the video, he simply refers to troops, though it appears he is talking about only testing men in uniform for hormone irregularities.

Donald Trump has given Iran rare acknowledgment when he announced the regime had freed an American woman held in the country.

“Iran has allowed an American Citizen, who was wrongfully detained in December of 2024 under the ‘presidency’ of Sleepy Joe Biden, to leave the Country,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“She is now safely outside of Iran, and in good condition. The United States of America appreciates this gesture of Goodwill by Iran!”

Trump did not give her identity or provide further details about the circumstances of her release.

Trump’s language about Iran comes days after he attacked the “sleazebags” in charge as the conflict re-escalated.

Renewed fighting in the Middle East has propelled oil prices to their highest levels in a month.

The price for a barrel of Brent crude, the global benchmark, briefly topped $US86 on Wednesday before falling back to settle at $US84.95 per barrel, up 0.3 per cent from the day before.

The war had little impact on Wall Street, with stocks ticking higher due to big profit reports by major American companies.

The S&P 500 rose 0.4 per cent, putting it back within 0.5 per cent of its record high set in June. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.3 per cent, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.6 per cent.

Missiles fired from a US military aircraft have struck the smokestack of an oil tanker, disabling the ship.

US Central Command has just posted an update on X about the action, part of its enforcement of the naval blockade on Iran.

“US forces enforced naval blockade measures against Iran, July 15, by disabling an unladen oil tanker attempting to sail toward an Iranian port in the Arabian Gulf.

“US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces observed Curacao-flagged M/T Belma transiting international waters toward Kharg Island.

“The commercial vessel ignored multiple warnings as it attempted to violate the US blockade. A US aircraft disabled the vessel after firing hellfire missiles into the ship’s smokestack. The ship is no longer transiting to Iran.”

Donald Trump has been speaking at a defence summit in Pennsylvania, where he has spoken about the war.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran is not happy right now,” he told delegates.

“They want to settle so badly. They don’t like what we’re doing. We’ll find out whether we want to settle with them or if we just finish it off.”

The White House said the summit was bringing together key leaders in defence and some of the largest global investors.

The American military’s five-month campaign against Iran has reduced its stocks of advanced missiles, such as Tomahawk cruise missiles and Patriot interceptors.

Explosions have been heard in the southern Iranian cities of Ahvaz and Chabahar, the country’s media outlets reported.

The reports follow US Central Command’s announcement of a new round of airstrikes against Iran.

The US military began launching a second barrage of strikes against Iran at 6am (AEST) after earlier attacks targeted an island near the Strait of Hormuz.

“The strikes are targeting Iranian military capabilities used to threaten vessels freely transiting through the Strait of Hormuz, an international waterway vital to global commerce,” US Central Command wrote in an X post.

“The US military is holding Iran accountable at the Commander in Chief’s direction.”