US and Iran not on the same page when it comes to the Strait of Hormuz — and everything else

WE SAID, THEY SAID: It’s become a maddening pattern. President Donald Trump touts progress in talks with Iran, and then someone in the fractured Iranian regime denies it. Yesterday was no exception.“IRAN HAS REQUESTED A MEETING. IT WILL TAKE PLACE TOMORROW IN DOHA!” Trump posted in all-caps on Truth Social Monday morning.“There are no negotiation meetings with the U.S. side at any level scheduled in the coming days,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei immediately countered.

Nevertheless, it appears both the U.S. and Iran are dispatching delegations to Qatar; it’s just not clear what they will be talking about. Iran is publicly denying that any direct high-level negotiations are planned, insisting only “technical discussions on implementing the ceasefire” are on the agenda. Baghaei said the Iranian delegation was going to Doha to discuss the release of frozen Iranian assets and other issues related to the memorandum of understanding signed two weeks ago. At the White House, Trump told reporters that envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were leaving for Qatar and hoping for the best. “We’ll see how that goes,” Trump said. “The meeting in Doha is going to be perhaps important, perhaps not. We’re going to find out.”And despite a complete breakdown of the agreement to reopen the Strait — that devolved into a brief four-day shooting war over the weekend — Trump insisted everything is going just great. “We’re doing very well,” he said. “We’re winning militarily. It’s almost won militarily, I would say.”This morning Qatar confirmed Kushner and Witkoff had arrived in Doha but said they were not meeting with Iranians, but instead mediators to discuss progress of negotiations. TRUMP SAYS IRAN ‘REQUESTED’ MEETING AFTER PEZESHKIAN CLAIMS $6 BILLION IN ASSETS WILL BE RELEASEDIRAN DEMANDING CONTROL OF THE STRAIT: Based on its public statements, it appears that Iran plans to spend the 60-day negotiation period, which ends Aug 15, haggling over exactly what the MOU means instead of engaging in any substantive talks about its nuclear program.The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps continues to oppose any commercial ships using the southern Omani route through the Strait, and Iranian media is reporting that Tehran is demanding full recognition of Iran’s authority over the Strait, release of $6 billion from the $12 billion in Iranian funds held in Qatar, and Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon as conditions for further talks.“These comments come as the Omani government has signaled its opposition to Iranian control of the Strait,” the Institute for the Study of War said in its latest assessment, noting a joint Gulf Cooperation Council-US statement on June 25 that explicitly rejected any Iranian attempts to exert control over the strait.Trump administration officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have urged the media to pay less attention to the text of the MOU and the public pronouncements coming out of Tehran than to what’s actually happening in the Strait and behind the scenes.“I think it should be obvious to all of you – that the Iranian system is going to continue to produce all sorts of maximalist rhetoric. They’re going to have people going on their TV, on their official media, and making all kinds of pronouncements,” Rubio said last week.“What we are watching,” he said, is “the continued flow of ships.”“As long as it continues, they can have all the press conferences they want,” he said. TRUMP DEMANDS GAS STATION CUT THEIR PRICES: One of the main benefits Trump was expecting from his 60-day pause in the war was a big drop in the price of gas at the pump. And gas prices are dropping — just not fast enough for Trump, who is accusing gas station dealers of gouging the public.“DROP YOUR PRICE FOR OUR GREAT AMERICAN PEOPLE! There will be no gauging,(sic) which is totally illegal,” Trump posted on Truth Social last night. “Gasoline Retailers must get their Prices down, IMMEDIATELY! They’re too high considering that Oil is now at $68 a Barrel, and heading south.”Gas prices in the U.S. have been steadily declining for seven weeks in a row, according to OilPrice.com, with the national average for a gallon of regular now $3.86, down from $3.93 last week, and $4.39 a month ago. Oil prices edged up slightly on Monday amid uncertainty over the latest talks, with Brent crude at $72 a barrel.Trump called on retailers to “do what they know is right,” and react to his “important statement” by “Start targeting around the $2.50 a Gallon number.”“If Retailers don’t do this, big problems lie ahead!” he warned. “GAS PRICES COMING DOWN, FAST! REPORT ANY ABUSES AT RETAIL LEVEL!!!” Trump said in a separate post.GAS PRICES DROP TO $3.86 PER GALLON, THE LOWEST NATIONAL AVERAGE PRICE SINCE MARCHGood Tuesday morning and welcome to Jamie McIntyre’s Daily on Defense, written and compiled by Washington Examiner National Security Senior Writer Jamie McIntyre (@jamiejmcintyre) and edited by Christopher Tremoglie. Email here with tips, suggestions, calendar items, and anything else. Sign up or read current and back issues at DailyonDefense.com. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP OR READ BACK ISSUES OF DAILY ON DEFENSEHAPPENING TODAY: ZELENSKY ACCUSES RUSSIA OF ‘HUNTING’ CIVILIANS: Days after Ukraine launched one of its biggest waves of drone strikes against Russia, targeting oil production and energy facilities behind the front line and deep inside Russia, Russia struck back with what President Volodymyr Zelensky described as “very cynical” “horrific attacks” aimed at random civilians.“In Zaporizhzhia, it was effectively a ‘hunt’ for civilian targets, for ordinary vehicles,” Zelensky said in his nightly video address. “With FPV drones and other types of drones, the Russians are attacking life itself. There was a strike on an ordinary minibus; one of the strikes hit near a city bus.”In the Monday attacks, Russian missiles and drones killed at least 12 civilians and injured 40 others, according to Ukraine.“There was also a brutal, absolutely senseless Russian strike on Dnipro. An ordinary enterprise, a civilian production facility. People were killed. More than two dozen people were wounded,” Zelensky said. “Of course, we will respond to all of these Russian attacks in a completely just manner. And we are doing this in such a way that, first and foremost, the Russian state’s system suffers, along with Russia’s ability to prolong the war.”PUTIN DENIES GAS PANIC: As Ukrainian drone and missile attacks have methodically degraded Russia’s oil refining capacity and lines at Russian gas stations have grown to miles long in some cases, President Vladimir Putin insists that while the attacks are “creating problems,” the situation is not serious.“They are, of course, creating problems. That is obvious. We are currently seeing certain shortages, although they are not critical,” Putin told an unnamed reporter in what appeared to be a scripted interview at the Kremlin.Putin seemed to confirm that Ukrainian tactics have also degraded the critical air defense systems that are no longer able to protect key facilities. Putin said Russia must “rapidly and significantly increase production of the air defense systems that are most in demand.”“We must also continue improving them in line with the requirements of combat operations and the protection of key facilities, taking into account the capabilities the enemy is deploying, including the new unmanned aerial vehicles with advanced technologies being supplied from Europe,” Zelesnky said.“Putin can go on and on, claiming on TV that he supposedly has everything under control, that gasoline is supposedly available, and that Russian ministers are supposedly competent enough. But Russians themselves, standing in lines for gasoline in different regions of Russia, can actually see that their “three-day war” is now in its fifth year and has reached the point where even an oil state, a gas station, as Russia used to be called, is now facing gasoline shortages,” Zelensky said in his video address.“This is a direct consequence of the war. One of its consequences. And one example of how Ukraine responds. With precision. Not as terrorists. We are bringing the reality of the war back to Russia and making it as difficult as possible to continue the occupation of our land.”READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINERTHE RUNDOWN: Washington Examiner: Trump changed his tune on Ukraine, but don’t expect the cash spigot to turn back on soonWashington Examiner: Trump says Iran ‘requested’ meeting after Pezeshkian claims $6 billion in assets will be releasedWashington Examiner: Massie revives Democrats’ fight over Israel with House vote ending US military aidWashington Examiner: Johnson unveils plan to tie SAVE America Act to annual defense bill Washington Examiner: Trump says communism greater threat than WWI, WWII, 9/11, and Pearl HarborWashington Examiner: Pentagon announces new Defense Policy Board chaired by Robert LighthizerWashington Examiner: DHS Secretary Mullin touts ‘deportations are way up’ of the ‘worst of the worst’ criminalsWashington Examiner: Jamie Raskin files petition to kill Trump’s $1.8 billion lawfare fundWashington Examiner: Army captain sentenced to 12 years for slipping pregnant soldier abortion drugsWashington Examiner: Opinion: JD Vance is either dishonest or delusional in touting Iran dealWashington Examiner: Opinion: Trump is right to threaten tariffs over European digital tax extortionAP: Israeli troops face resistance from residents as they push into a town in SyriaThe Atlantic: Hegseth, Rubio, and Caine Had an Auto-Deleting Signal ChatWall Street Journal: Honeywell Aerospace CEO Says AI Works for Blueprints but Isn’t Ready for the CockpitAP: Britain sets out a plan for future defense with a focus on drones and a fight over moneyBreaking Defense: In Defence Investment Plan Preview, Britain Bets Big on Drones, ‘Hybrid’ NavyThe Telegraph: Starmer short-changes defence in final act as Prime MinisterAir & Space Forces Magazine: Space Force Approves New Satellite Jammer for Operational UseDefense One: Marine Corps Inks First Contract for Autonomous Ground Vehicle ProductionDefenseScoop: TRANSCOM Seeks Partners to Study Autonomous, Cargo-Moving Drone Boats for Future OpsAir & Space Forces Magazine: Air Force Accelerates Sending B-21s to EllsworthThe War Zone: Air Force Discloses B-2 Can Launch Stealth Anti-Ship Missiles in Surprise AnnouncementAir & Space Forces Magazine: New AI ‘Agent Network’ Could Gather Intel Faster for Strike PackagesAir & Space Forces Magazine: Air Force Leaders Say AI Guidance, More Changes to BMT ComingNational Defense Magazine: Air Force Ponders Future for Red Hawk Beyond Pilot TrainingAir & Space Forces Magazine: OA-1K Crashed After Pilot Mistakenly Turned Off Fuel: New ReportAP: Republican Tom Kean Jr. set to return to Congress after long unexplained absenceNew York Times: Kean Set to Speak at the Capitol After Mysterious AbsenceWashington Post: Man who played Star Wars music at National Guard members receives settlementTHE CALENDAR: TUESDAY | JUNE 308:30 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW — Center for Strategic and International Studies Defense and Security Department in-person and virtual Global Security Forum: “America at 250: A Defining Moment for American Statecraft and Military Power” https://www.csis.org/events/2026-global-security-forum-america-2509 a.m. — German Marshall Fund of the U.S. virtual discussion: “Rethinking Hungary-Ukraine Relations: A New Start for Reconciliation,” with Tamas Csiki Varga, principal of SV/SD Counseling; Sergiy Gerasymchuk, deputy director of Ukrainian PRISM; Balazs Tarnok, director of research, Ludovika University of Public Service John Lukacs Institute for Strategy and Politics; Daniel Hegedus, GMFUS senior visiting fellow; and Zsuzsanna Vegh, GMFUS program officer https://www.gmfus.org/event/rethinking-hungary-ukraine-relations10 a.m. 2359 Rayburn — House Appropriations Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee hearing: “Oversight Hearing – U.S. Office of Management and Budget,” with testimony from OMB Director Russell Vought http://appropriations.house.gov2 p.m. 310 Cannon — House Homeland Security Border Security and Enforcement Subcommittee and Counterterrorism and Intelligence Subcommittee joint hearing: “Northern Exposure: Assessing the Evolving Threat Landscape at America’s Northern Border” http://homeland.house.gov2:30 p.m. — National Aeronautics and Space Administration virtual discussion: “Updates to NASA’s plans to build a Moon Base on the lunar surface,” with NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman; and Carlos Garcia-Galan, NASA Moon Base program manager https://www.youtube.com/nasaWEDNESDAY | JULY 1 10 a.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual briefing: “Previewing the NATO Summit,” with Seth Jones, CSIS Harold Brown chair; Max Bergmann, director of the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program; Jerry McGinn, director of the CSIS Center for the Industrial Base; and Maria Snegovaya, senior fellow at the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program https://www.csis.org/events/press-briefing-previewing-nato-summit10 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW — Center for Strategic and International Studies discussion: “The Future of AI-Driven Cyber Defense,” with Lauryn Williams, deputy director and senior fellow, CSIS Strategic Technologies Program; and Carol Kuntz, non-resident adjunct fellow, CSIS Strategic Technologies Program https://www.csis.org/events/future-ai-driven-cyber-defense10:30 a.m. — Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies virtual discussion: “ Space Force advocacy on Capitol Hill,” with Brig. Gen. Nikki Frankino, Space Force legislative liaison; and Melissa Blakesley, Space Force associate deputy assistant secretary for congressional budget and appropriations liaison https://www.mitchellaerospacepower.org/events/brig-gen-nikki-r-frankino/THURSDAY | JULY 2 9:30 a.m. — Carnegie Endowment for International Peace virtual discussion: “U.S.-Iran Negotiations: The Fraught Road Ahead,” with Robert Malley, senior fellow at the Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs; Alan Eyre, Middle East Institute fellow; Michael Singh, Washington Institute for Near East Affairs senior fellow; and Aaron David Miller, CEIP senior fellow https://carnegieendowment.org/events/2026/06/us-iran-negotiations-the-fraught-road-aheadFRIDAY | JULY 3 | INDEPENDENCE DAY FEDERAL HOLIDAY No Daily on Defense6 p.m. EDT / 4 p.m. MDT Keystone, South Dakota — President Donald Trump delivers remarks at a Freedom 250 event at Mount Rushmore National Memorial. https://events.freedom250.org/credentialing/w5gr9pp3jv6 p.m. 1919 Connecticut Ave. NW, — Merrifield Venture Partners, LLC – GoCity Group “Countdown 250 Ball,” with a full-scale patriotic celebration across multiple ballrooms and entertainment areas, live music, immersive attractions, American history, honored guests, and a midnight countdown to America’s 250th birthday.” https://countdown250.allamericanball.com/8 p.m. West Lawn, U.S. Capitol — National Park Service, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Department of the Army, the Boeing Company, American Airlines and PBS host the Independence Day annual “A Capitol Fourth Concert,” with Jack Everly, principal pops conductor of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra; and the National Symphony Orchestra https://www.pbs.org/a-capitol-fourth/