Trump appears ready to accept Iran’s deal with Oman to open Strait of Hormuz as his own

TRUMP ON STRAIT: ‘WE’LL KNOW IN 48 HOURS’: As Iran and Oman are closing in on an agreement to share control of the Strait of Hormuz and charge ‘service fees,” President Donald Trump appears ready to embrace the arrangement in order to reopen the vital chokepoint and avoid the need for a massive U.S. military campaign. “They had an all-day negotiation today, and it looks like things are very good,” Trump said on Fox News Tuesday night, referring to the ongoing Iranian-Omani talks, which Iran claims do not include the United States. “The strait’s going to be open very soon, or they’re going to get hit very hard, and then the strait’s going to be open.”In the interview with Trace Gallagher, host of Fox News @ Night, Trump insisted both that the U.S. controls the strait “totally” and that it needs to reopen for talks on nuclear issues to begin.

“The strait’s going to be open very soon, or they’re going to get hit very hard, and then the strait’s going to be open,” Trump said.Before departing California following a political event, Trump told reporters traveling with him that an agreement on the strait could come as soon as today. “It could happen. Tomorrow or the next day,” he said, referring to Wednesday and Thursday. “We’ll find out. We’ll know in 48 hours.”“We’re moving along very nicely,” he said. “A lot of progress has been made.”CEDING CONTROL OF THE STRAIT? Reports indicate the emerging arrangement between Iran and Oman follow what was first reported by the New York Times yesterday, and now confirmed by several other news organizations. It would direct ships entering the Persian Gulf through an Iranian-controlled northern channel, while ships leaving the Gulf would transit a southern route administered by Oman. The Associated Press quoted two regional officials as saying “service fees would be charged for providing security and preserving the maritime environment,” while Axios reported the initial arrangement would last for 60 days, during which time “no tolls or fees would be charged.”The 60-day temporary arrangement could be extended, according to the report.‘WE’RE HAVING VERY GOOD DISCUSSIONS’: Even as Trump can’t or won’t provide any details about who from the U.S. is talking to Iran, and where or in what format the talks are supposedly taking place, Trump continues to advance the narrative that productive negotiations are underway, it’s just that Iran won’t admit it.“We’re having very good discussions,” Trump told Fox. “They don’t like to admit that …it’s a little bit disconcerting.”“You tell people like you, ‘We’re having wonderful discussions,’ and then some guy will come out of Iran and say, ‘We have not met. We have not.’ [They] just lie all day long, you understand. It’s just incredible,” Trump said. “They’ll say, ‘We didn’t talk about nuclear.’ Well, what did we talk about? We’re sitting there twiddling our thumbs, right?”“But it doesn’t matter. That’s talk. The only thing that matters is action,” Trump said. “And they want to make a deal. We’ll see what happens. If they don’t make a deal, it’s going to be too bad.”“If they back out again, they’re going to get hit really hard. They know that. They understand that. I have no choice. They can’t have a nuclear weapon. It’s very simple,” Trump said. QATAR SAYS DIRECT TALKS BETWEEN US AND IRAN HAVEN’T BEGUNGood Wednesday 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 Keely Bastow. 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: Taiwan is conducting annual military exercises designed to test its ability to defend the island against a Chinese invasion.The 10-day Han Kuang exercises include live-fire exercises and rehearsal of strategies to counter China’s so-called “gray-zone tactics,” which stop just short of open warfare. Taiwan is waiting for final approval of a $14 billion arms deal that has been held for months. During his Trip to China in May, Trump called arms sales to Taiwan a “good negotiating chip” and declined to approve more weapons for Taiwan at this time.RUSSIA ACCUSED OF ‘DRONE SAFARI’ AS SHOCKING FOOTAGE EMERGES OF UKRAINIAN CIVILIAN BEING ‘HUNTED’UKRAINE DEFENSELESS AGAINST RUSSIAN MISSILES: Ukraine suffered through another night under barrage from Russian missiles, which is becoming a nightly ritual.Ukraine is out of Patriot missiles and other air defenses capable of shooting down ballistic missiles, and as he has done daily, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appealed to European nations to give their stocks to Ukraine. “It is very important that our partners understand that delays in supplying them, or an unwillingness to provide anti-ballistic systems, lead directly to such horrific casualties and destruction,” he said.Zelensky called the overnight attack “a heavy strike” on Kyiv and the Kyiv region that included two dozen ballistic missiles and killed 17 people and wounded 44 others.“The main targets of the attack were warehouse facilities belonging to civilian businesses. There were also strikes on infrastructure and a railway station. These facilities had nothing to do with the war – a brewing company, construction materials warehouses, and civilian logistics facilities,” he posted on X.Meanwhile Zelensky is touting the effectiveness of Ukraine’s drone forces in inflicting heavy casualties on Russian ground forces. “Overall, in July, all our units on the front eliminated 30,272 Russians – specifically using drones. This figure includes both killed and badly wounded. And this figure includes only cases for which there is clear video evidence,” Zelensky said in a video address. “So the trend on the front remains unchanged. Every month, the Russians lose about 30,000 troops. Our army and all units of Ukraine’s Defense and Security Forces will have even more drones.”UKRAINIAN DRONES SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED MORE THAN 30,000 FRONT-LINE RUSSIAN TROOPS IN JULY: ZELENSKYUS ALSO FACING MISSILE SQUEEZE: The U.S. has stopped selling Patriot missiles and other high-end interceptor missiles to Europe for use in Ukraine, because it needs them for the war in Iran, especially if it heats up again.“The United States has used about half of the initial inventory for three munitions: (Patriot, THAAD, and PrSM) and about one-third of the initial inventory for the rest (JASSM, SM-2/3/6, and Tomahawk),” the nonpartisan think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies says in its latest analysis. “Even so, enough remains for any plausible scenario in the war against Iran. The risk comes from potential future wars, particularly with China — but potentially also with Russia or North Korea.”“Not all munitions are in short supply because of the war,” CSIS reports. “The United States has deep inventories of cheaper alternatives, but these come with trade-offs. JDAM, for example, has the same precision and explosive yield as Tomahawk or JASSM. However, it is short-ranged and requires aircraft to overfly adversary territory, resulting in greater vulnerability and potentially greater losses.ARMY ON HUNT FOR CHEAP MISSILE THAT CAN TAKE OUT SMALL DRONES FOR $150,000 EACHTHE RUNDOWN: Washington Examiner: Qatar says direct talks between US and Iran haven’t begunWashington Examiner: Russia accused of ‘drone safari’ as shocking footage emerges of Ukrainian civilian being ‘hunted’Washington Examiner: Ukrainian drones seriously injured or killed more than 30,000 front-line Russian troops in July: ZelenskyWashington Examiner: Army on hunt for cheap missile that can take out small drones for $150,000 eachWashington Examiner: Board of Peace plan drifts toward deadlock as Israel rejects withdrawal before Hamas disarmsWashington Examiner: Army scraps anonymous harassment complaints after Hegseth protests weaponizationWashington Examiner: Susan Collins to oppose Todd Blanche nomination for attorney generalWashington Examiner: Pirro throws drops charges in three more Reflecting Pool vandalism cases amid Trump outrageWashington Examiner: Trump has soured on Jeanine Pirro, but she can still save her jobWashington Examiner: Senate Democrats ask Trump administration for answers on advanced AI modelsWashington Examiner: Dramatic decline in visas issued to Chinese and Indian students under TrumpWashington Examiner: Man armed with pistol arrested at Trump’s Southern California golf courseWashington Examiner: Elite US schools cozy with Cuban university linked to ‘intelligence network’Washington Examiner: ICE confirms death at New Jersey’s Delaney Hall detention centerWashington Examiner: Gas prices top $4 per gallon on average after brief dipAxios: U.S. nears Hormuz deal, aiming for Wednesday announcementCNN: US Military Has Used Up Nearly 80 Percent of Key Missile Interceptors As Commanders Warn Stockpiles ‘Dangerously Low,’ Sources SayNew York Times: An Angry Trump Struggles to Understand Iran’s Defiant LeadersWashington Post: Trump keeps making threats. The world has stopped flinching.Wall Street Journal: Hegseth’s Pick for Top Army Job Is Losing Republican SupportNew York Times: Inside the Oval Office Showdown Between Trump and Jeanine PirroWashington Post: Trump orders changes to White House helipad after weeks of around-the-clock workWashington Post: Predatory trade schools drained $300 million from GI Bill and left thousands of veterans behindWall Street Journal: Deep US Ties With Taiwan Are Surviving Pressure From China—and TrumpTask & Purpose: Army Expected to Add Counter-Drone Laser Weapons to Base DefensesInside Defense: Pentagon Contracts with AI Software Company to Develop Counter-Drone MarketplaceStars and Stripes: Fairchild Air Force Base ‘Still Fully Capable’ Despite Major WildfiresAir & Space Forces Magazine: AI-Driven X-62 Intercepts Crewed Jets in TestBreaking Defense: Defense Execs Feel Good About Pentagon Spending Despite Uncertainty on FY27 BudgetReuters: Lockheed Seeks US Mineral Supplies After Trump Supply-Chain Push, Sources SayDefenseScoop: Space Force Awards $615M in Deals for Second Batch of Aircraft-Tracking SatellitesAir & Space Forces Magazine: Private Investors Purchase Majority Stake in L3Harris’ Space Propulsion BusinessAir & Space Forces Magazine: USAF Issues New Rules for ‘Grooming Standards Separations’Air & Space Forces Magazine: Lasica Assumes Command at Air Forces CentralAir & Space Forces Magazine: Air Force Names New Enlisted Recruiting Commander to Expand the RanksTHE CALENDAR: WEDNESDAY | AUGUST 5 9 a.m. 25 Massachusetts Ave. NW — Google Defense Roadshow: “The AI mission advantage, with Cameron Stanley, chief digital and AI officer at the Defense Department https://cloud.google.com/events/googledefenseroadshow269 a.m. 300 Army Navy Dr., Arlington, Va. — Federal Business Council Irregular Warfare Center Annual Symposium: “Adversaries in the Homeland,” with National Guard Bureau Vice Chief Gen. Thomas Carden https://www.fbcinc.com/e/IWC/default.aspx10 a.m. — Carnegie Endowment for International Peace virtual discussion: “The Russia-Ukraine War: Not Forever, But No End in Sight,” with Andrew Weiss, CEIP vice president for studies; Aaron David Miller, senior fellow at the CEIP American Statecraft Program; and Dara Massicot, senior fellow at the CEIP Russia and Eurasia Program https://carnegieendowment.org/events/2026/07/the-russia-ukraine-war-notTHURSDAY | AUGUST 69 a.m. 300 Army Navy Dr., Arlington, Va. — Federal Business Council Irregular Warfare Center Annual Symposium: “A Whole-of-Society Response,” with Joseph Humire, deputy assistant secretary of defense for Americas security affairs https://www.fbcinc.com/e/IWC/default.aspx