Editor-in-chief of Russia Today, Margarita Simonyan:

The Eiffel Tower — we don't actually like it, you know. It looks pretty ugly. We don't want it.

Every time we actually — for some reason — conquered European capitals: we conquered Paris in 1812. We conquered Berlin twice. What did we do? We went back. Because we love Mother Russia. We don't want to stay there. We don't like it there. We like it here.

We just want you to leave us alone. Just leave us alone. Stop tormenting our people. Leave us alone.

We are not Alexander the Great. We are not Genghis Khan. We are not Napoleon. We are certainly not Hitler, for God's sake.

Source: DIE WELTWOCHE

NEW: CENTCOM protested to IDF after Israel's Transport Ministry banned additional American refueling tankers from landing at Ben Gurion Airport.

CENTCOM called the decision a direct blow to US operational needs amid the escalation with Iran.

The ban came after the number of US tankers parked at Ben Gurion reached 33 — occupying civilian aircraft stands and raising concerns about disrupting summer travel.

Transport Minister Miri Regev justified the decision by citing a prior cabinet agreement capping US aircraft at the airport at 20, and said the Americans could use Israeli military air bases instead.

Iran hit a Kuwaiti naval vessel tonight, wounding four military personnel.

Kuwaiti army confirmed the injured are receiving medical treatment and are in stable condition.

Zelensky struggles with a plastic water bottle, fully detaching the screw cap, and setting it aside.

Under the EU's Single-Use Plastics Directive, bottle caps must stay physically attached.

French soldiers from the Pacific performed haka dance in front of the Arc de Triomphe during the Bastille Day parade today.

Greta Thunberg detained by Berlin police during a sit-in protest outside Rheinmetall's offices in solidarity with Gaza.

A bipartisan Russia sanctions bill, originally championed by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, would give President Trump the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the five largest buyers of Russian oil and gas, including China and India.

The goal is to increase economic pressure on Russia over its war in Ukraine while leaving the decision to impose tariffs entirely to the president.

The bill also expands sanctions on Russia's defense, energy, financial sectors, and its shadow oil fleet.

Source: WSJ

After Sen. Lindsey Graham's death, pro-Kremlin officials and commentators expressed hope that his absence could weaken U.S. support for Ukraine and soften Washington's stance toward Russia.

Graham, one of Congress's strongest Russia hawks, had been leading bipartisan efforts to impose tougher sanctions on Moscow.

Source: WaPo

A Korean YouTuber says some Japanese restaurants use two menus: a cheaper Japanese menu for locals and a more expensive English menu for tourists.

After asking for the Japanese menu, he noticed the prices were much lower—sometimes nearly half.

He says this practice is becoming more common in cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto, with staff choosing the menu based on the language you speak.

NOW: The U.S. blockade on Iran has started again.

Iran's Deputy FM Kazem Gharibabadi:

Iran will never request negotiations with the United States.

The IRGC is sending messages to Trump through messages written on its missiles.

CENTCOM:

U.S. forces resumed the naval blockade against vessels transiting to and from Iranian ports and coastal areas today at 4 p.m. ET.

There are currently more than 20 U.S. Navy warships and hundreds of military aircraft operating across the Middle East.

Trump:

If we left right now, it would take them 20 years to rebuild what they have.

The only way to negotiate with these people is through strength, and the only strength is military strength.

Literally, two days ago, we had a deal, and then they broke it at the last moment.

Trump on his comments about taking Kharg Island:

We already hit Kharg Island, as you know, twice. Even three times.

I said hit everything but just leave that little area from 25 yards out because I don't want that in terms of the world economy.

As far as taking it is concerned, if we degrade them far enough and deep enough back, I would do that.

Trump:

We're gonna hit them very hard tonight, we're gonna hit them very hard tomorrow night, we're gonna hit them very hard the night after.

And then, next week it gets really bad for them because next week comes the power plants, bridges.

We're gonna knock out all their power plants and bridges.

Trump on a deal with Iran:

I think they have no choice.

I think if I didn't do it the way I'm doing, they would never make a deal.

They would've never made a deal with Obama.

Trump on Iran:

Everything they say is a lie.

I've never seen anything like it.

Trump on the Strait of Hormuz being open:

It's open if people want to go through it.

It's only close for Iran, both in and out.

We're coming up with great alternatives, including Texas and Alaska.

Trump:

I don't want to negotiate now.