Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-25 at 02:02

HEADLINES
US Ends Iran Strikes After Pause
Saudi Nuclear Pact Could Trigger Arms Race
Treasury Sanctions Iran Network Linked to Zanjani

The time is now 2:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, For the first time in nearly two weeks, US forces did not strike Iran last night.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Former Israeli consul in Los Angeles Yaki Dayan warned that the US-Saudi Arabia civilian nuclear agreement could spark a regional arms race and said President Donald Trump is currently in an escalating confrontation with Iran with no clear exit strategy, remarks Dayan shared in an interview on 103FM. He described the agreement as having a two-year trial period during which enrichment could occur on Saudi soil, with a ten-year veto period after which the Saudis could reopen the issue, and he contrasted it with the UAE deal, noting the Emirates cannot carry out uranium enrichment independently. Dayan argued that the terms warrant scrutiny when the agreement is submitted for approval and warned that Trump’s aim may be to finalize deals, potentially without normalization. Separately, the Treasury sanctioned four individuals and nine entities tied to an Iranian financial evasion network run by Babak Zanjani, a network the department said helped the Islamic Republic evade sanctions and support the IRGC through digital asset companies such as Zedcex and Zedxion, with revenue drawn from financial services, gold and precious gem production, digital asset trading, and major transportation and infrastructure projects. The statement noted Zanjani’s 2016 embezzlement conviction in Iran, with a death sentence commuted in 2024, and described his 2025 reemergence as demonstrating the lengths Iranian state-affiliated elites will go to preserve access to the international financial system.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Trump said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has "turned Palestinian" during remarks at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, an event that raises money for journalism scholarships and celebrates press freedoms under the First Amendment. Trump told the audience that Schumer, who had been “100% for Israel,” is now “a great, proud Palestinian,” and he joked about sending him a Palestinian outfit to greet Benjamin Netanyahu when he visits next week. The president used the occasion to blend humor with barbs at the press, returning to his habit of criticizing what he calls the “fake news media,” while also acknowledging the event’s tradition following the suspension of the original dinner after a shooting earlier in the year.

Thank you for tuning in to this Israel Today: Ongoing War Report update.
I'm Noa Levi. Stay safe and informed.
Keep in mind that this AI-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for a comprehensive view. Find the code and more details in the podcast description.

SOURCES
https://t.me/ILtoday/19622
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-903589
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-903591
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-903594