2026 Iran War: 2026-08-11

Al Jazeera reports Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei's office confirmed a wave of senior military appointments on Monday. Major General Ali Abdollahi was named chief of staff of the armed forces, and Ahmad Vahidi was confirmed as IRGC commander with the rank of major general, succeeding Mohammad Pakpour, killed in the opening phase of the war. Ali Ozmaei was named IRGC Navy commander. Analysts cited by Al Jazeera said the reshuffle points to continued hardline resistance rather than softer terms with Washington.

President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House that the United States will seek compensation from Iran for what he called 50 years of damages, after Tehran tied reopening the Strait of Hormuz to US war reparations. Al Jazeera reported he framed the demand as covering US military deaths and Iranian protesters, and separately said Iran should pay for deaths in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Gaza. Analysts quoted by Al Jazeera described the remarks as complicating ongoing Oman-mediated shipping talks.

In comments carried on Al Jazeera's Iran war live blog, President Trump said the Strait of Hormuz is open and that only the US Navy controls the waterway under what he called an infallible blockade. He said Washington lets through vessels it chooses. The claim contrasts with Iranian officials who continue to condition any full reopening on US concessions, including an end to the naval blockade and reparations.

The Washington Post reported that an Iranian assassination threat against President Trump prompted a covert departure from Turkey after a NATO summit last month. According to the Post, Trump was publicly shown boarding Air Force One, then secretly moved via an airport catering truck to a smaller C-32A aircraft while the White House said he was on Air Force One. The report said the White House had downplayed the threat level.