On Thursday, July 16th, 2026, the United States fired on an unladen oil tanker attempting to reach Kharg Island in the Strait of Hormuz as part of its ongoing blockade of Iranian ports. The US disabled the tanker by firing Hellfire missiles into its smokestack after it ignored multiple warnings. Concurrently, US strikes targeted coastal defenses, missile sites, and locations farther north, with Iranian state media reporting attacks on the capital, Tehran. These developments follow the collapse of a ceasefire between the two sides, raising fears of a return to full-scale war.

In a related development, former President Donald Trump announced that Iran released Dena Karari, a dual US-Iranian citizen who had been detained since 2024. Meanwhile, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz informed US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth of Israel's determination to maintain forces in "security zones" across Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza.

On the domestic front, immigration enforcement remains a critical issue. Since the start of Trump's second term, 17 Mexican immigrants have died during immigration enforcement operations, including 14 in ICE custody. Arenas-Silva’s sister and immigrant rights groups in Georgia reported that ICE failed to provide necessary medications to him during detention despite family pleas. The Mexican government has formally requested US state attorneys general to criminally investigate deaths of immigrants in ICE custody or during raids.

Additionally, the US Treasury announced the production of a new $1 coin featuring Donald Trump, marking the first time a living US president will appear on currency.

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