Trump heads to NATO summit amid Operation Epic Fury fallout as Khamenei funeralgoers vow revenge

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Tuesday that “the next round of talks between Israel and Lebanon, facilitated by the United States, will be held in Rome.” 

“Last April, I had communicated to the Lebanese and Israeli Governments Italy's willingness to support the dialogue for peace in the region and to serve as the venue for the negotiations,” he added. 

The talks will be held on July 14 and 15, The Times of Israel reported, citing Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter. 

Secretary of State Marco Rubio had announced in late June a U.S.-backed “framework for lasting peace and security” between Israel and Lebanon following multiple days of talks between both sides in Washington. 

When Operation Epic Fury began in late February, Hezbollah, the Iran-backed terrorist group based in Lebanon, escalated the conflict within days by launching rockets and drones from southern Lebanon into Israel in support of Iran. Israel responded with extensive strikes against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, while the Lebanese government publicly distanced itself from Hezbollah, condemning its attacks and moving to ban the group's military operations.. 

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said overnight that Tehran will not hold negotiations on a final deal with the U.S. “if threats continue.” 

The remark comes after President Donald Trump revived threats on Monday to strike Iran's power plants and bridges if Tehran doesn't bend on a peace agreement. 

Trump had made the statement while speaking to the press at the Oval Office, vowing that the U.S. will win "one way or the other." 

"We're going to make a deal or we're going to finish the job, okay. And it won't be tough to finish the job. I'd rather make a deal, because I don't want to affect 91 million people. We can knock down their bridges in one hour. We can knock out their energy supply. All of those big plants that they built, big, beautiful, modern plants," Trump said. 

Araghchi then wrote on X, “Para 13 of the MoU is clear: Negotiations on final Deal will not commence if threats continue. Honor your signature.” 

Fox News Digital’s Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report. 

A Saudi-flagged crude oil tanker has been damaged near the Strait of Hormuz while traveling off the coast of Oman, a report said. 

The incident happened after a Qatari LNG tanker was hit in the same area on Monday, maritime security sources told Reuters on Tuesday. 

Reuters also reported that the cause of the latest blast is unknown. 

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO) says the maritime security threat level in the Strait of Hormuz “remains substantial.”  

A Qatari LNG tanker suffered significant damage on Monday after it was struck while traveling through the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported Tuesday, citing four sources with knowledge of the matter. 

The outlet reported that the incident was the first time a liquified natural gas (LNG) tanker from Qatar was hit during the Iran conflict. 

The sources told Reuters that the ship, the Al Rekayyat, sent out distress signals after being struck on its port side and that its engine room was on fire and filled with smoke. 

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO) had said Monday that a tanker was hit by an "unknown projectile" off the coast of Oman. 

UKMTO said the incident happened 8 nautical miles east of Limah, Oman, while the tanker was traveling southbound.  

"A tanker has reported being hit by an unknown projectile on the port side causing a fire, whilst traveling southbound. No casualties or environmental impact reported. Authorities are investigating," UKMTO said. 

Iran launched at least two missiles toward commercial ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday night, Axios also reported, citing two U.S. officials. 

Fox News’ Sophia Compton and Liz Friden contributed to this post. 

President Donald Trump is arriving at the Turkey-held NATO summit with fresh frustration toward several European allies for their responses to the U.S.-led operations against Iran, opening a new front in his long-running campaign to pressure the alliance over burden-sharing.

The summit, which takes place Tuesday and Wednesday in Ankara, Turkey, is expected to focus on defense spending, Ukraine and NATO's long-term strategy toward Russia. 

But it will bring Trump face to face with some of his biggest foes in NATO, including Spain, whose Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has called the U.S. war in Iran "illegal, absurd and cruel."

U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said Wednesday that Trump remains "disappointed" by allies that declined to allow U.S. forces to use military bases or overflight rights during the operation, as well as by political statements criticizing the strikes.

"The president has expressed disappointment in both a couple of our allies' unwillingness to support us using our bases in their countries," Whitaker said. "And, as importantly, he's also incredibly disappointed in the political statements that came out around the time of the launch of Epic Fury." 

The disagreements are expected to loom over a summit where Trump will once again press allies to increase defense spending, while also raising broader questions about whether NATO members are prepared to back the United States during conflicts beyond the alliance's traditional focus on Europe.