Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei has declared a “decisive victory” over the U.S. and Israel, signalling a “new phase” in Tehran’s control of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
He made the statement in a televised address on Thursday marking the 40th day since the killing of his father, former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, in Israeli–U.S. air raids on 28 February.
Iran is “waiting for an appropriate response from southern neighbours to demonstrate its brotherhood and goodwill,” he said, following Tehran’s missile and drone attacks on U.S. bases and interests across the region.
Ayatollah Khamenei also said Tehran was resolute in avenging the late leader and those killed in the war, adding that Iran was determined to seek retribution for attacks against it.
He stressed that Iran would not relinquish its rights, referring to the country’s civilian nuclear programme and ballistic missile capability.
As a fragile ceasefire between Iran, the U.S., and Israel entered its third day after 39 days of fighting, Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi warned Washington against allowing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “kill diplomacy”.
In a post on X, he said that if the U.S. allowed the Israeli premier to "kill diplomacy, that would ultimately be its choice. We think that would be dumb but are prepared for it."
"Netanyahu's criminal trial resumes on Sun(day). A region-wide ceasefire, incl(uding) in Lebanon, would hasten his jailing," Iran’s top diplomat added.
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf also warned that "time is running out", stressing that Lebanon and the "resistance axis" are "inseparable" parts of the ceasefire.
"Lebanon and the entire Resistance Axis, as Iran’s allies, form an inseparable part of the ceasefire," the state-owned IRNA news agency quoted him as tweeting on X.
"Extinguish the fire immediately,” he added, referring to continued Israeli bombing of Lebanon, and warning that “Ceasefire violations carry explicit costs and STRONG responses.”
“(Pakistan’s) PM Shehbaz Sharif publicly and clearly stressed the Lebanon issue; there is no room for denial and backtracking,” said the speaker, who is reportedly set to lead the Iranian delegation in upcoming talks with the U.S. in Islamabad.
Meanwhile, Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, in a meeting with UN Special Envoy for the Middle East Jean Arnault in Tehran, criticised the world body’s failure to condemn the Israeli–U.S. war on Iran.
“Iran opposes any temporary settlement of the current situation that would repeat the cycle of negotiations, war, and ceasefire.”
“Only the option of a sustainable end to the war, holding aggressors accountable, and compensation for damages can be considered,” the senior Iranian diplomat said, according to the Foreign Ministry.
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A major international conference on “The Role of Youth in Urban Development during Decolonisation Processes” has opened in Baku, bringing together young leaders and experts from around the world as part of the 13th session of the UN World Urban Forum.
Day four of the World Urban Forum (WUF) in Baku brings a packed agenda on sustainable cities and the global housing crisis, with sessions on green housing, smart cities, public spaces and urban rights taking place on Wednesday (20 May) at Baku Olympic Stadium in Azerbaijan.
The red carpet had barely been rolled up after Donald Trump’s departure before Beijing was laying it out again. Vladimir Putin arrived in the Chinese capital on Wednesday for talks with Xi Jinping, just days after Trump’s own high-profile visit.
United Nations World Urban Forum 13 continues in Baku, Azerbaijan on 19 May with sessions and roundtable discussions focused on strengthening dialogue and advancing cooperation in urban development. Organisers say there are nearly 3 billion people globally who face some form of housing inadequacy.
Azerbaijan and Georgia have agreed to resume daily passenger train services on the Baku-Tbilisi-Baku route from 26 May, 2026, marking a major step in restoring regional rail connectivity after services were suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Day four of the World Urban Forum (WUF) in Baku brings a packed agenda on sustainable cities and the global housing crisis, with sessions on green housing, smart cities, public spaces and urban rights taking place on Wednesday (20 May) at Baku Olympic Stadium in Azerbaijan.
Pakistan has deployed around 8,000 troops, fighter jets and air defence systems to Saudi Arabia under a mutual defence agreement, according to security officials and government sources familiar with the arrangement.
Russia is considering the possibility of joint projects with the United States and China, Kirill Dmitriev, Head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, (Russia's sovereign wealth fund), was quoted as saying by state media on Wednesday.
Two Chinese tankers laden with oil exited the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, shipping data showed, brightening hopes that the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran may soon be resolved after positive comments from the U.S. President and his Deputy.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran remained committed to reaching a diplomatic settlement with the U.S. while continuing to strengthen its defensive capabilities amid ongoing regional tensions.
Finance ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) have urged the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank to increase support for countries hardest hit by the conflict in the Middle East.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that he had paused a planned attack on Iran after Tehran sent a peace proposal to Washington. He said there was now a “very good chance” of reaching a deal to limit Iran’s nuclear programme.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and German counterpart Johann Wadephul said Monday that Ankara and Berlin are both keen to deepen strategic cooperation.
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