Iran should continue “blocking the Strait of Hormuz,” while the U.S. should “shut” its Middle East military bases, new Iranian Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, said on Thursday in his first speech since being elected. He is still yet to appear in public, and a broadcaster read out his words.
Four days after Mojtaba Khamenei was announced as Iran’s new Supreme Leader, the 56-year-old son of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei finally broke his silence. In a written statement that was read out on Iranian state television, Khamenei gave his backing to the continued blocking of the Strait of Hormuz and demanded the U.S. close its regional military bases.
Khamenei also paid tribute to his father who was killed in U.S.-Israeli air strikes on February 28, as well as Iranians who have died in fighting since. “We will not forgo revenge for the blood of your martyrs,” he said.
At least five ships have now been targeted in the Strait of Hormuz, as Iran persists in its attempt to stop marine traffic moving through the sea passage.
Boats with explosives, believed to be Iranian, attacked two fuel tankers in Iraqi waters on Wednesday (11 March), killing one crew member. Meanwhile, Türkiye said on Thursday that 15 vessels from the country remained stranded in the Strait of Hormuz.
Tehran’s Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali announced on Wednesday that the Iranian men’s football team would be withdrawing from the tournament set to take place in the U.S., as well as Canada and Mexico, later this year.
Speaking on state television, Donyamali said the U.S.’s assassination of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei meant Iran could “under no circumstances” participate in the FIFA event.
Global internet monitoring organisation NetBlocks said that Iran’s internet shutdown had entered its 13th day. The London-based independent digital rights watchdog said the blackout was one of the longest ever recorded.
Citibank announced it was closing branches in the United Arab Emirates until 14 March as a precautionary measure on Thursday.
Bloomberg meanwhile has told staff based in the Gulf, including its regional headquarters in Dubai, that they can temporarily relocate and work elsewhere.
Iran has repeatedly launched missile and drone attacks on the Gulf states since the U.S. and Israel first struck Tehran 13 days ago.
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Leaders of countries from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) have agreed to hold coordinated population censuses around 2030. They took the decision at the CIS Council of Heads of State meeting in Awaza, Turkmenistan on Friday, media reported.
A powerful explosion has been reported at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, raising fresh concerns over aviation security in Saudi Arabia as tensions across the region continue to escalate.
Britain and Israel have reached a temporary compromise over the future of the British Consulate General in East Jerusalem, easing a diplomatic dispute that had threatened to further strain relations between the two countries.
South African judge Navanethem “Navi” Pillay won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday “for her efforts to promote peace and international law,” the Norwegian Nobel Committee said.
The U.S. has imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday (9 October) escalating tensions with European allies and potentially targeting companies that provide services to the tribunal. The move came hours after former ICC judge Navi Pillay won the Nobel Peace Prize.
A powerful explosion has been reported at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, raising fresh concerns over aviation security in Saudi Arabia as tensions across the region continue to escalate.
Turkic states are assessing the feasibility of passport-free travel between countries using national ID cards, Kürşad Zorlu, the Deputy Chairman of Türkiye’s ruling AK Party said on Saturday.
European Union measures suspending import duties on 80 per cent of Armenian exports to the bloc came into effect on Saturday. The temporary liberalisation measures are aimed at supporting Armenian producers and exporters following trade restrictions imposed on the country's products by Russia.
Georgia is enjoying one of its biggest and highest-quality grape harvests since independence. By 6 October, growers in the country's main wine-producing region, Kakheti, had delivered 182,210 tonnes of grapes, with 99 per cent rated medium or high quality, despite recent protests over prices.
Uzbekistan has unveiled plans to deepen economic ties with Central Asia and Azerbaijan, proposing shared artificial intelligence infrastructure, a critical minerals alliance and a regional trade strategy extending to 2035.
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