Foreigners haven’t any place in Gulf ‘besides at backside of its waters’ says Iranian supreme chief in assertion
Iran’s supreme chief says that the Islamic Republic will shield its “nuclear and missile capabilities” as a nationwide asset, at the same time as US president Donald Trump tries to get a deal on these points.
Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei spoke in a written assertion learn aloud on Iranian state tv, as he has since he took over after the 28 February airstrike that killed his 86-year-old father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
“Ninety million proud and honorable Iranians inside and outdoors the nation regard all of Iran’s identity-based, religious, human, scientific, industrial and technological capacities – from nanotechnology and biotechnology to nuclear and missile capabilities – as nationwide property, and can shield them simply as they shield the nation’s waters, land and airspace,” Khamenei mentioned.
“By God’s assist and energy, the brilliant way forward for the Persian Gulf area might be a future with out America, one serving the progress, consolation and prosperity of its individuals,” Khamenei added within the assertion.
“We and our neighbors throughout the waters of the Persian Gulf and the (Gulf) of Oman share a standard future. Foreigners who come from 1000’s of kilometers away to behave with greed and malice there haven’t any place in it – besides on the backside of its waters.”
A person holds a flag with an image of late chief of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, late Supreme Chief of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Iran’s new Supreme Chief Mojtaba Khamenei, throughout a rally in Tehran, Iran, April 29, 2026. {Photograph}: Majid-Asgaripour/ReutersShare
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Oil worth tops $126 a barrel after Trump warns Iran blockade might final ‘months’
Mark Saunokonoko
The worldwide oil worth has soared above $126 a barrel, its highest degree since 2022, after Donald Trump warned the US blockade of Iranian ports might final for months and peace talks remained stalled.
After surging greater than 13% in 24 hours, the value of Brent crude futures reached its highest worth because the battle started on 28 February. Not since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine has Brent topped $120, with the value then peaking at $139.
Oil markets have been spooked this week as Trump appeared prepared to take care of the US navy’s blockade of Iranian ports, with Iran responding by conserving the strait of Hormuz all however shut to different oil tankers.
Market observers consider that merchants are starting to look past the early optimism {that a} diplomatic decision might restore Gulf oil flows via the very important commerce route, and in direction of “the fact of the availability state of affairs”.
“The breakdown of talks between the US and Iran, together with President Trump reportedly rejecting Iran’s proposal for a reopening of the strait of Hormuz, has the market dropping hope for any fast resumption in oil flows,” Warren Patterson, the pinnacle of commodities at funding financial institution ING, mentioned.
Trump informed oil executives this week that the US would “proceed the present blockade for months if wanted,” in response to a White Home official.
US officers hope the blockade will pressure Iran to cap its oil wells and shutter manufacturing as soon as its oil amenities, equivalent to Kharg Island, have crammed to the brim.
“The blockade is considerably more practical than the bombing,” Trump informed Axios. “They’re choking like a stuffed pig.”
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A bit extra now from Iran’s supreme chief Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei. He mentioned in a written message on Thursday that america had been defeated in its battle on Iran.
“Right this moment, two months after the most important navy deployment and aggression by the world’s bullies within the area, and america’ disgraceful defeat in its plans, a brand new chapter is unfolding for the Persian Gulf and the strait of Hormuz,” mentioned Khamenei within the message learn on state tv.
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Home votes to reauthorize home surveillance
The US authorities’s effort to resume its warrantless home surveillance powers cleared the Home of Representatives on Wednesday, after Home speaker Mike Johnson and Trump administration officers persuaded Republican holdouts to again the invoice.
The renewal of the International Intelligence Surveillance Act now goes to the Senate, the place it faces a probably tough reception as a result of it was hooked up to unrelated laws that might limit the Federal Reserve’s capability to situation digital forex – one thing Senate majority chief John Thune has described as a non-starter.
The White Home and Congressional management have piled stress on recalcitrant lawmakers to endorse FISA, which has drawn bipartisan skepticism as a result of a provision within the legislation – Part 702 – permits authorities to bypass warrant necessities earlier than rifling via huge hauls of Individuals’ communication information.
US spy chiefs have lengthy defended this system, saying it supplies an irreplaceable surveillance instrument.
Lawmakers’ issues over the warrantless spying have in previous years repeatedly delayed makes an attempt to resume the surveillance authority, though the intelligence group and its allies all the time gained ultimately.
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Foreigners haven’t any place in Gulf ‘besides at backside of its waters’ says Iranian supreme chief in assertion
Iran’s supreme chief says that the Islamic Republic will shield its “nuclear and missile capabilities” as a nationwide asset, at the same time as US president Donald Trump tries to get a deal on these points.
Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei spoke in a written assertion learn aloud on Iranian state tv, as he has since he took over after the 28 February airstrike that killed his 86-year-old father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
“Ninety million proud and honorable Iranians inside and outdoors the nation regard all of Iran’s identity-based, religious, human, scientific, industrial and technological capacities – from nanotechnology and biotechnology to nuclear and missile capabilities – as nationwide property, and can shield them simply as they shield the nation’s waters, land and airspace,” Khamenei mentioned.
“By God’s assist and energy, the brilliant way forward for the Persian Gulf area might be a future with out America, one serving the progress, consolation and prosperity of its individuals,” Khamenei added within the assertion.
“We and our neighbors throughout the waters of the Persian Gulf and the (Gulf) of Oman share a standard future. Foreigners who come from 1000’s of kilometers away to behave with greed and malice there haven’t any place in it – besides on the backside of its waters.”
A person holds a flag with an image of late chief of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, late Supreme Chief of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Iran’s new Supreme Chief Mojtaba Khamenei, throughout a rally in Tehran, Iran, April 29, 2026. {Photograph}: Majid-Asgaripour/ReutersShare
Up to date at 07.09 EDT
British monarchs to say farewell to Trumps on final day of US state go to
Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla will finish a four-day state go to to the US on Thursday with a proper farewell with US president Donald Trump and first girl Melania Trump in Washington.
The king is then anticipated to put a wreath at Arlington Nationwide Cemetery, throughout the Potomac River in Virginia, a sacred website for a lot of Individuals the place tens of 1000’s of the nation’s battle lifeless are buried, in addition to two presidents and a few former Supreme Court docket justices.
The royal go to to the US, formally to commemorate the 250th anniversary of America’s Declaration of Independence from British rule, got here at a time of tensions between Britain and the US, with Trump having criticized British prime minister Keir Starmer for what he says is his lack of assist in the US-Israeli battle on Iran.
Charles and Camilla are resulting from fly to Bermuda on Thursday night, after attending occasions in Virginia.
Queen Camilla, King Charles III, U.S. President Donald Trump and First girl Melania Trump attend a state arrival ceremony on the South Garden of the White Home on April 28, 2026 in Washington, DC. {Photograph}: Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesShare
A message from Iran’s supreme chief Mojtaba Khamenei will shortly be launched on the event of “nationwide Persian Gulf day“, the nation’s state media mentioned on Thursday.
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth has beforehand mentioned that Iran’s new chief, who has not been seen in public because the battle started, is “disfigured”.
It comes at a time when Iran’s Gulf ports are underneath a US blockade.
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US progress probably picked up in first quarter
US financial progress probably accelerated within the first quarter on a rebound in authorities spending after a crippling authorities shutdown, however the pickup is anticipated to be short-lived because the battle with Iran drives up gasoline costs and squeezes family budgets.
The anticipated improve in gross home product final quarter additionally would replicate strong progress in enterprise funding in tools, fueled by a man-made intelligence spending growth and the constructing of information facilities underpinning the expertise, Reuters reported.
The Commerce Division’s advance estimate of first-quarter gross home product on Thursday is, nonetheless, anticipated to point out client spending dropping additional momentum even earlier than the US-Israeli battle with Iran raised the typical US gasoline worth to above $4 a gallon.
“We stay in comparatively sluggish progress mode, nothing thrilling,” mentioned Brian Bethune, an economics professor at Boston School. “There’s nothing actually to get a great fireplace going. There are some heat embers, however there isn’t a fireplace on the market.“
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Hegseth faces a second day of Democrats grilling him over the Iran battle
Hey and welcome to our US politics protection as Pete Hegseth faces a second day of grilling from Democrats on Capitol Hill, with senators getting their first alternative to confront or reward the Pentagon chief over his dealing with of the Iran battle.
The protection secretary battled with Democrats – and a few Republicans – yesterday throughout a virtually six-hour Home armed providers committee listening to, the place he confronted questioning over the battle’s prices in {dollars}, lives and the diminishing stockpiles of important weapons.
The Senate armed providers committee will hear the same presentation on the Trump administration’s 2027 navy funds proposal, which might increase protection spending to a historic $1.5 trillion.
Yesterday Hegseth denied that the US-Israel battle on Iran, which the Pentagon estimates has price the US at the least $25bn, was “a quagmire”.
Through the listening to, California Democrat John Garamendi attacked Hegseth over the “astounding incompetence” that Garamendi argued had led to “political and financial catastrophe at each degree”.
“The president has gotten himself and America caught in a quagmire of one other battle within the Center East,” Garamendi mentioned. “He’s desperately making an attempt to extricate himself from his personal errors; it’s in America’s, and certainly the world’s, curiosity he reach that.”
Hegseth was incensed, responding “Your hatred for president Trump blinds you to the reality of the success of this mission … you name it a quagmire, handing propaganda to our enemies? Disgrace on you for that assertion.”
Stick with us at this time for spherical two beginning at 10am ET. The chief of staffs, Dan Caine, and Jules Hurst III, chief monetary official for the Pentagon, will even be showing.
In different developments:
US financial progress probably accelerated within the first quarter on a rebound in authorities spending after a crippling authorities shutdown. The anticipated improve in gross home product final quarter additionally would replicate strong progress in enterprise funding in tools, fueled by a man-made intelligence spending growth and the constructing of information facilities underpinning the expertise. Figures might be out at 8.30am ET
King Charles and Queen Camilla are anticipated to make stops in Virginia earlier than wrapping up their US go to again on the White Home on Thursday with a proper farewell from Trump. Charles will then journey solo to Bermuda on his first go to as king to a British abroad territory.
Senate minority chief Chuck Schumer mentioned that Democrats will as soon as once more pressure a vote on a battle powers decision on Iran, the sixth time in latest weeks. “This week, Democrats will pressure a vote on our battle powers decision for the sixth time. We’ll proceed to pressure votes each week as this battle rages on,” Schumer mentioned from the Senate ground.
The Home authorized a three-year reauthorization of a divisive US surveillance program forward of its expiration on Friday, including new oversight measures however stopping wanting the warrant requirement that critics have demanded. A big group of Democrats joined most Republicans in passing the invoice by a 235-191 vote.
Trump as soon as once more bolstered his emotions in direction of James Comey in a social media put up. Commenting on the accusation that the previous FBI director referred to as for him to be killed after posting an image of some seashells in a sample exhibiting 86 47, Trump wrote: ““86” is a mob time period for “kill him.” They are saying 86 him! 86 47 means “kill President Trump.”James Comey, who’s a Soiled Cop, one of many worst, is aware of this full nicely! EIGHT MILES OUT, SIX FEET DOWN! Didn’t he additionally deceive the FBI about this??? I believe so!”. Trump is the forty seventh president of the US.
The US supreme courtroom’s conservative majority struck down a significant aspect of the Voting Rights Act which protects in opposition to racial discrimination in redistricting, in a ruling that paves the way in which for aggressive gerrymandering in states throughout the nation that would have an effect on elections for years to come back.
The Florida Legislature authorized a brand new congressional map supposed to maximise Republicans’ benefit within the state as a part of the nationwide redistricting battle that Republicans launched forward of this yr’s midterms.
Outgoing Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell mentioned he’ll keep on as a central financial institution governor when his management time period ends in simply over two weeks.
The Division of Justice introduced on Wednesday that three anti-ICE protesters have been charged with allegedly assaulting Savannah Hernandez, a rightwing video journalist who was shoved to the bottom throughout a skirmish with three members of a household outdoors an immigration detention facility in St Paul Minnesota this month.
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