Foreign
Iranians Vow To ‘Resist Until The End’ At Guards Naval Chief’s Funeral
Thousands of Iranians gathered Wednesday in Tehran for the funeral of the Revolutionary Guards’ naval commander, killed in an Israeli strike, with mourners vowing to fight to the end despite tough talk from Washington.
The procession took place on the 47th anniversary of the Islamic republic, proclaimed on April 1, 1979, after the revolution that overthrew the last shah and ended more than 2,500 years of monarchy.
But this year, the public holiday carried particular weight, as Tehran fights for survival under relentless US-Israeli bombardment since February 28.
“This war has lasted a month. However long it takes, we will continue,” said Moussa Nowruzi, a 57-year-old pensioner.
“We will resist until the end.”
“Revenge,” read one sign held high by a young boy, while other attendees unfurled massive Iranian flags as government supporters filled the symbolic Enghelab Square named for the Islamic revolution in the heart of the capital.
Among the chanting crowd repeating slogans such as “Allah Akbar, Khamenei Rahbar” (God is greatest, Khamenei is the supreme leader), a man wept in the arms of a woman dressed in black.
Like many Iranians, they came to honour relatives killed in the conflict, their faces displayed on placards.
The coffin of commander Alireza Tangsiri made its way slowly through the crowd.
Tangsiri was one of the longest-serving senior figures in the Revolutionary Guards and one of its highest-profile faces, regarded as the architect of the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Ahead of a highly anticipated national address, US President Donald Trump said that Iran’s president had asked for a truce a claim Tehran denied adding he would only consider it once the Hormuz “is open, free, and clear”.
Until then, he said, the bombardment would continue, a threat shrugged off by mourners on Wednesday.
– ‘Nothing they can do’ –
“Until today, we have seen Trump say things that even the American people are confused and bewildered by,” said Homa Vosoogh, 36, at the funeral.
“We do not care what his statement is and what he says,” she said.
Mohammad Saleh Momeni, a government employee, said Trump’s “remarks are completely nonsensical”.
“He cannot put any of his words into practice, and we are behind our leader.”
The US and Israel initially suggested their goal in the war was to topple the Islamic republic, though Trump in particular has wavered on that point in the weeks since.
Strikes have killed supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who ruled Iran for 36 years, as well as many other senior officials, but the country’s governing system remains intact, and it retains its ability to launch missiles and drones at its neighbours and Israel.
Across Tehran, portraits of the late leader and his son Mojtaba — who took his place but has yet to make a public appearance — are everywhere.
“They think that they can do anything with killing our commanders and soldiers,” said Momeni, the government employee.
“There is nothing they can do… These enemies of ours have a false idea that we will become weak,” he added.
Still, after a wave of anti-government demonstrations that crested in January, some Iranians still privately long for political change, particularly after Trump himself had promised to come to their aid.
“He betrayed the Iranians,” said one woman in her thirties, requesting anonymity for security reasons.
Sounding resigned, she added she no longer expects a change of government, but “if they could grant us more freedoms, we could live with that”.
The 31-year-old man, Cole Allen, who reportedly opened fire during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C., on Saturday night, has told investigators that he deliberately targeted officials of the President Donald Trump administration, according to senior federal law enforcement sources familiar with the case.
Allen allegedly confessed after his arrest on Saturday night that his intention was to “shoot Trump administration officials,” investigators disclosed, according to Fox News.
The incident occurred at the Washington Hilton, where Allen reportedly forced his way through a Secret Service security checkpoint while armed with a shotgun, a handgun, knives, and other weapons.
He subsequently opened fire, hitting a Secret Service officer, whose ballistic vest prevented fatal injuries.
Law enforcement agents at the scene returned fire, but Allen was not struck. Both the injured officer and the suspect were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
In the aftermath of the shooting, operatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), alongside local law enforcement, moved swiftly to secure Allen’s residence in Torrance, California.
Officials said efforts were underway to obtain a federal search warrant to examine the property for further evidence.
According to the White House, new details have emerged suggesting that Allen may have communicated his intentions prior to the attack.
His brother reportedly alerted the New London Police Department after receiving what authorities described as a manifesto outlining the suspect’s motives.
Investigators said the document explicitly referenced plans to target members of the Trump administration.
Officials also pointed to Allen’s social media activity, which allegedly contained anti-Trump and anti-Christian sentiments.
Reacting to the development during an interview with Fox News, Trump described the suspect as deeply disturbed.
“The guy is a sick guy,” Trump said. “When you read his manifesto, he hates Christians. That’s one thing for sure.
“He hates Christians, a hatred. And I think his sister or his brother actually was complaining about it. You know, they were even complaining to law enforcement. So he was, he was a very troubled guy.”
Further insight into Allen’s behaviour was provided by his sister, Avriana Allen, who spoke with both the Secret Service and local police in Rockville.
She reportedly told investigators that her brother frequently made extreme statements and spoke about carrying out actions to “fix” societal problems.
She also revealed that Allen had legally purchased firearms, including two handguns and a shotgun, from a dealer identified as Cap Tactical Firearms.
According to her account, the weapons were stored at their parents’ residence without their knowledge.
Avriana added that her brother regularly practised shooting at gun ranges and was associated with a group known as “The Wide Awakes.”
She further disclosed that he had participated in a “No Kings” protest in California at some point prior to the incident.
The shooting has heightened concerns about security at high-profile political events in the United States, particularly those attended by senior government officials and members of the press.
Authorities say investigations are ongoing as they work to piece together the full scope of Allen’s motives and potential affiliations.
Foreign
“Our Girls Are Sleeping With Foreigners, They Must Leave” — Emotional South African Man Sparks Outrage with Xenophobic Rant
A video circulating on social media shows a man in South Africa expressing strong anti-foreigner sentiments, in remarks that have sparked concern over rising xenophobic tensions.
In the footage, the man appears visibly emotional as he complains about the presence of foreigners in the country, claiming that “our girls are sl33ping with foreigners” and insisting that they “have to leave.” He also warns that foreigners “must never think they can control” local communities.
This is coming amid xenophobic raids carried out by South Africans against mainly Black immigrants in the country.
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has explained how he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, revealing that doctors discovered an early-stage malignant tumour during routine medical checks.
In a post on X on Friday, Netanyahu said the tumour was found during follow-up monitoring after a previous surgery for an enlarged benign prostate.
He said the treatment had “removed the problem and left no trace of it”, adding that he is now in “excellent physical condition”.
The Israeli leader also disclosed that he delayed the release of his medical report to avoid its publication during the peak of tensions between the United States and Israel’s conflict with Iran. According to him, the decision was to prevent Tehran from spreading “even more false propaganda against Israel”.
The 76-year-old said the initial prostate surgery took place in 2024, after which he remained under regular medical supervision. During his latest check-up, doctors identified what he described as “A tiny spot of less than a centimetre”.
“I had a minor medical issue with my prostate that was completely treated. Thank God, it’s behind me,” he said.
Netanyahu added that his decision to proceed with treatment was guided by the need to act swiftly on potential health risks.
“when I’m given information in time about a potential danger, I want to address it immediately”.
He added: “This is true on the national level and also on the personal level”.
The disclosure comes ahead of his planned visit to the White House in the coming weeks, as the United States pushes for a lasting peace agreement in the ongoing conflict with Iran.
Meanwhile, Israel’s ceasefire with Lebanon, following clashes involving Iran-backed Hezbollah, has been extended by three weeks.
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