‘Ridiculous’: Iran Army’s Navy Chief Mocks Trump Threats to Block Hormuz Strait

Monday, 13 April 2026 1:09 AM

Rear Admiral Shahram Irani, the commander of Iran Army's Navy.

Iran’s Navy commander has dismissed President Donald Trump’s latest threats to impose a naval blockade on the Strait of Hormuz as “very ridiculous and laughable,” saying the Iranian military is closely monitoring every move of the US fleet in the region.

“The brave men of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Navy are tracking and monitoring all movements of the aggressor US military in the region,” Rear Admiral Shahram Irani said in a statement carried by Iranian media.

“The threats of the US president following the humiliating defeat of his army in the third imposed war, a naval blockade on Iran, are very ridiculous and laughable.”

Trump announced on Sunday that he had ordered the US Navy to block the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which about 20 percent of the world’s oil passes.

The order came after high-level talks between Tehran and Washington in Islamabad failed to produce a deal.

The US president also warned that any ship that has paid a toll to Iran would be stopped in international waters.

Iran has placed restrictions on passage through the Strait of Hormuz since the US-Israeli war of aggression began on February 28.

The IRGC Navy has announced that the strait “will never return to its former state, especially for the US and Israel.”

Tehran has allowed vessels serving friendly nations to pass while barring ships affiliated with aggressor countries and their supporters.

The Iranian parliament has advanced draft legislation to impose transit fees in national currency and explicitly ban US and Israeli vessels.

Iran’s armed forces have launched hundreds of ballistic and hypersonic missiles, as well as drones, against American bases across West Asia and Israeli positions in the occupied territories.

Velayati says the key to the Strait of Hormuz remains in Iran’s “capable hands.”

The US has acknowledged dozens of military casualties and significant equipment losses.

The threat of a US blockade came just hours after marathon negotiations between IranIra and the United States in Pakistan’s capital ended without a breakthrough.

US Vice President JD Vance, who led the American delegation, said after the 20-hour session that it was now up to Iran to accept Washington’s “final, best” offer.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, however, said the US side had shown “maximalism, shifting goalposts, and blockade” when a deal was just inches away.

“Zero lessons earned,” Araghchi wrote on social media, implying that Washington had learned nothing from its failed confrontations with Iran.

Iran has repeatedly stated that it will not allow the US or Israel to dictate terms for the use of the Strait of Hormuz, which lies within its territorial waters.

Military Ships Approaching Hormuz Strait ‘a Violation of Ceasefire’, IRGC Warns 

Sunday, 12 April 2026 6:11 PM

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) warns that any attempt by military vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz will be deemed a violation of the two-week ceasefire with the United States.

In a statement on Sunday, the IRGC said it would give a firm and decisive response to such a violation.

“The Naval Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps declares that, contrary to the false claims by some enemy officials, the Strait of Hormuz remains open under intelligent control and management,” it said.

The IRGC said that civilian vessels can transit the strategic waterway under “specific regulations.”

However, the statement emphasized, “for military vessels that, under any title or pretext, intend to approach the Strait of Hormuz, [such action] will be regarded as a violation of the ceasefire and will be met with a severe response.”

The warning came after US Central Command claimed that two American warships, the USS Frank Peterson and USS Michael Murphy, transited the Strait of Hormuz “as part of a broader mission to ensure the strait is fully clear of sea mines.”

“Today, we began the process of establishing a new passage and we will share this safe pathway with the maritime industry soon to encourage the free flow of commerce,” Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of Central Command, said in a statement.

Iran denied any American military vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran and the US agreed to a ceasefire on Tuesday, 40 days after the launch of the US-Israeli aggression against the Islamic Republic.

During the war, Iranian Armed Forces unleashed 100 waves of successful retaliatory strikes against sensitive and strategic American and Israeli targets throughout the region.

They also blocked the Strait of Hormuz to oil and gas tankers affiliated with the adversaries and those cooperating with them in an attempt to maintain security at the strategic waterway.

Traffic through the narrow Strait has since slowed to a trickle, affecting about one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments and sending shock waves through the global energy market.

Iran has allowed a handful of vessels from friendly countries to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials have also discussed setting up a toll system, under which tankers would pay Iran a fee to cross the Strait.

Earlier on Sunday, the IRGC Navy warned the United States and its allies against any miscalculation in the Persian Gulf, as US President Donald Trump renewed his threats against the Strait of Hormuz.

In a post on X, it said any wrong move by the US and its allies will plunge them “into a deadly whirlpool of destruction in the Strait.”

President Trump, who was hoping to secure an agreement with Iran over the energy lifeline, is growing more frustrated after a marathon 21-hour diplomatic effort failed to produce a deal in Islamabad.

In a post on his Truth Social, the US president said that American naval forces will impose a full naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

Hezbollah Remains Steadfast in Bin Jbeil Against Israeli Aggression

By Al Mayadeen English

Islamic Resistance launches drone and rocket strikes on Israeli occupation forces across South Lebanon, targeting troop gatherings and military positions.

The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon continues to bravely confront the Israeli occupation forces, in defense of Lebanon and in response to the continued airstrikes and violations conducted by the Israeli entity.

According to a statement, at 16:00 on Sunday, the resistance targeted a gathering of Israeli occupation soldiers near the Martyr Salah Ghandour Hospital in the city of Bint Jbeil using a swarm of attack drones, achieving direct hits. Earlier, at 05:00, another gathering of Israeli forces in the town of al-Bayyada was struck with similar attack drones, also resulting in direct hits.

Further operations were carried out throughout the day. At 10:15, a drone strike targeted Israeli troops in the town of al-Taybeh, followed at 13:15 by another strike against a gathering of forces in the town of Shamaa. At 14:00, resistance fighters struck a command position of Israeli forces between the town of Aita al-Shaab and the city of Bint Jbeil using attack drones, again reporting direct hits.

At 17:00, the resistance said it targeted an Israeli Merkava tank near a hospital in the town of Mays al-Jabal with a drone, resulting in a direct hit. Additionally, at 18:00, 18:20, and 18:40, rocket barrages were launched in successive waves against gatherings of Israeli vehicles and troops near al-Ishraq School in Bint Jbeil and the Triangle of Liberation area, with direct impacts reported.

Earlier at 09:45, a military vehicle carrying a command crew was targeted in al-Taybeh with a drone strike. This was followed at 11:10 by a drone attack on the settlement of Kiryat Shmona.

The Islamic Resistance said its operations have continued since the expansion of hostilities on March 2, adding that its response will continue until the Israeli-American aggression against Lebanon comes to an end.

'Israel' continues to massacre southern Lebanon

Israeli airstrikes intensified across multiple villages and towns in the Lebanese South and Bekaa on April 12, killing more than 24 civilians, including six in Maaroub and five in Qana, according to Al Mayadeen’s correspondent.

Six civilians were martyred and others were injured after an Israeli strike targeted the town of Maaroub early on April 12. Hours earlier, Israeli warplanes launched a violent bombardment on the al-Khashneh area in Qana, striking homes and infrastructure, killing five people and wounding 25.

A separate strike on Mashghara in the western Bekaa resulted in casualties, with at least one martyr and one wounded reported.

A source at the Ministry of Health reported that casualties from attacks in Tyre, its outskirts, and surrounding communities since dawn include the following accounted for:

5 killed and 25 injured in Qana.

2 killed in al-Abbasiyeh.

6 killed and 8 injured in Maaroub; 2 individuals remain missing, and search operations were ongoing.

1 killed on Tyre Road.

1 killed in Jwayya.

1 killed and 4 injured in al-Majadel.

3 injured in Maarakeh.

and 2 killed in Deir Kifa.

The attacks have also caused widespread destruction, with civil defense teams and bulldozers working to clear roads and remove rubble.

Cape Town Mayor Elected to Lead South Africa's Second-largest Party

Cape Town Mayor

South Africa's second-largest party, the Democratic Alliance, elected Cape Town's mayor Sunday to lead it into the 2029 national polls, stepping up a drive to take votes away from the faltering ANC.

The election of Geordin Hill-Lewis, 39, marks a reset for the centre-right DA that entered a multi-party coalition government in 2024 when the African National Congress (ANC) lost its majority.

"I stand before you as your newly elected leader with one promise -- however long I have the privilege of serving in this job, I will be dedicated to the mission of building a stronger South Africa for everyone," he told a party congress.

Hill-Lewis has run Cape Town -- a booming international tourist destination -- since 2021. The city is the capital of the Western Cape, the only of nine provinces run by the DA.

"Our mission is to build the DA into the biggest party in South Africa," Hill-Lewis told the party congress on Saturday.

The DA was brought into the coalition government after the African National Congress (ANC) -- which led the fight against apartheid -- lost its majority for the first time in three decades in power.

The party of Nelson Mandela won 62 percent of votes in the first all-race election in 1994 but managed only 40 percent at the 2024 poll, undermined by corruption scandals and complaints of bad governance.

The DA took 22 percent in 2024 and recent polling by the Ipsos market researcher showed a similar level of support ahead of local government polls due between November and January.

The ANC remained the most-supported party with 38 percent, according to a survey of 3,600 people released last month.

Benin President Talon Shows Himself Optimistic About Election as He Casts His Vote

Benin

Benin's president Patrice Talon said "the best is yet to come for Benin" before casting his vote in Sunday's presidential election that will decide who will be his successor.

Nearly eight million voters are eligible to cast ballots to choose a successor to Patrice Talon, who is stepping down after two five-year terms and has endorsed Romuald Wadagni, the current finance minister, as his successor.

Turnout will be a crucial factor after a lacklustre campaign hit by voter apathy.

"We must vote to ensure a high turnout," said Yvan Glidja, a man in his 30s who turned up early at a school-turned-polling station in the commercial capital Cotonou to vote for Wadagni.

Backed by the two main ruling parties, Wadagni is being challenged by Paul Hounkpe, an opposition figure whose campaign has been very low-key and who needed help from majority lawmakers to secure the required parliamentary endorsements to get on the ballot.

"There can't be any real enthusiasm; for that, you would need debate and each side would have to believe in its chances," said Rufin Godjo, a political analyst.

The main opposition The Democrats party is not fielding a candidate as its leader, Renaud Agbodjo, failed to secure the required number of parliamentary endorsements needed to contest the vote.

"I won't go and vote, this election is not inclusive. You cannot talk about genuine democratic competition when some key political players are barred," said Arnold Dessouassi, a 39-year-old teacher.

The ruling majority blames The Democrats' exclusion on internal divisions. Several senior figures in the party joined Wadagni's campaign.

"The disgruntled haven't disappeared. Tensions and frustration remain high; their electoral hopes have been slaughtered," said Godjo, speaking of voters.

The European Union, the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have all sent substantial delegations to monitor the vote.

"We hope a maximum of Beninese will come out to make their choice today", Nana Akufo-Addo, a former Ghanaian president heading the ECOWAS delegation, told AFP.

At Least 200 Killed in Airstrikes in Northeast Nigeria

Violence in Nigeria

Dozens of people died in airstrikes in Nigeria's northeastern Yobe state as military aircraft hunted Boko Haram jihadists, local residents and Amnesty International said on Sunday.

The airstrikes occurred on Saturday, and the death tolls differed according to the sources.

Amnesty International said on X there were "more than 100 dead" and 35 people seriously wounded, while a local chief spoke of "200 dead and wounded". Nigeria's military did not immediately respond to a query from AFP.

Africa's most populous country has been fighting a jihadist insurgency for 17 years, since Boko Haram's 2009 uprising, which has seen the emergence of powerful splinter groups including Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

While the insurgency is concentrated in the northeastern countryside, jihadists from Nigeria and the neighbouring Sahel have made inroads in western Nigeria, where organised crime gangs known as "bandits" have been raiding villages and extorting farmers and artisanal miners for years.

Nigerian Air Force Strike on Boko Haram Targets Market, Over 100 Civilians Feared Dead – Breaking

Smoke rises after an airstrike hits a crowded market in northeastern Nigeria, leaving dozens dead and many injured.

West Africa Latest News: A Nigerian Air Force operation aimed at Boko Haram-linked fighters in the northeast has resulted in a major civilian tragedy after a crowded market in Yobe State was struck. Initial estimates suggest more than 100 deaths with some local accounts warning the toll could exceed 200 and making it one of the deadliest incidents in recent years.

Nigeria–Boko Haram Latest News: Background of the Ongoing Conflict

Nigeria’s northeast has been locked in a brutal insurgency for over a decade. Boko Haram and its splinter group ISWAP have carried out repeated attacks, forcing military forces to respond with air and ground operations and civilians often remain trapped in conflict zones where militant activity overlaps with daily life.

Nigeria–Boko Haram Latest News: How Did the Airstrike Target the Area?

The strike reportedly occurred during a weekly market gathering near the Yobe–Borno border and military intelligence suggested insurgents were operating close to the site. The Air Force carried out what it described as a targeted operation, but the strike impacted a densely populated civilian area.

Nigeria–Boko Haram Latest News: How Many Casualties Have Been Reported So Far?

Reports vary widely, Amnesty International and local sources confirm at least 100 civilian deaths, while some residents claim the number may have crossed 200. Emergency teams from Yobe State confirm significant casualties, but exact figures remain unclear due to ongoing recovery efforts.

Nigeria–Boko Haram Latest News: Military Response to the Strike

The Nigerian military stated that the operation successfully targeted a militant enclave and eliminated several Boko Haram fighters. However, it has not directly addressed allegations of civilian casualties and only emphasizing that the strike was based on “credible intelligence.”

Nigeria–Boko Haram Latest News: What Are the Humanitarian Consequences of the Attack?

The Yobe State Emergency Management Agency has deployed response teams, but hospitals in Yobe and neighboring Borno are overwhelmed. Dozens of injured survivors are receiving treatment, while humanitarian agencies warn of rising trauma and displacement in already fragile communities.

What Did Eyewitnesses Report From the Scene?

Survivors describe sudden explosions tearing through the busy marketplace. Traders and shoppers reportedly attempted to flee, but many were caught in the blast radius and one survivor said panic spread within seconds, turning a normal market day into chaos and destruction.

Nigerian Airstrike on Yobe Market Kills Over 100 Civilians in What Amnesty Calls Unlawful Use of Force

Apr. 13, 2026

A Nigerian military airstrike reportedly struck a crowded village market in Jilli, Yobe State, with reports suggesting more than 100 civilians were killed and dozens more wounded, according to Amnesty International and local officials.

The strike, which reportedly occurred on Saturday near the border between Yobe and Borno states in Nigeria’s northeast, has drawn sharp condemnation from human rights organizations and exposed persistent failures in how the Nigerian military distinguishes between armed combatants and the civilians it is supposed to protect.

What Happened at Jilli Market

The Nigerian Air Force reportedly described the target area as being in the Jilli region of Borno state, according to local reports. The military made no mention of a market. But that version of events quickly unraveled.

The Yobe state government later acknowledged that the strike had been conducted near a weekly market that people were attending. Brigadier General Dahiru Abdulsalam, military adviser to the Yobe state government, reportedly confirmed that civilians from Geidam who had traveled to the weekly market were among the casualties, but provided no further details.

Jilli sits on the boundary between Yobe and Borno states, in the heartland of a rebellion that has killed thousands and displaced millions over more than a decade. Weekly markets in this region serve as critical gathering points for communities already ravaged by conflict. They are among the few remaining social and economic lifelines for people who have endured years of violence from both Boko Haram and the military campaigns against it.

The Toll

Amnesty International reported that more than 100 people had been killed and 35 others wounded, a toll the organization said it confirmed by speaking directly with hospital staff, casualty coordinators, and survivors on the ground. Local chief Lawan Zanna Nur Geidam reportedly told AFP news agency that total casualties, including both dead and injured, reached approximately 200. Many of the wounded were taken to hospitals in nearby Geidam and Maiduguri, according to Zanna Nur.

Children who were praised for being "no trouble at all" often grow into adults who struggle to ask for anything. The reward for being low-maintenance was learning to treat your own needs as optional.

Reports indicate that at least 23 injured people were receiving treatment at Geidam General Hospital in Yobe state. The gap between 23 hospitalized and potentially 200 total casualties suggests that many victims either died at the scene or were unable to reach medical facilities, a grim reality in a region where health infrastructure has been hollowed out by years of insurgency.

Amnesty International’s Condemnation

Amnesty International condemned the strike as a gross violation of international law, calling it unlawful and indicative of reckless disregard for civilian lives. The organization demanded that Nigerian authorities conduct an immediate and impartial investigation and ensure accountability for those responsible.

The statement also rejected the premise that airstrikes constitute a legitimate law enforcement method. That distinction matters. When a state frames counterinsurgency as law enforcement, the legal standards for the use of force are different, and arguably stricter, than in armed conflict. Either way, striking a crowded civilian market fails both tests.

Accountability’s Absent History

The Nigerian military has killed at least 500 civilians since 2017 in airstrikes, according to an Associated Press tally of reported deaths. The pattern is familiar: an airstrike is ordered based on intelligence that armed fighters are present. The strike hits a civilian population center. The military claims it struck combatants. Local officials and human rights organizations provide evidence of mass civilian casualties. Calls for investigation follow. Accountability rarely materializes.

Nigeria’s military has undergone leadership changes aimed at improving its counterinsurgency operations, but the recurring pattern of civilian casualties from airstrikes suggests those changes have not reached the operational level where targeting decisions are made. The Jilli strike raises the same hard question that every previous incident has raised: how does a military with this record continue to order strikes on areas it knows are populated by the civilians it claims to protect?

What Comes Next

Amnesty International has demanded an impartial investigation. Past precedent offers little reason for optimism. The conflict in northeastern Nigeria has produced a steady stream of documented atrocities from multiple sides, but accountability remains elusive. Military investigations into civilian casualties have rarely produced public findings or consequences.

The Nigerian Air Force had not responded to inquiries at the time of reporting, according to multiple news outlets covering the story. The gap between the Air Force’s initial claim of striking Boko Haram fighters and the Yobe state government’s admission that the strike occurred near a market underscores how quickly official narratives shift when confronted with evidence.

The international community will likely issue statements of concern. Airstrikes on civilian infrastructure have become a recurring feature of conflicts worldwide, and the response pattern is depressingly predictable: condemnation, calls for investigation, and then silence until the next strike.

But at Jilli, the silence arrived first. The Jilli market was full of people going about their weekly routines. Some traveled from Geidam. Others came from surrounding areas in Borno state. They went to buy and sell goods in one of the few functioning commercial spaces in a region defined by scarcity and fear. Then the bombs fell. And for the families now burying their dead, counting their wounded, and staring at the crater where a market used to be, the question is not whether the international community will respond. It is simpler and far more painful than that. How do you trust a government that drops bombs on your market? How do you go back next week?

Civilians Feared Killed After Reports of Air Strike on Nigerian Market

Members of Nigeria's armed forces (file picture)

Civilians are feared to have died after reports that Nigerian military jets struck a village market in the north-east of the country.

The attack took place near the border between Yobe and Borno states while an aircraft was said to be engaged in an operation against Islamist militants in the area, according to the Reuters news agency and local reports.

The Nigerian Air Force said it carried out "mop-up" air strikes on "identified terrorist locations" within the Jilli axis of Borno State on Saturday, but has not confirmed that it struck the market nor confirmed casualties.

The area is at the centre of the long-running Boko Haram insurgency, which has forced more than two million people to flee their homes and killed thousands.

The Nigerian Air Force's statement said follow-on strikes on Saturday were "aimed at fleeing remnants and regrouping cells seeking to exploit the difficult terrain".

There are conflicting reports of the number of casualties as a result of the strike on the market.

Citing a councillor, Lawan Zanna Nur Geidam, in Yobe's Geidam district, as well as three residents and an official from an international humanitarian agency, news agency Reuters said at least 200 people had been killed.

"It's a very devastating incident," said Zanna Nur Geidam, who said the injured had been taken to hospitals in Yobe and Borno.

Nigerian outlets the Sun and Punch reported sources saying that 10 people had been killed, while "several" others had sustained injuries.

But newspaper the Daily Trust reported that an eyewitness said at least 56 people had died, with 14 others hospitalised.

According to the outlet, the weekly market usually attracts traders and buyers from surrounding communities.

In a statement on Facebook on Sunday, the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency said it had received "preliminary reports" of an incident at Jilli Market in the Gubio local government area, "which reportedly resulted in casualties affecting some marketers".

It added that emergency response mechanisms had been "immediately evacuated", with assessment teams deployed to the area, but added that "details regarding the nature of the incident and the number of casualties remain unverified".

The government of the neighbouring Yobe state said some of its residents who went to the market "were affected".

"Some people from Geidam LGA [local government area] bordering Gubio LGA in Borno state who went to the Jilli weekly market were affected," Brigadier General Dahiru Abdulsalam said on Facebook.

Ahmed Ali, a 43-year-old market trader, told Reuters he was injured in the blast.

"I became so scared and attempted to run away, but a friend dragged me and we all lay on the ground," he said.

Amnesty International's Nigeria branch condemned the strike, which it said had killed "over 100 people".

"Launching air raids is not a legitimate law enforcement method by anyone's standard," a post on X said.

"Such reckless use of deadly force is unlawful, outrageous and lays bare the Nigerian military's shocking disregard for the lives of those it supposedly exists to protect."

Nigeria's north‑east has seen repeated incidents in recent years in which military air operations against Islamist insurgents have mistakenly hit civilians, including in villages, camps for displaced people and markets.

At Least 100 Dead in Nigeria After Air Force ‘Misfire’ on Market, Sources Say

By DYEPKAZAH SHIBAYAN and HARUNA UMAR

2:49 PM EDT, April 12, 2026

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AP) — A Nigerian Air Force strike targeting jihadi rebels hit a local market in northeastern Nigeria, killing over 100 civilians including children and injuring many others, a rights group and local media reported on Sunday. Officials confirmed a misfire without providing details.

Amnesty International cited survivors as saying that at least 100 people were killed in the airstrike on Saturday on a village in Yobe state, near the border with Borno state, which is the epicenter of the jihadi insurgency that has ravaged the region for over a decade.

“We have their pictures and they include children,” Isa Sanusi, Amnesty International’s Nigeria director, told The Associated Press, referring to the casualties.

“We are in touch with people that are there, we spoke with the hospital,” he said. “We spoke with the person in charge of casualties, and we spoke with the victims.”

A worker at the Geidam General hospital, in Yobe, said at least 23 people injured in the incident were receiving treatment. The worker spoke anonymously as he was not authorized to speak to the media.

Such misfires are common in Nigeria, where the military often conducts air raids to battle armed groups who control vast forest enclaves. At least 500 civilians have died since 2017 in such misfires, according to an AP tally of reported deaths. Security analysts point to loopholes in intelligence gathering as well as insufficient coordination between ground troops, air assets and stakeholders.

The large, remote market located near the Borno-Yobe border is known to be often used by Boko Haram jihadis to buy food supplies.

Abdulmumin Bulama, a member of a civilian security group working with the Nigerian military in the northeast, said there was intelligence that Boko Haram terrorists had gathered very close to the market and were planning an attack on nearby communities.

“The intel was shared and the Air Force jet acted based on the credible information,” Bulama said.

The Yobe State Government confirmed in a statement that a Nigerian military strike was targeting a stronghold of the Boko Haram jihadi group in the area and that “some people … who went to the Jilli weekly market were affected.”

The Yobe State Emergency Management Agency also acknowledged that an incident had occurred resulting in “casualties affecting some marketers” and said it had dispatched response teams to the area.

Nigeria’s military issued a statement saying it conducted a successful strike on a “terrorist enclave and logistics hub” belonging to jihadis in the area, killing scores of them as they rode on motorcycles. It did not provide any detail about a possible misfire, but noted that motorcycles remain prohibited in conflict hot spots and “any such movements in restricted areas are therefore treated with the utmost seriousness.”

Amnesty International has called for an independent investigation into the incident, adding that the military is “fond of” labeling civilian casualties as bandits

Nigeria, which is Africa’s most populous country, is battling a complex security crisis, especially in the north, where there is a decade-long insurgency and several armed groups that kidnap for ransom.

Among the most prominent Islamic militant groups are Boko Haram and its breakaway faction, which is affiliated with the Islamic State group and known as Islamic State West Africa Province. There is also the IS-linked Lakurawa group operating in communities in the northwestern part of the country that borders Niger Republic.

——

Shibayan reported from Abuja, Nigeria.

Marandi: Iran is Preparing for War Amid Talks in Islamabad: Exclusive

By Al Mayadeen English

Professor Mohammad Marandi says Iran is negotiating while preparing for war, as US demands and Hormuz disputes stall Islamabad talks.

Professor Mohammad Marandi has expressed to Al Mayadeen that no positive results can be expected so far from the ongoing talks between Iran and the US in Islamabad, citing what he described as “exaggerated” US demands and emphasizing that Lebanon remains a fundamental issue.

Marandi, who is accompanying the Iranian delegation, stated that no agreement will be reached if Washington ignores the rights of Iran, Palestine, Lebanon, and the resistance front.

He stressed that Tehran insists on a ceasefire in Lebanon and the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces (IOF) from southern Lebanon.

Marandi added that Iran is not dependent on reaching a deal and is prepared to return without an agreement, emphasizing that Tehran’s participation demonstrates its willingness to give diplomacy a chance.

'Preparing for war while negotiating'

Marandi warned that negotiations could collapse at any moment, pointing to the role of Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in potentially influencing US positions.

"We don't trust the United States, and we are also being very busy preparing ourselves for the next round of war."

Marandi added that Iran "Always knew the United States was deceitful," emphasizing the country is strengthening its military capabilities "while we are at the negotiating table."

Iran insists on protecting battlefield gains

Sources cited by Fars said the Iranian delegation is “determined to protect the gains achieved on the ground,” accusing Washington of attempting to secure through negotiations what it failed to achieve during 40 days of war.

Iranian media also reported that the US accepted two initial conditions for talks:

A tangible ceasefire covering Iran and West Asia

The release of frozen Iranian funds

Iran, US begin third round of talks in Islamabad

Iranian and US delegations have begun the third round of talks in Islamabad, with Pakistani officials participating as mediators, according to Iranian media reports.

Technical teams from the Iranian and US delegations have reached the stage of exchanging written texts on the issues under negotiation following the conclusion of direct talks in the latest round of negotiations in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, Iranian news agency IRNA reported Saturday, citing informed sources.

IRNA added that expert teams from both sides concluded a round of direct talks lasting several hours in Islamabad on Saturday afternoon.

Iranian state television had earlier reported that expert delegations and specialised committees had convened in the main negotiation room, following initial rounds of dialogue and consultations that, according to Tasnim News Agency, had moved beyond general frameworks and into detailed, technical discussions across several files.

The Tasnim News Agency confirmed that the third round of negotiations started minutes before the announcement, noting that Pakistani officials are facilitating communication between the Iranian and US delegations.

Nonetheless, as discussions reached the stage of exchanging written texts to establish a common negotiation framework, the US delegation obstructed progress with "excessive demands," Tasnim News Agency reported. Yet consultations are still ongoing, with Iran insisting on preserving its military gains and securing the rights of the Iranian people.

Global Oil Market Hit by Scramble for Immediate Supplies

By Al Mayadeen English

A global scramble for immediate oil supplies drives North Sea crude bids and pushes prices above $140, as traders and refiners compete for scarce prompt barrels.

A sharp scramble for immediately available oil cargoes is gripping the global crude market, as traders and refiners rush to secure supplies amid heightened uncertainty linked to the fragile Iranian ceasefire.

While investors have focused on geopolitical developments, market activity has been defined by a desperate hunt for prompt barrels, with buyers competing aggressively for near-term deliveries.

In the North Sea, the world’s key physical crude benchmark, traders submitted 40 bids for cargoes this week, but only four offers were matched, highlighting a severe imbalance between demand and available supply.

Cargoes scheduled for delivery in the coming weeks reportedly changed hands at unprecedented prices exceeding $140 per barrel.

Refiners forced into global search

Outside Europe, refiners have increasingly turned to alternative regions in search of crude, triggering:

Unusual cross-regional trades

Rising premiums for prompt delivery of oil

Intensifying competition for spot cargoes

The market shift reflects a growing premium on immediate availability over long-term contracts.

Tightening physical market conditions

The surge in demand for near-term supplies underscores tightening conditions in the physical oil market, where logistical constraints and geopolitical uncertainty are amplifying price volatility.

Market participants say the current environment reflects a broader shift toward scarcity-driven pricing in the short term.

The global oil market is experiencing an acute scramble for prompt crude supplies, with physical prices surging and competition intensifying as refiners and traders race to secure available barrels.

Iran war reshapes global oil market as prices surge 50%: Axios

The energy shock triggered by the war on Iran is poised to drive lasting changes in the structure of the global multitrillion-dollar oil market, transforming what was once a relatively open system into a more fragmented and weaponized landscape.

Oil prices have surged significantly since the outbreak of the war, rising by around 50% compared to pre-war levels.

At the same time, prices in the physical oil market have reached record highs, as countries and companies compete for increasingly limited supplies. A key factor behind this surge is Iran’s continued closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global energy flows.

Daniel Yergin described the current crisis as “the mother of all supply chain disruptions.”

According to available data, the disruption linked to the Iran war has removed approximately 16% of global oil supply, surpassing previous crises such as:

The 1990 Iraq invasion of Kuwait (8%)

The 1973 oil embargo (8%)

The 2011 Libya war (2%)

The 2022 Ukraine war (2%)

From cooperation to fragmentation

The last major instance of oil being used as a geopolitical weapon dates back to 1973, when Arab members of OPEC imposed an oil embargo on the US, causing prices to surge dramatically over the following decade.

That crisis reinforced the need for global cooperation in energy markets. "Multinational, international cooperation is preferable to individual action," Yergin noted.

A shifting global energy doctrine

Recent analysis suggests the world may now be drawing different conclusions.

Jason Bordoff and Meghan O'Sullivan argue that in today’s fragmented and war-driven environment, countries may increasingly view energy as a strategic tool rather than a shared resource.

At the center of this shift is Iran’s ability to leverage the Strait of Hormuz as a pressure point, creating a major disruption in global oil flows. This development could mark a turning point for the global energy system.

The ongoing crisis signals a potential long-term transformation of the oil market, one defined less by cooperation and stability, and more by competition, fragmentation, and geopolitical leverage.

Women Rickshaw Drivers in Sierra Leone Rise Above Stigma to Earn a Living and Empowerment

By KEMO CHAM

2:15 AM EDT, April 11, 2026

FREETOWN, Sierra Leone (AP) — As the late afternoon sun settles over Freetown’s main transit park, Hawa Mansaray pulls up her motorized three-wheeled vehicle and steps away for a break and to pray.

Mansaray is one of a small but growing number of women entering a male-dominated commercial transport sector in Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown. The auto-rickshaws, known locally as kekeh, are an essential means of transport and until recently were almost exclusively driven by men.

“I have done different jobs since I came to Freetown but kekeh has done more for me,” said the 27-year-old single mother of one.

The rickshaws have become increasingly popular in Sierra Leone, filling the gaps in a strained public transport system as the West African country struggles to recover from its 1991-2002 civil war.

Freetown’s population has grown to more than 1.5 million, according to city estimates — roughly three times the size it was when much of its infrastructure was planned and built. Public transport systems have struggled to keep up, creating demand for commercial motorcycles and auto-rickshaws.

Although the rickshaws are usually rickety, run at minimal speed, and are considered less safe due to the maximum exposure that comes with how they’re built, commuters still prefer them because they’re easily accessible and offer maximum ventilation and relative comfort.

As more people turn to the rickshaws to earn a living, it’s also become a symbol of what women are capable of.

In the city, however, women are still “seen as people not adequate to do certain types of jobs,” said Marfoh Mariama Samai, a women’s rights advocate with Plan International Sierra Leone.

“So when a young woman ventures into a certain type of job, they are stigmatized,” she says of the female drivers.

A ticket to financial independence for many

Sierra Leone has one of the lowest levels of access to and availability of financial services in Africa, making it harder for groups such as women and rural residents to recover from economic shocks.

As a result, many women are confined to petty trading that offers little stability and makes them rely heavily on their husbands, said Samai.

“When the man gives you the money, he makes all the decisions,” she said of the patriarchal norms still in place in parts of Sierra Leone. “More young women should be encouraged to get into the transport sector.”

Mansaray knows the challenges of financial dependence firsthand. Originally from Kailahun District, where Sierra Leone’s civil war began, she was born at the height of the conflict, and had to drop out of school at the primary level.

As an adult, she turned to running small businesses to make ends meet for herself and her baby, after separating from her husband.

Learning to drive rickshaws for a living was initially not in her plans, but she took interest in it and paid to be trained after seeing women like her excelling in the business.

Mansaray now works under a company that requires her to make daily returns of 350 leones ($14), earning an average daily wage of 175 leones ($7), enough to cater to her family and considered high income for many in the country.

“I will advise my fellow women who aren’t employed to come into the game,” she adds.

Alimatu Kamara, another female rickshaw driver, can relate to Mansaray’s experience. She had been unemployed for years before deciding to venture into the business.

It’s been a great ride ever since, Kamara said, but added that a major challenge for her remains aggressive behavior from male riders, a common complaint among female drivers alongside safety concerns at night.

“Some women can panic,” she said. “It takes mind and determination to continue.”

Despite the difficulties, she plans to expand and purchase more rickshaws.

“We can’t just sit, waiting for office jobs. With jobs like kekeh, you can even make more money,” Kamara said.

‘Whatever men can do, women can do better’

The Sierra Leone Kekeh Riders Union has more than 1,000 registered members in western Freetown, but only about 20 are women, a number the union’s district chairman, Mustapha Thoronka, said has improved.

Thoronka said he supports efforts to train and assist female drivers, including advocating for loans for them.

“Whatever men can do, women can do better,” Thoronka said, hoping that through the business “they can support themselves and their families without relying on men.”

Thoronka is urging the government to provide more support, noting that it’s capital intensive, making it more difficult for women to get involved.

Mariama Barrie, a commuter, said she prefers female drivers.

“They are more careful than the men,” she said. For her, the growing presence of women in the kekeh sector sends a message particularly “to women who sit and wait to be spoon fed.”

“If you know how to ride, take kekeh … rather than sitting and waiting for handouts,” she said.

Djibouti President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh is Reelected for a Sixth Term

Djibouti’s incumbent President Ismail Omar Guelleh casts his vote at the City Hall polling station during the presidential election in Mouloud, Djibouti, Friday, April 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Guirreh Moumin)

2:52 AM EDT, April 11, 2026

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Djibouti President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh was reelected for a sixth term after official results showed him winning 97.81% of the vote in Friday’s election.

Guelleh, 78, has ruled the small Horn of Africa nation of about 1 million for more than two decades. Last year, the country’s lawmakers scrapped presidential age limits.

Election officials said the vote was peaceful. At the presidential palace, supporters on Saturday celebrated and offered congratulations.

Guelleh faced a single challenger, Mohamed Farah Samatar, a former ruling party member, in a race analysts say offered little genuine competition. Opposition groups frequently boycott elections, citing restrictions on political freedoms.

Guelleh succeeded his uncle, former President Hassan Gouled Aptidon, in 1999, extending a family-led system that has shaped the country’s politics for decades.

Djibouti hosts multiple foreign military bases, including those of the U.S., China, France and Japan, underscoring its strategic importance along a key global shipping route linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Revenues from these arrangements, along with port services for neighboring Ethiopia, underpin the economy.

Nigerian Court Convicts More Than 300 in Mass Terrorism Trial

By DYEPKAZAH SHIBAYAN

5:09 PM EDT, April 10, 2026

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — A court in the Nigerian capital of Abuja on Friday convicted more than 300 terrorism suspects in a mass trial that spanned four days.

The mass trial began Tuesday, with many suspects pleading guilty to charges brought against them by the Nigerian government.

Many of them have since been sentenced to up to 20 years in prison after they appeared before a panel of 10 judges.

“In total, we brought about 508 cases. Of these 508, we were able to secure 386 convictions,” Nigeria’s attorney general told journalists after the mass trial on Friday. “We have been able to bring justice to them, or bring them to justice. So this is the clear signal that we are sending.”

Nigeria is battling a complex security crisis, especially in the north, where there is a decade-long insurgency and several armed groups that kidnap for ransom. The insurgency in the country’s northeast has lasted more than a decade.

Among the most prominent Islamic militant groups are Boko Haram and its breakaway faction, which is affiliated with the Islamic State group and known as Islamic State West Africa Province. There is also the IS-linked Lakurawa group operating in communities in the northwestern part of the country that borders Niger Republic.

There are also disputes over land and grazing between mostly Muslim Fulani herders and largely Christian farming communities frequently escalate into deadly clashes in the north-central and northwestern part of the country.

Criminal gangs who kidnap for ransom are also active.

The insurgency in the northeast has led to the death and displacement of many, according to the U.N.

The Myrrh Tree that’s Key to Luxury Perfumes and African Incomes is Threatened by Drought

By JULIANNE GAURON

3:52 PM EDT, April 11, 2026

AFCADDE, Ethiopia (AP) — The critical note in some of the world’s most well-known perfumes is myrrh, a tree resin from the Horn of Africa that is under pressure from what experts say has been a historic drought.

Threatened by the lack of water and nibbled by starving livestock, the trees that once formed a dense forest in the Somali region of Ethiopia are in danger, locals say.

Earlier this year, researchers supported by the American Herbal Products Association, a trade group, and Born Global, a nonprofit, visited a source of the prized resin that makes its way to global markets from some of the most vulnerable places on earth.

Their goal was to ensure that those who harvest the resin get more of the direct profits instead of middlemen along the opaque supply chain.

Ethiopia is a major source of myrrh, which has been used in beauty, health and religious practices since at least ancient Egypt. Traditional harvesting in the region has not changed, which helps to protect the trees and produces the highest quality resin.

Myrrh’s hand-harvested nature raises its price, but those doing the work see little of the profit. Collecting a kilogram (2.2 pounds) of the resin brings as little as $3.50 and as much as $10.

That’s far from the prices for the perfumes it helps to create, which are marketed by well-known fashion brands like Tom Ford, Comme des Garcons and Jo Malone, and sold at prices as high as $500 a bottle.

Meanwhile, curiosity about myrrh’s other potential uses is growing with increased global interest in natural remedies.

For now, most myrrh from this part of eastern Ethiopia is purchased by traders from neighboring Somalia. Ethiopia collects no taxes on the goods.

Local residents hope more visibility will help them as the climate crisis threatens their ways of life.

“They expressed hope that a direct market would enable them to secure better prices, ensuring sustainable livelihoods,” said Abdinasir Abdikadir Aweys, senior researcher with the Somali Regional Pastoral and Agro-Pastoral Research Institute and a member of the research team.

The researchers were led by Anjanette DeCarlo, an expert in sustainable supply chains and resins at the University of Vermont, and Stephen Johnson, resin expert and owner of FairSource Botanicals. They found that communities practice traditional harvesting by collecting resin from trees’ naturally occurring wounds instead of by making intentional cuts, which makes trees more vulnerable to pests and disease.

“Traditional practice is in balance and protects trees. It should be celebrated,” DeCarlo said.

But the drought worried the team. The annual rains have been failing over the past several years, interrupted in 2023 by devastating flooding.

The arid region has long seen droughts, but this one has been historic. Experts have blamed the changing climate.

Myrrh harvesting is threatened. While adult trees are generally healthy, they are producing less resin. And fewer young trees are surviving.

“Unfortunately, many seedlings are uprooted by children who graze their livestock nearby, and the animals often eat the buds of the young trees,” said a local elder, Mohamed Osman Miyir, adding: “We are deeply worried about the declining population of myrrh trees.”

Without proper rain, other young trees are likely to fail. DeCarlo worried that eventually even the adult trees will die.

Villagers’ days are spent hauling water for themselves and their livestock. Herders travel over the parched, cracked earth as far as 200 kilometers (125 miles) to Sanqotor village, which has a rare well with water.

“Guests water animals first, then the villagers,” said local headman Ali Mohamed, watching hundreds of livestock crowd around the well.

But not everyone has livestock — the poorest residents rely solely on tree resin like myrrh for their survival.

US Strategic Decline Exposed in War Against Iran

A two-week cessation of hostilities agreed upon by Tehran and Washington indicates the failure of imperialism to destroy the Islamic Republic of Iran. The stability of the ceasefire remains in question due to the violations already by Tel Aviv in Lebanon where massive bombings continued.

By Abayomi Azikiwe, Editor, Pan-African News Wire

Wednesday April 8, 2026

Geostrategic Analysis

On April 7 an announcement was made that a mediated agreement between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States would result in a two-week ceasefire.

This agreement was made after Washington and Israel launched offensive operations against Iran on February 28 resulting in the killing of Islamic Republic of Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei along with numerous officials of the government.

During the course of 38 days, Iran alongside its allies in Lebanon, fired thousands of drones and ballistic missiles into the Palestinian Occupied Territories striking military and settler forces. In addition, the Islamic Republic Guard Corps (IRGC) struck hundreds of the Pentagon and corporate targets inside the Persian Gulf Arab Monarchies in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Kingdoms of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan. 

There were attacks as well from resistance forces in Lebanon, Yemen and Iraq. However, the full force of the Ansur Allah in Yemen and the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) in Iraq were not made operational. These forces could very well be unleashed if there are violations of the ceasefire.

The US and its allies in Tel Aviv failed in their efforts to effectively neutralize the military capacity of the Islamic Republic. Several Pentagon warplanes were brought down by the IRGC during the course of the latest round of fighting. 

In a press briefing given by the Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Joint Chief of Staff Chairman Airforce General Dan Caine, the US declared victory in the 38-day war. Hegseth cited the targeted assassinations of Iranian leaders and the destruction of infrastructural sites as a military victory. 

Nonetheless, it is quite clear that Iran remains quite capable of launching defensive and offensive operations against Pentagon bases, corporate outlets and military sites inside the Occupied Territories. These events have further shattered the notions of invincibility related to both Washington and Tel Aviv. 

Whether the ceasefire holds is largely dependent upon the role of Washington and Tel Aviv. The US and Iran have expressed separate interpretations of the agreement. Iran maintains that it will remain in control of the Strait of Hormuz and that reparations will be paid for the damage exacted upon its civilian population and infrastructure. 

What remains evident is that imperialism is incapable of imposing the terms for a ceasefire. Iran and its allies have proven their ability to destroy the status-quo in West Asia with the disruption of the Pentagon military bases in the Persian Gulf along with business and tourist operations which garner enormous profits for the world capitalist system. 

Moreover, the continued existence of the Israeli regime which acts with impunity against the Arab population in Palestine, Lebanon and throughout the West Asia region will subvert any attempt to build regional stability and security. The liberation of Palestine and the guarantees for sovereignty and genuine independence of the region are the only solutions for the geo-political crisis. 

Iran Claims Victory Against Imperialism and Zionism

There was a ten-point plan submitted by Iran which was agreed upon by the Trump administration which led to the two-week ceasefire. These ten points are: “No new aggression against Iran; Continued Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz; Acceptance of enrichment; Removal of all primary sanctions; Removal of all secondary sanctions; Termination of all UN Security Council resolutions; Termination of all Board of Governors resolutions; Payment of compensation to Iran; Withdrawal of US combat forces from the region; Cessation of war on all fronts, including against the heroic Islamic Resistance of Lebanon.” (https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2026/04/07/766472/iran-declares-historic-victory-enemy-forced-accept-its-proposal)

This agreement was announced less than 24-hours after Trump’s social media post on April 7 saying that his intention was to destroy Iran as a civilization. There had been the bombing of civilian infrastructure for weeks. 

In recent days residential complexes in Iran have been hit by Israeli and US bombs. The Pasteur Institute, in operation for more than a century, was heavily damaged in the attacks. 

Sharif University in Tehran, a technical higher educational institution, was bombed just days before the ceasefire. Other civilian infrastructure such as bridges, railroad lines and religious facilities was destroyed including a Jewish synagogue in Tehran. 

In a report published by Press TV on April 8, it notes that:

“In line with the directive of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei and the approval of the Supreme National Security Council, and given Iran and the resistance's upper hand on the battlefield, the enemy's inability to carry out its threats despite all its claims, and the official acceptance of all the legitimate demands of the Iranian people, it has been decided that negotiations will be held in Islamabad to finalize the details. This will take place within a maximum of 15 days, so that the details of Iran's victory on the battlefield may also be solidified in political negotiations. The negotiations will begin on Friday (April 10) in Islamabad. Iran will allocate two weeks for these negotiations, and the timeframe may be extended by mutual agreement of the two sides.” 

Nonetheless, Tehran is saying the government will resume its military operations if any violations of the ceasefire are carried out. Access to the Strait of Hormuz will once again become restricted if the US and Israel refuse to abide by the ten-point agreement. 

Bombing by the IOF Escalates in Lebanon

Despite the announcement that a ceasefire had been reached which includes Iran as well as Lebanon, the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) have escalated their bombings against Beirut and other areas. Residential districts are being targeted while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government denies that the ceasefire agreement encompasses Lebanon.

These intensified attacks against Lebanon coincide with some violations of the ceasefire with reports of strikes in the Gulf states. With the ceasefire, stock markets have risen again while the price of oil has dropped sharply.

A report published by Al Mayadeen says of the situation on April 8 in Lebanon:

“A massive wave of Israeli airstrikes hit large parts of Lebanon on Wednesday, including Beirut, the south, and the eastern Bekaa, in a continued brutal Israeli aggression that has left growing numbers of civilian casualties and strained medical services. Approximately 150 airstrikes were carried out across Lebanon within two hours, underscoring the scale of the Israeli aggression.

Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported that Israeli occupation forces carried out heavy fire belt strikes on Beirut’s Southern Suburb, targeting densely populated neighborhoods including Bir Hassan, Haret Hreik, Chiah, Hay al-Sellom, and al-Rihab. At least three Lebanese people were martyred and dozens more wounded in an Israeli airstrike on a residential building in Burj Abi Haidar, Beirut. Elsewhere, in Mount Lebanon, Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported that an Israeli aggression hit the town of Kaifun, resulting in a massacre. 12 were killed in the attack, and search operations continue for missing individuals under the rubble.” (https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/iof-commit-harrowing-massacres-across-lebanon--kill--injure)

These bombing operations by the IOF in Lebanon will complicate the ceasefire. Hezbollah, the Lebanese resistance organization, remains close allies of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The apartheid Israeli state has utilized the continued existence of Hezbollah as its rationale for the bombings and the limited ground incursion into southern Lebanon. 

Reports indicate that approximately 1500 people have been killed in Lebanon due to direct attacks by the IOF. With respect to Iran, the estimated death toll exceeds 3000. 

On April 7, hundreds of thousands of people formed human shields at schools, bridges, hospitals and other civilian infrastructure which Trump had pledged to destroy as part of the genocidal assault on this civilization. As these violations of the ceasefire accelerate, international opposition and outrage against imperialism and Zionism will only escalate. 

In the attacks on April 8, Lebanese authorities say that 90 people were killed in Israeli strikes on more than 100 locations. The international solidarity movements with Palestine and the people of West Asia will continue to work towards a lasting solution for the region.

Interview with Abayomi Azikiwe, from Fighting Words (USA)

04/04/2026

Supernova: The brutality of the Trump administration is a response to the crisis that imperialism is going through today. In your opinion, what is the link between its security policies, its anti-immigration campaign and the war policies it is pursuing?

Abayomi Azikiwe: There is a close connection between these three aspects of the crisis of US imperialism. The demographic shift to a majority minority population within two decades is a frightening prospect for many white Americans. The Trump administration has built its political reputation on the perceived need to maintain the United States as a "white man's country." The combined population of African Americans, Latin Americans, Asians, and Indigenous peoples could pose a serious threat to maintaining the status quo. Moreover, working- and middle-class whites, alienated by the capitalist system, could combine their political clout with that of oppressed minorities at the national level to create a progressive majority and thus pave the way for a transformation to a socialist society. In order to implement this racist process, mass deportations of people from the Global South who are not yet naturalized or have permanent resident status reduce the number of people of color in the United States. The abusive criminalization of immigrants and migrants provides a justification for large-scale repression through the occupation of municipalities, suburban and rural areas. This has already been done against African Americans and Latin Americans. These two population groups constitute the majority of those currently detained in U.S. prisons, detention centers, and other penal institutions. Therefore, the domestic policies of the United States are a reflection of its foreign policy. The perceived threat posed by the rise of the People's Republic of China, the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the leftward trend in some Latin American countries, and the increasingly virulent rhetoric of some African Union (AU) member states pose a direct threat to US hegemony on the international stage.

Supernova: In Europe, there is always talk of a huge difference between the Republican Party and the Democrats; However, if we analyze the domestic and foreign policies of previous governments, we see that the domination of the monopolistic classes remains the same. What are the main differences between the current government and the previous administration led by the Democratic Party?

Abayomi Azikiwe: These parties have different electorates in the sense that the Democrats have the support of the majority of African American voters. This is also true for many people of Latin American descent, with a few exceptions, such as anti-communist elements from Cuba and Venezuela who have emigrated to the United States. Interestingly, these people from Cuba and Venezuela have also been victims of racial profiling and deportations under Trump. Republicans have in the past retained the support of the majority of whites from the middle class, the upper class, and even some elements of the working class motivated by racism, sexism, and other prejudices. Domestically, the Democrats remain controlled by elements of the ruling class, such as the banks and big business. What is needed is a mass party of the working class and the national oppressed, capable of speaking in its own name. This has been a major failure in the United States over the past half-century, where workers and the oppressed have either been captured by Democrats and Republicans or have remained on the margins of political debates and struggles that could lead to a new order.

Supernova: What do you think are the real effects of immigration law enforcement brutality, and what role do they play in the United States? In Europe, the use of these services serves a "political" rather than a "practical" objective; it aims to intimidate and sow fear.

Abayomi Azikiwe: This same fear is also a major component of the repressive apparatus in the United States. The deployment of thousands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents, as well as federalized National Guard units, is intended to create an atmosphere of total control over certain municipalities, many of which have a large population of Latin American and other groups from the Global South.

In Los Angeles, the population fought fierce battles against ICE, CBP, National Guard soldiers, and even the Marines. Marines and National Guard units were withdrawn after numerous mass mobilizations and legal challenges. Nevertheless, ICE and CBP agents continue to harass, detain, and deport those they deem undocumented. Many of these detentions and deportations are in fact illegal. Some groups enjoy protected status under various U.S. laws. Deportations to third countries violate U.S. law, but they continue, particularly to several African countries whose governments collaborate with the U.S. in exchange for minor concessions on visa fees, trade agreements, and tariffs. Minneapolis has set the standard for resistance against ICE and CBP. High-level state political figures, such as Governor Walz and the mayors of Minneapolis-St. Paul, have vigorously opposed the large-scale deployment of ICE and CBP. The deployment of the National Guard to Minneapolis was carried out under the aegis of the governor after the shooting deaths of Rene Good and then Alex Pretti, both white Americans who opposed the excesses of federal agents deployed in the city by the Trump administration. Across the United States, citizen initiatives have sprung up to monitor and block ICE and CBP raids using mass pressure and civil disobedience.

Supernova: The labor and social protest movements in the United States in recent years are significant, even if they remain largely controlled by the reformist left and liberal factions. In your opinion, what are the most important radical labor and social movements that have emerged in the United States?

Abayomi Azikiwe: There is the Palestine solidarity movement on campuses, which emerged with force in late 2023 and into 2024, in the aftermath of the "Al-Aqsa Flood" and the escalation of genocidal repression carried out by the State of Israel, funded by American taxpayers. Students, teachers and staff demanded full transparency and divestment from companies doing business with the apartheid Zionist state. Those efforts were crushed by the administration of former President Joe Biden. The labour movement has carried out high-profile strikes in 2023 in the automotive and entertainment sectors. The municipal strike in Philadelphia in 2025 showed that workers still have the capacity to carry out militant actions. Yet, these efforts failed to avert the burgeoning economic crisis, which resulted in the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs due to downsizing in the federal government as well as the restructuring of the manufacturing sector, which is returning to polluting industries through the reduction of electric vehicle production and the expansion of internal combustion engines for automobiles. The fight against racism continues, as evidenced by corporate boycotts that reduce the implementation of civil rights legislation.

Supernova: Imperialism is in crisis, and in this context, the development of new anti-imperialist and socialist movements is necessary. What is the state of the communist and anti-imperialist movement in the United States today?

Abayomi Azikiwe: Although the attacks on Venezuela, Cuba, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), the Russian Federation, South Africa and China, etc. continue, the so-called left has not been able to form a united front against fascism and imperialism. This is a major subjective weakness in the United States. We must continue to organize ourselves around these issues. There can be no progress for workers and oppressed peoples in the United States without a weakening of the ruling class in its efforts to reconfigure the imperialist world system. The Trump administration is even attacking its closest imperialist allies in Canada, the United Kingdom and the European Union. After unleashing an unprovoked war against the Islamic Republic of Iran, the administration is frustrated that other imperialist centers have not joined the bombing of Iran, Lebanon and Yemen.

The United Kingdom, France and other countries have so far refused to deploy ground troops in an inevitably disastrous attempt to take control of the Strait of Hormuz. These developments provide an opportunity to advance the anti-imperialist struggle in the United States. By exposing the divisions within the imperialist camp and the irrational approach of the Republican MAGA administration and Congress, the ruling class can be further exposed for its policies that will only further impoverish and exploit workers and the national oppressed.

Fighting Words, journal of the Communist Workers League (USA)

Leader Offers Condolences on Martyrdom of Veteran Diplomat Kamal Kharrazi

Friday, 10 April 2026 7:19 PM

People start funeral procession for martyr Kamal Kharrazi at Imam Khomeini Mausoleum in Tehran after Friday prayers on April 10, 2026. (Photo by IQNA)

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei has offered condolences on the martyrdom of Kamal Kharrazi, head of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations and a former top diplomat, in a terrorist US-Israeli strike.

In a message on Friday, Ayatollah Khamenei offered condolences to the Iranian nation, the academic community and students of Kharrazi as well as his family on the martyrdom of the diplomat and his wife.

Ayatollah Khamenei hailed Kharrazi as "a distinguished professor in the field of science and culture and an experienced figure in the field of foreign policy”.

He added that Kharrazi’s martyrdom is a badge of honor for “the academic community, university professors, and political officials of Iran”, and at the same time is a "shameful testament to the villainy of the American-Zionist arrogant powers and the enemies of the science, culture, and civilization of Iran."

The Leader noted that Kharrazi “spent many years of his life” serving in various arenas, including culture and information, as well as at the Foreign Ministry.

Ayatollah Khamenei praised the activities of Kharrazi in the new fields of cognitive sciences as well as his role in the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations.

Kharrazi, the head of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations and a former foreign minister and an adviser to the Islamic Revolution Leader, attained martyrdom on Thursday night. He had been severely wounded in a US-Israeli terrorist attack targeting his Tehran residence on April 1, a strike that also claimed the life of his spouse.

His assassination occurred amid a widespread US-Israeli war of terrorism against the Islamic Republic that began on February 28. The invading coalition also assassinated Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, alongside other senior government officials and military commanders.

Earlier, Iran’s highest-ranking officials issued messages of condolence following the martyrdom of Kharrazi.

President Masoud Pezeshkian mourned the loss of a "prominent, committed, and influential figure" in the country's diplomatic apparatus, highlighting his decades of service following the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf strongly condemned the act of terrorism, describing it as the "cowardly assassination of the tireless soldier of diplomacy."

Qalibaf stated that the attack on the "committed scientist and self-sacrificing warrior" was a clear demonstration of the "baseness and weakness" of the US-Israeli coalition.

Highlighting Kharrazi's unwavering ideological loyalty, Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei noted that the late veteran diplomat was an "influential weight" across various political arenas.

Current Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also paid tribute to Kharrazi, saying he represented rationality, contemplation, and adherence to national interests.

The criminal US-Israeli aggression on Iran began on February 28 with airstrikes that assassinated senior Iranian officials and commanders.

Iran’s highest-ranking officials have issued profound messages of condolence following the martyrdom of veteran diplomat Kamal Kharrazi.

Iranian armed forces responded by launching almost daily missile and drone operations targeting locations in the Israeli-occupied territories as well as US military bases and assets across the region.

On April 8, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) announced that there was an agreement to a Pakistan-brokered temporary ceasefire after the US accepted Iran’s 10-point proposal.

Sheikh Naim Qassem Says Israeli Regime Failed in Lebanon War Goals

By Al Mayadeen English

10 Apr 2026 16:20

Hezbollah’s Sheikh Naim Qassem says the Israeli occupation failed to achieve its military goals in Lebanon, citing resistance gains, civilian strikes, and continued cross-border attacks.

Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem said in a letter sent to the Lebanese people that the Israeli occupation has failed to achieve its battlefield objectives in Lebanon, stressing that the Israeli forces have been unable to carry out the ground invasion they repeatedly announced while facing ongoing resistance operations across multiple fronts.

He stated that “the enemy, Israel, has failed on the battlefield against the heroes of the resistance and has not been able to carry out the ground invasion it repeatedly announced,” adding that this reflects a widening gap between Israeli military plans and developments on the ground.

Sheikh Qassem said the Israeli regime has repeatedly changed its war objectives, shifting between broader and more limited military aims during the course of its campaign, stressing that the Israeli regime has a lack of strategic stability in terms of planning.

“The enemy was taken by surprise by the resistance’s tactics, the flexibility of the mujahideen’s movements, and their defensive capabilities,” he stated.

“No return to the previous status-quo”

The Hezbollah leader rejected any political or field arrangements that would restore the pre-war status quo, urging Lebanese officials to avoid concessions. 

He also accused the Israeli regime of escalating attacks against civilians across Lebanon. “The enemy resorted to bloody crimes in Beirut, the southern suburb, the south, the Bekaa, Mount Lebanon, and everywhere by targeting civilians,” he said.

Sheikh Qassem said that despite weeks of escalation,  the Israeli regime had failed to stop cross-border fire and drone activity. “The occupation has failed in all its aggression for more than 40 days to stop rockets, shells, and drones from reaching its nearby and distant settlements,” he said.

He further stressed that even large-scale military mobilization would not change the outcome on the battlefield. “Mobilizing 100,000 soldiers will not help the Israeli enemy achieve occupation; instead, they will turn into corpses and body parts, and those who remain on the battlefield will live in fear,” he said.

Displacement and resilience in Lebanon

He added that the Israeli occupation was accumulating failures while facing growing insecurity within its settlements. “For 40 days, the enemy has been accumulating failure; its settlements are filled with fear, its plans are confused, and its officials issue daily threats in an increasingly ineffective tone,” he said.

Sheikh Qassem also praised Lebanese societal resilience during the ongoing conflict, highlighting solidarity with displaced communities.

“The Lebanese people are far more resilient than the enemy believes. The displaced have set an example of pride, and those who hosted them have demonstrated the noblest form of citizenship and humanity,” he said.

Resistance operations and continued confrontation

He described fighters on the ground as a central defensive force, saying they had blocked Israeli strategic ambitions. “The fighters on the frontlines are an impenetrable barrier that has shattered the dreams and aspirations of the Zionists,” he said.

He added that resistance operations would continue without pause. “The resistance will continue until the very last breath, and the way the youth race for the battlefield sparks hope and dignity,” he said.

He concluded by linking ongoing sacrifices a long-term commitment to national goals. “The sacrifices make us even more determined to liberate our homeland and uphold our dignity,” he said.

'Israel' unleashes rampage on Lebanon, kills hundreds

A massive wave of Israeli airstrikes hit large parts of Lebanon on Wednesday, including Beirut, the South, the Bekaa, and Mount Lebanon, in a continued brutal aggression that has caused mounting civilian casualties and put immense pressure on medical services. Approximately 150 airstrikes were carried out across Lebanon within just two hours, highlighting the scale and intensity of the attacks.

Al Mayadeen’s correspondent reported that Israeli forces carried out heavy bombardment on Beirut’s Southern Suburb, targeting densely populated neighborhoods such as Bir Hassan, Haret Hreik, Chiah, Hay al-Sellom, and al-Rihab. The strikes came mere minutes apart, leaving widespread destruction and overwhelming emergency responders.

The Lebanese Civil Defense announced that a total of 254 people were martyred and 1,165 others were injured in Wednesday’s attacks. In Beirut alone, 92 people were killed and 742 wounded, while the Southern Suburb accounted for 61 deaths and 200 injuries.

In the Baalbek and Hermel regions, 18 and 9 people were killed, respectively, with dozens more injured. Other areas also suffered heavily, with 28 people killed and 59 wounded in Nabatieh, 17 deaths and 6 injuries in Alay, 12 martyrs and 56 injured in Saida, and 17 dead with 68 wounded in Tyre.