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(SeaPRwire) -   A senior Middle East analyst warned on Sunday that Iran might retaliate against a U.S. naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by directing its Houthi allies to disrupt another critical global shipping lane.The Bab al-Mandeb — a narrow bottleneck connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden — carries approximately 12% of global oil shipments and serves as an essential trade corridor between Asia and Europe, making it a strategic target for escalation that could further strain global energy markets."If the U.S. moves forward with its plan to blockade the strait, Iran’s escalation strategy could require that it ensures Gulf countries cannot export either," Mona Yacoubian, director and senior adviser at the Middle East Program, told Digital."This could lead to additional attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure or even deploying the Houthis to block the Bab al-Mandeb," Yacoubian added.Yacoubian’s comments followed statements from Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior international affairs adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader, who signaled Tehran’s stance on the Bab al-Mandeb in response to potential U.S. action to block the Strait of Hormuz."Today, the unified command of the Resistance Front views Bab al-Mandeb the same way it views Hormuz," he said in a post on X."If the White House dares to repeat its foolish mistakes, it will soon discover that the flow of global energy and trade can be disrupted with a single move."U.S. Central Command issued a statement on Sunday noting that the naval blockade would begin Monday and be "enforced against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman."President Donald Trump also stated in a Truth Social post that the U.S. Navy would block "any and all ships trying to enter or leave the Strait of Hormuz."In March, the U.S. warned ships at the Red Sea chokepoint about Houthi attacks."The Houthis continue to pose a threat to U.S. assets, including commercial vessels, in this region," a maritime advisory said of the Iran-backed armed group that controls much of northern Yemen."Potential hostile actions include one-way unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attacks; unmanned surface vehicle (USV) attacks; unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) attacks; ballistic and cruise missile strikes; small arms fire from small boats; explosive boat assaults; and illegal boardings, detentions, and/or seizures," the advisory noted."U.S.-flagged commercial vessels operating in these areas are strongly advised to turn off their AIS transponders," the advisory stated.Yacoubian also found in a Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) report that Iran was threatening to expand the conflict further to the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb, compounding global market disruptions."It could leverage the Houthis, its Yemeni proxy, to once again launch attacks on the strategic waterway, depriving Saudi Arabia of its key alternative route for oil shipments if the Strait of Hormuz is blocked," she added.The Houthis joined Iran’s war against the U.S. and Israel on March 28 when the group launched two ballistic missiles at southern Israel. Both were intercepted. This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.

(SeaPRwire) -   A prominent Iranian strategist states that the extended delay in the burial of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, points to a deepening crisis within the Islamic Republic. Dr. Ramesh Sepehrrad shared these comments as peace talks between the United States and Iran have stalled, and rising internal tensions have cast doubt on the Iranian regime’s stability. Fortieth-day mourning ceremonies for Khamenei kicked off in Iran on April 9, with officials still withholding details about his burial more than 40 days after he was killed. A three-day state funeral planned for early March 2026 has already been postponed. "Forty-four days have gone by, and the regime does not have the confidence to bury Mojtaba’s late father publicly," Sepehrrad, a member of the Organization of Iranian American Communities (OIAC), told Digital. "This is a clear sign of the fear that runs through every level of this regime, from top to bottom," Sepehrrad added. He went on to note that normally, "a religious regime holds the belief that their dead must be buried within 24 hours." Khamenei was killed on February 28 in a strike targeting a regime compound in central Tehran, while a separate strike hit his 56-year-old son Mojtaba Khamenei, who succeeded him as supreme leader. Three people close to Mojtaba’s inner circle told Reuters on April 11 that he is still recovering from severe injuries to his face and legs. The attack on the supreme leader’s compound in central Tehran left Mojtaba’s face disfigured, and he suffered significant injuries to one or both of his legs, three sources told the outlet. "The 56-year-old is nonetheless healing from his wounds and remains mentally sharp, according to the sources, who requested anonymity to discuss this sensitive information." According to reports, two of the sources state that Mojtaba joins meetings with senior officials via audio conferencing, and participates in decision-making on key issues including the war and negotiations with Washington. The report emerged as Iran held diplomatic talks with the U.S. in Islamabad, which were intended to ease tensions during a two-week ceasefire. The talks ultimately failed to deliver any breakthrough. "Mojtaba shapes the core red lines of negotiations, even if he is not the public face of the process," Sepehrrad claimed. "After all, for more than 10 years, he served as his father’s right-hand man and a key liaison to the IRGC." "Mojtaba tends to be less rhetorical, less focused on public displays of ideology, and more operational, because his main priority is the survival of the regime." Iran also confirmed Sunday that it has no plans for additional peace talks following the marathon summit, which was mediated by Pakistan. "No plan for the timing, location, or next round of negotiations has been announced yet," Iranian state news agency Nour reported Saturday, citing the country’s Supreme National Security Council, with no statement released by the new Supreme Leader. "Mojtaba is less a supreme leader in the traditional sense and more the coordinator of a security-led system," Sepehrrad explained, before describing him as "more like a security-backed coordinator." "This regime does not speak with one unified voice. It communicates according to separate functions," Sepehrrad said. "One channel handles negotiations, another issues threats, another carries out punishments, and another works to maintain ideological continuity. It is now a mafia," the strategist claimed. "The key dynamic here is not unity, but division of labor. What holds them together is regime survival, not trust." "What we are seeing now goes deeper: we have a leader who lacks inherent organic authority, so he governs through the institution that controls force," Sepehrrad said. The analyst added that while diplomats do participate in negotiations on the Iranian side, a broader circle of security-linked shapes Tehran’s overall stance, which reflects the growing dominance of hardline institutions. "This is a brittle coalition of security figures," Sepehrrad said, before noting that Mojtaba is "at the top, but is heavily reliant on the Guards, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, SNSC chief Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, IRGC commander Ahmad Vahidi, Judiciary chief Mohseni-Ejei, and law enforcement chief Ahmad-Reza Radan." "Several of the most important surviving senior figures are not primarily diplomats," Sepehrrad said, before suggesting that this fact "should change how we interpret everything that comes out of Tehran." "This is a different system than the one many Western analysts still believe they are dealing with," Sepehrrad explained. "Dual track — tactical flexibility in talks and harsher repression at home." "While the regime negotiates to buy time, reduce pressure on its forces, and prevent broader external escalation, it is likely to intensify arrests, executions, intimidation, and internet controls internally right now," the strategist warned. "The regime fears internal unrest more than it fears diplomacy," Sepehrrad said. This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.

(SeaPRwire) -   Pope Leo XIV is set to commence a four-nation tour of Africa on Monday, visiting the continent experiencing the most rapid growth for the Catholic Church. This marks his fourth international journey since assuming the papacy in 2025.While the itinerary does not include Nigeria, the continent’s most populous nation—where thousands of adherents have been killed for their religious convictions—the trip will begin in Algeria, a country with a Muslim majority.The Vatican has titled the visit "A pilgrim in Africa." According to the Holy See, Pope Leo is expected to focus on key themes such as peace, migration, environmental issues, young people, and the family. He is scheduled to deliver 25 speeches in four of Africa’s primary languages: French, English, Portuguese, and Spanish.Analysts and clerics are eager to underscore the overall significance of this visit to the continent. Rev. Daniel Male, secretary of the Union of Augustinian Friars of Africa, told the Religion News Service, "I believe the Holy Father is journeying with the African church within the context of the global church." He further stated, "He is affirming the African churches’ expansion and vitality and is also making a statement that the church has a preferential option for the poor and those at the margins."The Catholic OSV News additionally noted that the visit "highlights peace initiatives, acts of mercy, and the dynamic presence of the Catholic Church on the continent."The National Catholic Register reported that in 1910, Africa was home to fewer than 1 million Catholics. The most recent figures available for 2024 estimate the current number at 288 million.Commenting on the Pope's absence from Nigeria, Frans Cronje, an Africa-based analyst at the Yorktown Foundation for Freedom, informed Digital, "Given Nigeria's role as the epicenter of the terror threat faced by Africa's Christians, it will be disappointing to many of them to learn that the pope has left that country off his Africa agenda. The country has become ground zero for the global Islamist terror threat."The pontiff must receive an invitation from the host government to visit a country. Analysts suggest that the Nigerian government might consider a papal visit too sensitive at this time. However, the Nigerian government did not respond to Digital's requests for comment on this matter.Specifics of the journey include:The Vatican’s 2025 yearbook, the Annuario Pontificio, indicates that Catholics number 8,740 out of Algeria's population of 46–48 million. The Pope is believed to be visiting Algeria to see the ancient city of Hippo, now known as Annaba. This city was the home of St. Augustine, the "doctor of the church." Pope Leo is the first pontiff to belong to the Augustinian Order.He is also expected to emphasize interfaith dialogue with Islam during his visit to the Great Mosque of Algiers, one of the largest mosques globally, capable of accommodating up to 120,000 people.The 2026 Open Doors World Watch List ranked Algeria 20th for Christian persecution, stating that authorities have closed 47 churches belonging to the Protestant Church of Algeria (EPA).The Associated Press reported that Algerian authorities rejected a Vatican request for Leo to visit Médéa to pray at the Tibhirine monastery, the site where seven French Trappist monks were kidnapped and killed on May 21, 1996, by Islamic extremists during the country’s civil war.The Catholic EWTN organization reports that Catholics constitute between 30% and 35% of Cameroon's population, estimated at around 30 million.The Pope will preside over five public Masses and deliver addresses in three cities. He will also meet with vulnerable children at the Ngul Zamba Orphanage in the capital city of Yaoundé.In the latest government census, approximately 56% of Angola’s population identified as Catholic.The most significant part of the Pope’s visit to Angola is anticipated to be his trip to the town of Muxima, where he will pray at a shrine to the Virgin Mary, locally known as "Mama Muxima," or "mother of the heart." This site is considered a spiritual home for many Angolans, attracting over 2 million pilgrims annually.The Vatican has stated that roughly 80% of Equatorial Guinea’s population is Catholic. Pope Leo will conduct several Masses and deliver addresses, and will visit a new psychiatric hospital and a prison. The Jean Pierre Olie Psychiatric Hospital in Sampaka, Malabo, inaugurated only in December, is the country’s first modern specialized mental health facility. It collaborates with France’s Hospital Saint-Anne in Paris.In a potentially controversial move, the Pope is also scheduled to visit a prison in Bata, which is notorious for reports of inmate torture and abuse.The Vatican had not responded to Digital's inquiries by press time. This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.

(SeaPRwire) -   Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán acknowledged his defeat in the national parliamentary elections on Sunday, describing the outcome as both "clear" and "painful" as preliminary tallies indicated a commanding victory for opposition figurehead Péter Magyar.Magyar confirmed via social media that Orbán had reached out by phone to formally concede the race.With approximately 53% of the ballots processed, forecasts suggest that Magyar’s Tisza party is positioned for a sweeping win that may secure a two-thirds supermajority in parliament.This outcome signals a potential seismic shift in Hungarian politics, ending Orbán’s tenure of more than ten years.Orbán, a prominent ally of President Donald Trump, had been bolstered by vocal support from the White House during the final stretch of the election cycle.Shortly before the polls opened, Trump reaffirmed his backing for Orbán through a statement on Truth Social."My Administration stands ready to use the full economic might of the United States to strengthen Hungary’s Economy, as we have done for our great allies in the past, if Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and the Hungarian People ever need it," Trump stated. "We are excited to invest in the future prosperity that will be generated by Orbán’s continued leadership!"Entering the election behind in the polls, Orbán encountered his most formidable political test since 2010, with data consistently placing Magyar’s Tisza party in the lead.Orbán, who has governed Hungary for 16 years, has faced intense pressure from the European Union regarding his policies on migration and the war in Ukraine, though he has retained a loyal base among older and rural demographics.The friction between his administration and the EU is largely attributed to his approach to the conflict in Ukraine, his staunch support for Israel, and his restrictive migration policies, all of which have resulted in EU-imposed financial sanctions.Throughout Orbán’s leadership, Hungary experienced relatively robust economic growth compared to other EU nations, though the country has recently grappled with persistent inflation and a downturn in business confidence.Leading up to the election, Orbán remained optimistic, characterizing the campaign as "a great national moment on our side" and asserting to the press, "I’m here to win."Conversely, Magyar positioned the election as a pivotal moment for the nation, cautioning that Hungary had strayed from its traditional Western partnerships in recent years."I think this really will be a referendum on our country’s place in the world," Magyar remarked. Digital's Eric Mack and Simon Constable contributed to this report. This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.

(SeaPRwire) -   Both the United States and Europe are monitoring closely as record numbers of Hungarian voters headed to the polls on Sunday for a high-stakes election that pits Donald Trump-backed Prime Minister Viktor Orbán against Péter Magyar, his one-time political associate.Lagging behind in public opinion surveys, Orbán got a significant lift earlier this week when Vice President JD Vance traveled to Hungary, explicitly stating the administration's stance on the value of having a pro-U.S. candidate in central Europe, given that many of its continental allies have underperformed, most prominently in terms of providing support for the campaign against Iran.During his public comments, Vance spelled out the purpose of his trip. "The reason why we're doing it is because we thought there was so much garbage happening against Viktor in this election that we had to show that there are actually a lot of people and a lot of friends across the world who recognize that Viktor and his government are doing a good job, and they're important partners for peace," he stated at the Mathias Corvinus Collegium, a private higher education institution in Budapest, the capital of Hungary. "That's why we're here, but ultimately the Hungarian people are going to be sovereigns because that's how it should be."After Vance arrived back in the United States, Trump shared his thoughts on the Truth Social platform on Friday: "My Administration stands ready to use the full economic might of the United States to strengthen Hungary’s Economy, as we have done for our great allies in the past, if Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and the Hungarian People ever need it. We are excited to invest in the future prosperity that will be generated by Orbán’s continued leadership!"Adored by large numbers of elderly and rural Hungarian voters while loathed by his critics, Orbán has become the most impactful leader Hungary has had since it shifted to democracy at the close of the Cold War. Even so, this year's election campaign has been particularly heated.Orbán's tense ties with the European Union stem from his stance on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Hungary's unwavering support for Israel, and his hardline position against accepting migrants, which resulted in EU financial penalties after he refused to open the nation's borders to foreign nationals.Over the 16 years that Orbán has held office, Hungary's economy has expanded at a comparatively fast pace for an EU member state. Figures from Trading Economics show that the nation's per capita GDP, a measure of the average annual individual income, climbed to almost $17,000 last year, up from roughly $12,000 in 2014. The picture is not entirely positive, however. Inflation has been fairly elevated recently, hitting an annual rate of 4.9%, while business confidence has remained in negative territory consistently since August 2022.As of April 9, polling data from Politico indicates that Magyar's Tisza party holds 50% of voter support, with Orbán's Fidesz party trailing at 39%. Magyar now represents the biggest electoral challenge Orbán has faced since 2010."The polls are going well for the opposition," Daniel Wood, a portfolio manager at William Blair Investment Management, told Digital. "If the opposition wins, there’s a chance that the EU unlocks the frozen funds, which are around 7% of the GDP."Talking to journalists outside a polling location on Sunday, the 62-year-old Orbán described the campaign as "a great national moment on our side" and expressed gratitude to campaign activists and supporters for their efforts. "I’m here to win," the Associated Press quoted him as saying.During an interview conducted earlier in the week, Magyar argued that the EU's longest-serving head of government has steered the country in a "180-degree turn" in recent years, putting its alignment with the West at risk while drawing closer to Moscow. Even with that shift, "Hungarians still see that Hungary’s peace and development are guaranteed by membership of the European Union and NATO," Magyar said. "I think this really will be a referendum on our country’s place in the world," he told the Associated Press.Voting results are anticipated to be released later on Sunday afternoon. This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.

(SeaPRwire) -   According to Israeli forces, a cache of Hezbollah weapons was found inside a Lebanese hospital over the weekend.The Israel Defense Forces conducted the raid in the Bint Jbeil municipality of Lebanon. Photos provided to display the arms, munitions, and explosives that Israel claims were located inside a hospital in that region.The IDF reports that it neutralized "roughly 20 terrorists" within the hospital grounds after Hezbollah was observed monitoring and shooting at IDF soldiers from a hospital window."The Hezbollah terrorist organization systematically and repeatedly exploited the hospital facility and its vicinity for military use, which represents a grave breach of international law," the IDF stated in a release."The IDF acts in compliance with international law and warned the relevant Lebanese authorities before the operation that all military actions inside Lebanese hospitals must stop, spreading these alerts via multiple avenues. Nevertheless, Hezbollah persisted in using the hospital for military operations," the IDF mentioned in a statement.Israel has sustained its campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon during a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran earlier this week.This raid follows unsuccessful U.S. negotiations with Iranian officials in Pakistan this weekend.During a press briefing at the Serena Hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan, Vice President JD Vance stated that Iran has "opted not to accept our terms.""The unfortunate part is that we haven't secured a deal," Vance remarked. "And I believe that is more unfortunate for Iran than it is for the United States of America America."Vance noted that the discussions with Iranian officials spanned 21 hours, characterizing them as "substantive talks," but emphasized that the U.S. would not yield on its "red lines.""Thus, we return to the U.S. without an agreement. We have been extremely clear about our red lines, specifying where we can accommodate them and where we cannot," Vance continued. "We made this as clear as possible, yet they decided not to accept our conditions."When Digital asked Vance if he had communicated with President Donald Trump during the negotiations, the vice president confirmed he had done so "consistently.""I'm not sure of the exact number of times we spoke—maybe half a dozen, maybe a dozen times over the last 21 hours," Vance stated, noting that the U.S. team was also in touch with other Trump administration officials, such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.' Preston Mizell contributed to this report. This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.

(SeaPRwire) -   Russia and Ukraine exchanged accusations of hundreds of attacks on Sunday, raising doubts about a Kremlin-declared Easter ceasefire that appeared to be faltering less than a day after its commencement.Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a 32-hour ceasefire for the Orthodox Easter holiday, instructing his forces to cease fighting from Saturday afternoon through Sunday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed to observe the pause but cautioned that Kyiv would swiftly retaliate against any breaches.However, the holiday ceasefire seemed to be short-lived.Ukraine's military reported logging 2,299 ceasefire violations by early Sunday morning, encompassing assaults, shelling, and small drone activity, although it noted the absence of long-range drones, missiles, or guided bombs.A Ukrainian officer informed The Associated Press that Russian troops continued their attacks on positions despite the declared truce.Russia's Defense Ministry countered by accusing Ukrainian forces of 1,971 violations, including drone strikes in the border regions of Kursk and Belgorod that allegedly resulted in civilian injuries.The head of Russia's Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, stated on Sunday that the bodies of two civilians had been recovered following an alleged Ukrainian attack on Saturday.These conflicting claims underscore the profound distrust between the two sides and highlight the challenges in enforcing even temporary halts in hostilities.Previous ceasefire attempts have quickly collapsed, with both nations routinely assigning blame to each other. A similar truce declared by Putin last Easter also fell apart amid mutual accusations of violations.Irena Bulhakova told The Associated Press at a holiday gathering outside Kyiv that she harbored doubts about any ceasefires as Russia's four-year war on Ukraine continues."Every time a ceasefire is announced for a holiday, the shelling continues regardless," she remarked.Reflecting on the significance of the Orthodox Easter holiday, she added: "Good triumphs over darkness, and we hope for that very much." This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.