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The European Union’s top diplomat warned Wednesday that Iran’s leadership is essentially sealing its own fate through unprovoked missile strikes against neighboring nations.

Speaking to reporters in Warsaw, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas criticized Iran’s regional military actions, stating: “Iran’s strategy is to sow chaos and set the region on fire.”

Her comments came after Turkey announced that NATO defense systems had intercepted an Iranian ballistic missile that was targeting Turkish territory earlier Wednesday.

When asked about the missile incident, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski condemned Iran’s expanding military aggression, saying: “Iran is broadening the war to countries that did not attack it … there is a well known saying it’s worse than a crime, it’s a mistake.”

Kallas acknowledged that the escalating Middle Eastern conflict is drawing focus away from the ongoing war in Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of keeping Ukraine’s situation in the spotlight. She noted that while Iran’s involvement in regional conflicts has weakened Russia’s alliance network, Moscow could still gain economically from rising oil prices caused by Middle Eastern instability.

Turkish authorities have developed comprehensive emergency strategies to address a potential surge of refugees from Iran amid ongoing regional tensions, Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci announced Wednesday from the capital city of Ankara.

The minister outlined three distinct approaches Turkish officials have formulated: controlling any refugee movement while people remain on Iran’s side of the border, establishing buffer areas along the shared frontier if the flow cannot be contained, and permitting entry into Turkey through organized, supervised processes.

Ciftci revealed that Turkey has established preliminary infrastructure capable of accommodating as many as 90,000 individuals should a rapid influx occur, with resources including temporary tent facilities and emergency housing locations.

Currently, border activity remains normal across the three official crossing points between the two nations, the minister noted.

However, recent observations suggest growing movement in the region. On Monday, a Reuters correspondent witnessed several hundred Iranian citizens making the crossing into Turkish territory, with additional groups reportedly waiting to make the journey.

The minister explained that Turkish officials have received information indicating Iran is currently preventing its own citizens from departing the country, while permitting Turkish nationals and citizens from other countries to leave.

Border crossing statistics from the minister’s office show that 5,010 individuals entered Turkey from March 1 through March 3, while 5,495 people traveled in the opposite direction during the same timeframe.

LONDON — Metropolitan Police detained three individuals Wednesday on allegations of conducting intelligence operations for China, with one suspect identified as the spouse of a British Labour Party member of parliament.

Authorities say the trio violated Britain’s National Security Act of 2023 by allegedly providing assistance to foreign intelligence operations.

The suspects remain unnamed as formal charges have not been filed. Police report arresting a 39-year-old man in London, a 68-year-old individual in Powys, Wales, and a 43-year-old man in Pontyclun, Wales.

As pressure mounted to identify one of the suspects amid reports linking him to a parliamentarian, Joani Reid, who represents the Scottish district of East Kilbride and Strathaven, released a public statement confirming her husband’s arrest while emphasizing her own innocence in the matter.

Reid chose not to identify her 39-year-old husband David Taylor by name in her statement.

“I have never seen anything to make me suspect my husband has broken any law,” she said. “I am not part of my husband’s business activities and neither I nor my children are part of this investigation, and we should not be treated by media organisations as though we are.”

These detentions represent the most recent in a series of arrests throughout Britain involving individuals accused of conducting espionage or political interference operations for China. In November, the domestic intelligence service MI5 issued warnings to parliamentarians about Chinese operatives conducting “targeted and widespread” recruitment efforts through LinkedIn and front organizations.

Chinese officials have categorically rejected these accusations, describing them as fabricated and malicious attacks.

Security Minister Dan Jarvis confirmed that British officials lodged formal complaints with Chinese authorities regarding these arrests.

“The Government has been consistent and unambiguous in our assessment that China presents a series of threats to the United Kingdom,” Jarvis said. “We remain deeply concerned by an increasing pattern of covert activity from Chinese state-linked actors targeting U.K. democracy.”

Commander Helen Flanagan, who leads London’s counter-terrorism operations, stated that authorities do not believe these arrests indicate any immediate danger to public safety.

“We have seen a significant increase in our casework relating to national security in recent years, and we continue to work extremely closely with our partners to help keep the country safe and take action to disrupt malign activity where we suspect it,” Flanagan said.

FRANKFURT, Germany — Military conflict in the Middle East involving Iran has created major disruptions to regional oil and natural gas distribution, with the resulting price spikes providing Russia with enhanced revenue from energy sales that serve as a cornerstone of the Kremlin’s budget and crucial funding source for its military campaign in Ukraine.

Russian crude export prices have climbed from below $40 per barrel in December to approximately $62 per barrel — initially driven by conflict concerns and subsequently by the near-complete shutdown of tanker operations through the Strait of Hormuz, which handles roughly 20% of global oil consumption.

While Russian petroleum continues selling at a significant markdown compared to international Brent crude benchmark — which has jumped above $82 from Friday’s closing of $72.87 before the U.S. and Israeli strike on Iran — Russian crude now exceeds the $59 per barrel threshold the Russian Finance Ministry projected in its 2026 budget calculations. Energy tax collections comprise as much as 30% of Russia’s federal budget.

The suspension of ship-transported liquefied natural gas production by Qatar, a major global supplier, will dramatically intensify worldwide competition for available shipments — benefiting Russian exports as well.

Moscow had experienced state energy revenues drop to a four-year minimum of 393 billion rubles ($5 billion) in January, with that month’s budget deficit of 1.7 trillion rubles ($21.8 billion) marking a record high, Finance Ministry data shows.

The reduced income resulted from weakened international prices and steep discounts caused by U.S. and European Union interference with Russia’s “shadow fleet” of vessels with unclear ownership used to transport oil to major customers China and India, circumventing Western price limits and sanctions targeting Russia’s largest oil corporations, Lukoil and Rosneft.

Economic expansion has stalled as enormous defense expenditures have plateaued. President Vladimir Putin has turned to tax hikes and increased borrowing from cooperative domestic financial institutions to maintain government fiscal stability in the conflict’s fifth year.

“Russia is a big winner from the war-related energy turmoil,” said Simone Tagliapietra, energy expert at the Bruegel think tank in Brussels. “Higher oil prices mean higher revenues for the government and therefore stronger capability to finance the war in Ukraine.”

Amena Bakr, head of Middle East and OPEC+ insights at data and analytics firm Kpler, writes: “With Middle East barrels facing logistical disruption, both India and China face strong incentives to deepen reliance on Russian supply.”

Furthermore, European natural gas futures prices have soared dramatically, creating doubts about EU objectives to eliminate Russian LNG imports by 2027 — bringing back unpleasant memories of 2022’s energy crisis when Moscow severed most pipeline gas deliveries due to the conflict.

The duration of Strait of Hormuz shipping restrictions will be critical, according to Alexandra Prokopenko, a Russian economy specialist at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center in Berlin.

Rapid conflict resolution would bring Brent prices back to roughly $65 per barrel, and “a short-lived spike would not fundamentally change” Russia’s budget situation, she explained. A moderate scenario with partial shipping resumption and oil stabilizing around $80 per barrel would provide Russia “some fiscal relief,” depending on price duration.

Extended closure with Iranian attacks damaging refineries and pipelines could push oil to $108 per barrel, accelerating inflation and bringing Europe near recession. “This scenario would bring the largest windfall to Russia,” she noted.

Even weeks of Gulf LNG disruption could prompt European calls to postpone plans banning new Russian supply agreements after April 25, said Chris Weafer, CEO of Macro-Advisory Ltd consultancy.

“The EU is under even more pressure to work with the U.S. to find a solution to the Ukraine conflict and, very likely, to consider easing the plan for a total block for Russian oil and gas imports,” he said. “Countries such as Hungary and Slovakia and those who have been big buyers of Russian LNG, will press for that review.”

Regardless, “the Russian federal budget will have a much better result in March,” Weafer said, citing reduced Russian oil discounts and “because there are eager buyers of Russian oil and oil products.”

Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak stated Wednesday that Russian petroleum was “in demand” and that Russia stood prepared to expand deliveries to China and India, Tass news agency reported.

Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, mocked European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, posting on X that “surely the wise Ursula and Kaja have a backup LNG plan. Or maybe not.”

Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Spain have maintained imports of approximately 2 billion cubic meters of Russian LNG monthly, while Hungary additionally imports 2 billion cubic meters monthly via the Turkstream pipeline crossing the Black Sea, Tagliapietra noted. This would total 45 billion cubic meters in 2026, representing 15% of this year’s total gas demand.

It’s “not easy to replace this in case the LNG market gets tighter with continued shutdowns in Qatar,” he said.

New Zealand’s government announced Wednesday it is positioning two military C-130J Hercules transport aircraft in the Middle East as a precautionary step to potentially rescue New Zealand citizens from the volatile region.

Thousands of travelers from around the world, including New Zealanders, have found themselves trapped throughout the Middle East as growing tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran have caused widespread flight cancellations and forced major airports to shut down, including Dubai’s international airport, which handles more passenger traffic than any other worldwide.

According to government records, approximately 3,000 New Zealand citizens are currently registered as residents in Middle Eastern countries.

“The events in the Middle East are fast-moving, dangerous and complex — and our primary focus is on assisting New Zealanders in the region to the extent possible in this very challenging security environment,” Foreign Minister Winston Peters said in a statement.

Peters explained that deploying the aircraft along with diplomatic personnel ensures “they can be ready when conditions allow to assist with any civilian evacuation operations.”

With restricted airspace and the suspension of most commercial airline service, Peters noted that officials continue advising New Zealand citizens to remain in secure locations or to pursue any available safe routes out of the region when possible.

The government has not yet finalized where exactly the diplomatic team and the two Hercules aircraft will be stationed, according to the official announcement.

Argentine President Javier Milei announced Wednesday his selection of Juan Bautista Mahiques, Buenos Aires’ top prosecutor, to lead the country’s justice department.

Mahiques has served as attorney general for Argentina’s capital city since October 2019 and will take over from Mariano Cuneo Libarona, who held the justice minister position starting in December 2023. Milei made the announcement through a post on the social media platform X.

According to reporting by La Nacion, a local publication, Libarona stepped down from his role citing personal circumstances.

The newly appointed justice minister expressed his commitment to the position in his own social media statement: “I assume this role with the conviction that without legal certainty there is no investment, without stable rules there is no development, and without independent judges there is no republic.”

During his address to Congress this past Sunday, Milei revealed plans to pursue additional criminal code modifications this year aimed at implementing stricter punishments for lawbreakers.

The administration recently secured important legislative wins when lawmakers approved contentious workplace reforms and criminal code amendments that reduced the minimum age for criminal accountability from 16 to 14 years old.

A marble sculpture that has resided in a Roman basilica for hundreds of years has been newly identified as a work by Michelangelo, ending nearly two centuries of uncertainty about its creator.

The artwork, showing Christ the Saviour, sits within the Basilica of Sant’Agnese fuori le mura along Rome’s historic Via Nomentana, where it has been maintained by a Catholic religious order.

While the piece was initially credited to Michelangelo through the early 1800s, it subsequently lost any connection to the famous Renaissance artist and remained without attribution until now.

Independent researcher Valentina Salerno, who serves on the Vatican committee commemorating 500 years since Michelangelo’s birth, has reconnected the sculpture to the celebrated Tuscan master.

“We have lived here since 1412, and the monumental complex of Sant’Agnese always holds surprises — this is one of them,” Franco Bergamin, of the Order of Lateran Canons Regular, told a press conference.

Salerno’s investigation relied heavily on extensive archival research rather than purely aesthetic evaluation, utilizing notary documents, estate inventories, and indirect letters from Michelangelo’s later Roman period.

“I am not an art historian — in fact, I don’t even have a university degree — but the strength of my research lies in its reliance on public archival documents,” she explained, characterizing herself as something of an investigator.

The documentary evidence contradicts the widely accepted belief that Michelangelo, who reached age 88, routinely destroyed his works during his final years. The records instead indicate that sketches, studies, and certain marble pieces were systematically distributed among his trusted associates following his death.

“At Michelangelo’s death, every powerful ruler would have wanted to claim something of the master. But the artist carefully devised the transfer of the material in his possession so that his art could be passed on to his pupils and thus to future generations,” Salerno said.

One record mentions a secured chamber that required multiple keys for entry, designed to protect precious materials. Though the chamber was eventually cleared, its former contents can be tracked through later transfers.

The investigation reveals a careful network that moved unidentified pieces to religious establishments and secondary locations, where they became integrated into practical environments instead of entering commercial art markets.

The Sant’Agnese sculpture appears connected to this distribution system. Having been incorporated into the basilica’s worship space for generations, the piece survived within a structure modified by centuries of renovations and expansions.

The emerging evidence will support a wider attribution effort designed to gradually restore additional forgotten pieces to Michelangelo’s recognized body of work and share these discoveries with international art scholars.

The brilliant white sculpture currently rests on an altar within a side chapel of the basilica, where it is monitored by security systems.

Military experts and intelligence officials warn that Iran possesses the capability to maintain drone strikes against the vital Strait of Hormuz for extended periods, though questions remain about the sustainability of their missile operations.

Following weekend strikes by the United States and Israel against Iranian targets, Tehran has responded by firing hundreds of missiles and deploying over 1,000 drones against Gulf nations aligned with Washington. While most projectiles were stopped by defensive systems, several residential areas, commercial structures, infrastructure sites, and American military installations have been damaged.

Intelligence assessments reveal Iran’s substantial drone manufacturing capabilities. The Centre for Information Resilience, a British Foreign Office-funded research organization, estimates Tehran can manufacture approximately 10,000 drones monthly through its industrial facilities.

Iran’s missile inventory remains uncertain, with Israeli military estimates placing the stockpile at 2,500 weapons, while other defense analysts suggest numbers closer to 6,000. The remaining ammunition levels could significantly influence the conflict’s trajectory.

The strategic waterway between Iran and Oman has become a primary target, with Iranian forces successfully striking six commercial vessels. This vital shipping lane handles twenty percent of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas transport, and maritime traffic has nearly ceased following the attacks.

Market reactions have been swift, with Brent crude prices jumping twelve percent and European natural gas benchmarks climbing roughly fifty percent this week.

Bob McNally, who leads Rapidan Energy Group, emphasized Iran’s determination and capabilities. “Iran is not going to fold easily or quickly, they have the means to make it unsafe for commercial traffic to flow through Hormuz,” McNally explained.

He added that American forces are focusing their efforts on Iranian ammunition depots, launch sites, and facilities threatening the strait. “But all Iran has to do is show they can hit a few tankers and concern will take care of the rest, folks just won’t go through,” McNally noted.

A former British MI6 intelligence director identified missile resupply as Iran’s weak point. Russia lacks the capacity to provide replacements, while China will likely exercise caution in supporting Tehran militarily, the official explained.

“If it became known that China was actually providing some sort of serious military hardware to Iran, that would play very badly with the GCC states,” the intelligence veteran said, referencing Gulf Cooperation Council members including Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman and the United Arab Emirates.

Another Western intelligence source suggested Iran’s missile reserves may be depleted from previous support to Hezbollah forces in Lebanon and Houthi rebels in Yemen. Israeli military intelligence indicates stocks were further reduced during June’s twelve-day conflict with Israel, though some supplies have been replenished.

Missile launcher availability presents another significant limitation. British CIR research shows launcher supplies have decreased by at least half over the past year due to Israeli and American strikes, with further reductions in recent days.

Despite these constraints, Iran appears well-positioned to continue drone operations. Washington Institute senior fellow Farzin Nadimi notes that Iran’s newest Shahed-136 drones can travel 700 to 1,000 kilometers, providing sufficient range to target any location along the southern Gulf coastline when launched from Iranian territory or naval vessels.

Production flexibility enhances Iran’s drone capabilities, with many units manufactured at dual-purpose facilities that can be modified to increase output, according to CIR analysts.

These unmanned aircraft have successfully breached Gulf state air defenses, with 65 drones penetrating United Arab Emirates airspace since hostilities began. Targets have included Amazon data facilities, Dubai International Airport, and a Fairmont hotel. Bahrain has experienced infrastructure damage, including strikes on a U.S. naval installation and a mixed-use tower housing hotel and residential units.

Oil market participants are preparing for additional price increases as the duration of Strait of Hormuz disruptions becomes clearer in coming days.

A senior Vitol executive expressed significant concern about market underestimation of current risks. “I am very concerned, this risk is currently underpriced in oil markets,” the commodity trading house official stated. “The prevalent theory is that Iran is using old missiles and drones first to deplete air defences. If so, their response is yet to start properly.”

Should missile and drone supplies become exhausted, Iran could resort to naval mining operations. Maritime risk intelligence firm Dryad Global estimates Tehran maintains between 5,000 and 6,000 sea mines in its arsenal.

These explosive devices can be anchored to the ocean floor, rocket-launched, or allowed to drift freely, detonating upon vessel contact. Current analysis shows no evidence of mine deployment in the Strait of Hormuz.

Cormac McCarry, who directs maritime intelligence and security operations at Control Risks, warned of prolonged consequences from mining operations. “If sea mines are laid, it will take a long time to deal with them,” McCarry explained. “That’s where we will be looking at months of destruction.”

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Thirty-two survivors were pulled from the waters of the Indian Ocean after an Iranian military vessel went down in international waters near Sri Lanka, according to government officials who spoke Wednesday.

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath addressed Parliament, explaining that naval forces received a distress call about the vessel IRIS Dena, which was carrying 180 personnel and experiencing critical problems before going under. The island nation deployed both naval vessels and aircraft for the emergency response operation, Herath reported.

Navy spokesman Commander Buddhika Sampath described the scene when rescue teams arrived at the coordinates. “There was no sign of the ship and there were only some oil patches and life rafts. We found people floating on the water,” Sampath stated.

While Sampath confirmed that multiple fatalities were discovered in the water, he would not specify the exact death toll. The 32 rescued individuals have been transported to medical facilities for treatment, he added.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth revealed Wednesday that an American submarine fired the torpedo that destroyed the Iranian ship while it operated in international waters.

Medical official Dr. Anil Jasinghe from Sri Lanka’s health ministry provided an update on the survivors’ conditions, noting that one person remains in critical care, seven others require emergency medical attention, and the remaining rescued personnel are being treated for less severe injuries.

Commander Sampath indicated that search and recovery efforts remain active in the area. He provided no additional information regarding what caused the casualties or the extent of damage the vessel sustained.

The sunken IRIS Dena represented one of Iran’s most modern naval assets — a Moudge-class frigate designed for deep-water operations. The warship carried an arsenal including large-caliber guns, air defense missiles, anti-vessel missiles, torpedoes, and one helicopter.

This frigate served as the flagship during a 2023 international deployment that included stops at ports in South Africa and Brazil. The vessel traveled alongside the support ship IRIS Makran, which was converted from an oil tanker.

Both ships were targeted by U.S. Treasury Department sanctions in February 2023, along with eight leaders of an Iranian drone company that provided weapons to Russia for attacks on Ukrainian civilian areas.

U.S. Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of American forces in the Central Command region, reported that no fewer than 17 Iranian naval ships have been destroyed during the current conflict.

“We are also sinking the Iranian navy — the entire navy,” Cooper declared in a video statement.

Conflict between the United States and Iran escalated significantly Wednesday following an American submarine attack on an Iranian naval vessel near Sri Lankan waters, intensifying a crisis that has brought maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz to a virtual standstill for five consecutive days and severely disrupted crucial Middle Eastern energy exports.

The submarine assault occurred as President Donald Trump announced plans to offer insurance coverage and naval protection for vessels transporting oil and natural gas from Middle Eastern regions in an effort to control rapidly rising energy costs.

Ship-tracking information from MarineTraffic indicates that approximately 200 vessels, encompassing oil tankers, liquefied natural gas carriers, and cargo ships, continue waiting at anchor in international waters near major Gulf nations such as Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, based on Reuters analysis.

Maritime data reveals hundreds of additional ships remain positioned outside the Hormuz passage, unable to access their destination ports. This critical shipping channel handles roughly one-fifth of global oil and LNG transportation.

The container vessel Safeen Prestige, operating under a Maltese flag, sustained damage from projectile fire while navigating toward the northern section of the Strait of Hormuz, forcing the crew to evacuate the ship, according to shipping industry sources.

Qatar has halted natural gas production while Iraq reduced oil output as both nations exhausted storage capacity, unable to transfer their products to waiting tankers. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait face similar loading difficulties, though production cuts from these countries remain unconfirmed.

Despite the widespread shipping paralysis, one notable journey occurred Tuesday when the Suezmax vessel Pola successfully navigated through the Strait of Hormuz to reach UAE waters for crude oil loading, industry sources and LSEG tracking systems confirmed.

The Pola had deactivated its AIS tracking system late March 2 while approaching the Strait and reappeared the following day near Abu Dhabi waters.

On Tuesday, Trump announced he had directed the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation to extend political-risk insurance and financial backing for Gulf maritime commerce.

“No matter what, the United States will ensure the free flow of energy to the world,” he stated in a social media message.

Wednesday saw oil prices decline despite four consecutive days of increases, gaining 12% since hostilities began Saturday when U.S.-Israeli operations against Iran disrupted Middle Eastern supply chains. The rate of price increases has moderated compared to previous trading sessions.

Goldman Sachs announced Wednesday it increased its Brent crude oil projection for the second quarter by $10 to reach $76 per barrel. The financial institution also elevated its WTI forecast by $9 to $71 per barrel.

The bank cited extended disruption to oil and gas exports through the Strait of Hormuz and potential damage to production infrastructure as primary concerns. Goldman Sachs anticipates reduced oil movement through Hormuz will result in significant decreases in OECD stockpiles and Middle Eastern production during March.

“Providing protection for all tankers operating in areas currently threatened by Iran is unrealistic as this would require a very high number of warships and other military assets,” stated Jakob Larsen, chief safety and security officer with shipping association BIMCO.

Asian refineries confront potential production reductions due to inability to secure immediate replacement shipments from Gulf suppliers amid the shipping shutdown, according to four traders and three industry analysts.

Asia depends on the Middle East for 60% of its oil imports, making the region particularly susceptible to current disruptions. Indonesian and Japanese refineries are increasing purchases from American sources to compensate for shortfalls. Sources at two companies indicate India is considering expanded purchases from Russia.

Four sources reported that Saudi Aramco’s primary domestic refinery and crucial crude export facility at Ras Tanura was attacked Wednesday.

Federal officials announced they are now coordinating evacuation efforts to bring home U.S. citizens who remain stuck in Middle Eastern countries following the outbreak of hostilities with Iran.

According to the Trump administration, both military aircraft and chartered commercial planes are being organized to assist Americans who have been unable to leave the region since the conflict began.

The evacuation operations represent the government’s effort to ensure the safety of American nationals who found themselves stranded when the situation deteriorated.

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Africa’s premier clean energy financing initiative aims to expand its funding to $2.5 billion within the coming two years, reflecting growing support for the continent’s shift toward renewable energy sources.

The African Development Bank’s Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) saw increased donor support in 2025, demonstrating strengthened confidence among investors in Africa’s renewable energy sector. Throughout its existence, the program has generated approximately $1 billion in private sector investment alongside its direct funding commitments.

“Based on our projects pipeline, we projected capital mobilization to climb to $2.5 billion,” said Joao Duarte Cunha, manager of the bank’s Renewable Energy Funds Division and the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa.

“By 2030, we expect our portfolio to yield over $10 billion in commercial capital mobilized,” he said.

SEFA’s funding increased to $88 million in 2025, with most contributions coming from nations within the European Union. This represented a significant jump from the previous year’s $54.3 million, according to announcements made during the regional development bank’s recent governing council session.

“SEFA is proving its catalytic value on the ground, with accelerated approvals and disbursements and growing impact,” said Kevin Kariuki, vice president for Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth at the African Development Bank Group.

The development bank gave approval to 13 renewable energy initiatives in 2025 totaling $97 million in value, a slight decrease from 14 projects worth $108 million approved during the previous year.

“The last two years have been among our strongest, with 27 projects approved — also broadly comparable in funding volumes and significantly higher than earlier years,” said Cunha.

“Demand for catalytic financing and upstream support continues to grow, and we remain deeply committed to driving the energy transition and achieving universal energy access by 2030,” he said.

At the recent COP 30 international climate conference held in Brazil, Germany pledged $40.1 million to advance SEFA’s objectives of widespread energy access and green hydrogen development programs. Italy also announced its commitment of $5.9 million to the initiative.

The fund operates with the primary purpose of drawing private sector investment into clean energy development throughout Africa. With Denmark serving as a leading contributor, SEFA has accumulated total donations of $577 million since inception. The program offers reduced-rate financing and technical expertise to broaden energy availability and promote sustainable growth.

During 2024, SEFA gave the green light to 14 renewable energy ventures across Kenya, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia and Chad, contributing roughly 840 megawatts of power generation capability and establishing 1.5 million new electrical connections. Among these initiatives, eight focused on green baseload power generation — the essential minimum energy output needed to satisfy national demand. Two projects involved green mini-grid systems, while four concentrated on energy efficiency improvements.

Throughout 2025, the majority of approved ventures also emphasized green baseload generation, with reduced focus on mini-grid and efficiency programs. In December, SEFA authorized a $10 million loan to Hyphen Hydrogen Energy, a renewable energy company developing hydrogen and ammonia production facilities in Namibia. The fund also supplied an $8.14 million guarantee for an Ivory Coast social currency bond intended to finance 400,000 new electrical connections before year’s end.

In addition to large-scale utility projects, SEFA is directing investment toward distributed energy systems, including mini-grid developers and private equity and debt funds specializing in localized energy generation from smaller-scale sources.

“We are actively testing new product lines for clean cooking and for financing through commercial banks. There is real and meaningful innovation happening in this space,” Cunha said.

MELBOURNE, Australia — During a policy speech in Australia on Wednesday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed disappointment that the ongoing Middle East conflict represents an alarming breakdown of global diplomatic cooperation.

Speaking to the Lowy Institute, a prominent international policy research organization based in Sydney, Carney made his remarks during the Australian portion of a three-country trade mission that started in India. The prime minister is scheduled to address Australia’s Parliament on Thursday before continuing to Japan on Friday.

“Geo-strategically, hegemons are increasingly acting without constraint or respect for international norms or laws while others bear the consequences. Now the extremes of this disruption are being played out in real time in the Middle East,” Carney stated.

The Canadian leader expanded on concepts he first presented during his widely-discussed January address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he warned that established international diplomatic frameworks were deteriorating.

Carney emphasized Canada’s commitment to preventing Iran from developing nuclear capabilities and threatening global stability.

“We are actively taking on the world as it is, not passively waiting for a world we wish to be. But we also take this position with some regret because the current conflict is another example of the failure of the international order,” he stated.

Despite years of United Nations diplomatic initiatives, “Iran’s nuclear threat remains and now the United States and Israel have acted without engaging the U.N. or consulting with allies including Canada,” he continued.

When asked about potential international law violations regarding U.S. and Israeli military strikes against Iran, Carney responded that such determinations were “a judgment for others to make.”

The visit also focused on strengthening partnerships between Canada and Australia in strategic sectors including critical minerals, artificial intelligence, and defense technology development.

Six American soldiers lost their lives Sunday when an Iranian drone targeted a military operations facility situated within a civilian port in Kuwait, positioned miles from the primary Army installation, satellite imagery and military officials reveal.

The spouse of one fallen soldier, who served with a supply and logistics unit stationed in Iowa, revealed to The Associated Press Tuesday that the facility resembled a shipping container structure and lacked protective defenses.

These details, initially disclosed by CNN and CBS News, spark concerns regarding security measures implemented by U.S. forces during military operations alongside Israel against Iran, which has launched counter-attacks across multiple regional nations, including Kuwait. President Donald Trump and senior military officials warn additional American casualties may occur.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated Monday that the six service members perished at a “tactical operations center” when a projectile penetrated air defense systems. The Pentagon later verified it was a drone attack at Port Shuaiba while releasing the identities of four deceased soldiers.

Satellite photography from Monday examined by the AP revealed the primary structure completely demolished, with dark smoke billowing upward. The facility sits within Port Shuaiba, an active commercial harbor and industrial zone located south of Kuwait City. A U.S. official, speaking anonymously due to the ongoing investigation, verified the image showed Sunday’s attack site.

Camp Arifjan, the Army installation, lies over 10 miles southward. The operations facility was positioned just over one mile from commercial shipping docks where cargo vessels unload containers, surrounded by petroleum storage facilities, refineries, and electrical generation plants.

Joey Amor, whose wife Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor was among the casualties, explained his 39-year-old spouse from White Bear Lake, Minnesota, had been relocated from the base to the container-like structure one week prior to the Iranian assault.

“They were dispersing because they were in fear that the base they were on was going to get attacked, and they felt it was safer in smaller groups in separated places,” he said.

Following media coverage of the operations facility, chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell posted on social media that the “secure facility was fortified with 6-foot walls.” He stated the military maintains “the most extensive Air Defense umbrella in the world over the Middle East right now and control of the skies is increasing with every wave of airpower.”

Parnell’s office declined to address inquiries about the walls’ effectiveness against drone attacks or available air defense systems protecting the port command center.

Capt. Tim Hawkins, representing U.S. Central Command, stated “it would be inappropriate to comment given the incident is under investigation.”

Aviation markets began showing signs of recovery Wednesday as several governments initiated rescue operations to evacuate tens of thousands of citizens stranded in the Middle East, even as military operations between the U.S., Israel, and Iran continue to intensify.

Major transportation hubs throughout the Gulf region, including Dubai International Airport – the world’s busiest for international travel – entered their fifth consecutive day of closure, creating the most severe travel disruption since the coronavirus pandemic began.

Wednesday marked the departure of initial evacuation flights bound for Britain and France, while the United Arab Emirates established designated travel corridors to facilitate the return of some nationals.

The current situation stands in stark contrast to typical operations, when thousands of aircraft would normally traverse the region daily. Stranded vacationers and expatriate residents have been attempting to secure alternative routes out of the area.

Stock values for major carriers began stabilizing after experiencing significant double-digit declines over recent days, which eliminated tens of billions in market capitalization from the aviation sector.

German carrier Lufthansa saw shares decline 0.8% while Australian airline Qantas dropped 2.7% – both companies have shed more than 10% of their value this week, marking their poorest performance in nearly twelve months. International Airlines Group, which operates British Airways, fell 1.5% after losing over 11% in the previous three trading sessions.

The Gulf region serves as a critical junction for international cargo operations, creating additional strain on global supply chains.

Aviation industry leaders report that flight crews and pilots are now dispersed worldwide, creating logistical challenges for resuming normal operations once airspace restrictions are lifted. Rising petroleum costs will further burden carrier expenses.

“If the airspace closure becomes the norm, it will also make Asia-Europe flights more expensive as flights will need to reroute,” Natixis said in a research report on Wednesday.

“The limited option to travel will also reduce affluent Middle Eastern tourist spending in Asia.”

Asian aviation stocks showed improvement compared to earlier weekly losses. Korean Air Lines dropped 7.9% following Tuesday’s 10.3% decline.

“It is just a different market reaction time as many European airlines have already reacted more since the war started,” said Gary Ng, a senior economist at Natixis.

“As the market prices in a longer-duration war with higher energy prices and weaker currencies, it affects the whole sector broadly including APAC airlines.”

South Korean markets were shuttered Monday when aviation and tourism securities experienced the heaviest impact from the regional conflict.

Japan Airlines shares fell 2.9% Wednesday, following Tuesday’s 6.4% loss.

Chinese aviation giants Air China and China Southern Airlines concluded trading with decreases ranging from 1% to 3%.

JAKARTA – Indonesia’s top diplomat announced Tuesday that negotiations surrounding President Donald Trump’s Gaza “Board of Peace” initiative have been suspended as warfare escalates across the Middle East region.

Foreign Minister Sugiono told reporters that the ongoing conflict involving Iran has forced all parties to redirect their focus away from the peacekeeping discussions. Indonesia had been positioned as a major contributor to the proposed force.

The current military operations between U.S. and Israeli forces against Iran have resulted in numerous civilian casualties while disrupting global aviation and driving up petroleum costs following the effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

“All BoP discussions are on hold as all attention has shifted to the situation in Iran,” Sugiono stated during a Tuesday evening press conference, responding to questions about growing calls for Indonesia to withdraw from the peace initiative amid the expanding Middle Eastern conflict.

The minister added, “We will also consult with our friends and colleagues in the Gulf because they are also under attack,” speaking after participating in an official function with President Prabowo Subianto.

Indonesia’s involvement in Trump’s peace board has faced significant domestic opposition from religious leaders and policy analysts who argue it undermines the nation’s historical solidarity with Palestinian interests. As the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country, Indonesia has long advocated for a two-state resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The Indonesian Ulema Council, a prominent religious authority, declared on March 1st that the country should abandon the peace board entirely, arguing that Trump’s military action against Iran has rendered the whole project meaningless.

Similarly, Nahdlatul Ulama, the country’s most influential Muslim organization, has urged Jakarta to leverage its board position to demand that Israel and the United States cease hostilities.

Trump initially unveiled the peace board concept in September as part of his broader strategy to resolve the Gaza conflict, though he later expanded its scope to address various international disputes typically managed by United Nations frameworks.

Sugiono revealed that President Prabowo has expressed readiness to serve as a mediator in the Iran conflict, seeking “to cool down and de-escalate the situation in the region.”

Indonesia’s military had been preparing approximately 1,000 soldiers for possible Gaza deployment by early April as part of the UN-authorized International Stabilization Force, with Indonesian officials slated to hold deputy command positions within the multinational operation.

COLOMBO – Naval and defense officials in Sri Lanka confirmed Wednesday that over 100 individuals remain unaccounted for following a submarine assault on an Iranian vessel in waters near the island nation.

According to sources within Sri Lanka’s naval command and defense ministry who spoke with Reuters, the maritime incident resulted in at least 101 people reported as missing, while another 78 individuals sustained injuries in the attack that occurred off the Sri Lankan coastline.

The submarine strike represents a significant maritime security incident in the region, though additional details about the circumstances surrounding the attack have not yet been disclosed by officials.

The son of Iran’s Supreme Leader has reportedly escaped the deadly military strikes that killed his father over the weekend, according to Iranian sources speaking to international media.

Mojtaba Khamenei was not present in Tehran during the joint American and Israeli operations that resulted in the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, two sources from Iran confirmed on Wednesday.

The younger Khamenei holds significant influence within Iran’s religious hierarchy and has long been viewed as a potential heir to his father’s position of ultimate authority in the Islamic Republic.

A mid-level religious leader with strong connections to Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guards, Mojtaba has established himself as a hardline figure among the country’s most powerful clerics. Political observers have consistently identified him as a leading candidate for succession.

“He (Mojtaba) is alive … he was not in Tehran when the Supreme Leader was killed,” according to one Iranian source.

The elder Khamenei died on Saturday following coordinated strikes by American and Israeli forces against multiple Iranian locations. The operation eliminated several high-ranking military officials and other key figures in the Iranian government.

Iran’s official media outlets confirmed the Supreme Leader’s death early Sunday morning. A high-ranking Israeli official verified that Khamenei’s remains had been recovered, while U.S. President Donald Trump announced that America had collaborated closely with Israel in targeting the leader who had controlled Iran since 1989.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez maintained his strong opposition to U.S. and Israeli military operations in Iran on Wednesday, refusing to yield to new trade threats from President Trump and cautioning that the conflict amounts to “playing Russian roulette” with countless lives at stake.

Trump issued a warning Tuesday that he would halt American trade with Spain following the country’s decision to block U.S. access to shared military installations for Iranian operations.

“We are not going to be complicit in something that is bad for the world and is also contrary to our values ​​and interests, just out of fear of reprisals from someone,” Sánchez declared during a broadcast statement.

The mechanics of Trump’s proposed trade cutoff remain unclear, given that Spain belongs to the European Union, which handles trade negotiations for all 27 member nations collectively.

Even with Spain’s rejection, Trump claimed Tuesday that “we could use their base if we want,” referring to two shared military facilities in southern Spain that operate under Spanish authority. “We could just fly in and use it,” Trump stated. “Nobody’s going to tell us not to use it, but we don’t have to.”

Trump’s Tuesday warnings represent another example of the president using economic penalties as diplomatic leverage. Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected Trump’s comprehensive global tariff program, ruling that emergency authorities don’t grant the president power to impose broad tariffs unilaterally.

Trump continues to assert, however, that the court’s decision permits him to implement comprehensive trade embargoes against selected countries.

This Iranian conflict disagreement represents another strain in Spanish-American relations under the Trump presidency. Spain previously voiced strong opposition to Israel’s Gaza military campaign.

Sánchez has characterized the American and Israeli Iranian operations as an “unjustifiable” and “dangerous” military action.

During Wednesday’s remarks, the Spanish leader also drew parallels to the Iraq conflict and its role in fueling extremist movements.

“In short, the position of the government of Spain can be summarized in four words,” Sánchez concluded. “No to the war.”

MOSCOW – Russian transportation officials on Wednesday pointed the finger at Ukraine following a fire aboard a Russian natural gas tanker in the Mediterranean Sea the previous day.

Moscow claims Ukrainian naval drones targeted the Arctic Metagaz, a vessel carrying liquefied natural gas, in what would represent the first such assault on a Russian LNG ship if the allegations prove accurate.

Ukrainian security services have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the accusations.

This incident follows a pattern of Ukrainian forces striking Russian petroleum facilities and energy-related targets as part of efforts to cut off revenue streams supporting Moscow’s military operations.

According to Russia’s transportation ministry, all 30 crew members aboard the vessel – all Russian citizens – remained unharmed during the incident.

“We qualify what happened as an act of international terrorism and maritime piracy, a gross violation of the fundamental norms of international maritime law,” the ministry said in a statement.

Officials said the ship, which had departed from Murmansk in Russia’s Arctic region with its cargo, came under attack in waters near Malta’s jurisdiction. Russian authorities expressed gratitude to Maltese emergency response teams for their assistance.

The transportation ministry claims the Ukrainian drones originated from Libya’s coastline when they launched the assault.

Neither the vessel’s Russian management company LLC SMP Techmanagement nor Novatek, Russia’s leading LNG producer, have issued statements about the maritime incident.

A second attack in three days has targeted Saudi Arabia’s most important oil processing facility, according to multiple industry sources.

The Ras Tanura complex, operated by Saudi Aramco and home to the kingdom’s biggest domestic refinery, was hit Wednesday by what sources described as an unidentified projectile. Four separate sources confirmed the latest incident to Reuters.

Details about what specific part of the massive facility sustained damage remained unclear as of Wednesday evening. The same complex had been forced to cease operations on Monday after suffering a drone attack, according to a source familiar with the situation.

The repeated targeting of Ras Tanura represents a significant escalation in attacks on Saudi Arabia’s critical energy infrastructure.

WASHINGTON — During Tuesday remarks at the White House, President Donald Trump indicated that an Iranian official already within the current government structure could be the most suitable candidate to assume leadership after U.S.-Israel military operations conclude, though he acknowledged that “most of the people we had in mind are dead.”

The president’s statements represent a shift from his previous position just four days earlier, when he strongly urged Iranian citizens to “take over your government” following the U.S.-Israel bombing campaign. His latest comments suggest movement away from the notion that ongoing military action could provide an opening to dismantle Iran’s religious leadership system established during the 1979 Islamic revolution.

According to Trump, numerous Iranian government figures his administration had considered as possible future leaders have been eliminated during the U.S.-Israeli operations that resulted in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei along with other senior officials.

The president has not revealed publicly any individuals he considers viable future Iranian leaders. Additionally, it remains unknown whether the White House has engaged in any communication with Iranian officials since military action began.

“Most of the people we had in mind are dead,” Trump told reporters during an Oval Office session. “Now we have another group, they may be dead also, based on reports. So you have a third wave coming. Pretty soon we’re not going to know anybody.”

When asked about Reza Pahlavi, the former shah’s exiled son who seeks to position himself for potential return should Iran’s Shiite religious government collapse, Trump said his administration has not seriously evaluated him for Iranian leadership.

“It would seem to me that somebody from within maybe would be more appropriate,” Trump stated, suggesting it might be logical for “somebody that’s there, that’s currently popular, if there is such a person” to fill the leadership void.

These remarks occurred while Trump welcomed German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for his initial face-to-face meeting with a foreign leader since the U.S. and Israel began their Iranian military campaign.

Trump expressed concern about a “worst case” outcome where “somebody takes over who’s as bad as the previous person.”

“That could happen. We don’t want that to happen,” Trump continued. “You go through this, and then in five years you realize you put somebody in who was no better.”

The White House has intensified efforts to address criticism regarding what some view as an unnecessarily rapid decision to initiate military action against Iran.

Trump’s strike authorization last week followed extended negotiations conducted by presidential envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner with Iranian representatives — discussions the U.S. came to view as delaying tactics.

Following the latest negotiation round in Geneva, Switzerland last week, Witkoff and Kushner informed Trump that achieving a nuclear agreement resembling the 2015 deal negotiated under former President Barack Obama remained possible, according to a senior administration official.

The official, speaking anonymously to reporters, characterized it as a potential “Obama-plus deal” that Witkoff and Kushner believed would require months but was achievable.

However, while the negotiators expressed readiness to pursue diplomatic solutions and “fight for every point that we can” if Trump preferred that approach, they emphasized to the president that Iran remained unwilling to accept terms satisfactory to the United States.

Trump also delivered sharp criticism toward Britain and Spain regarding their hesitation to support U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran.

“This is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with,” Trump said regarding British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Starmer initially prevented American aircraft from utilizing British military installations for Saturday’s Iranian attacks. He subsequently permitted U.S. use of English bases and Diego Garcia facilities in the Indian Ocean for strikes against Iran’s ballistic missiles and storage locations, but not for other targets.

Trump additionally announced plans to “cut off all trade with Spain” following Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares’ statement that Spain would not permit U.S. use of jointly operated southern Spanish bases for strikes not authorized under United Nations charter provisions.

The president also responded to criticism from close allies regarding the war decision — concerns that intensified after Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday that the U.S. chose to strike because “we knew that there was going to be an Israeli action.”

“And we knew that if we didn’t preemptively go after them before they launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties,” Rubio explained.

Trump disputed suggestions that Israel had pulled the White House into the conflict. “We were having negotiations with these lunatics, and it was my opinion that they were going to attack,” Trump said. “If anything, I might have forced Israel’s hand.”

During his Oval Office visit, Merz stated that Germany is “looking forward to the day after” the Iran conflict ends.

He indicated Berlin’s desire to collaborate with the U.S. on post-conflict strategy for when Iran’s current government no longer exists.

“We are having a high interest in common approach and common work and what we can do,” Merz said. “And this is important not just for the Americans. This is extremely important for Europe and extremely important for Israel and their security.”

Merz also highlighted rising oil costs as economic damage, presenting an argument for rapid conflict resolution.

Trump recognized that oil and gas prices would increase during continued U.S. strike involvement but argued the impact would be temporary.

“We have a little high oil prices for a little while, but as soon as this ends, those prices are going to drop, I believe, lower than even before,” Trump said.

According to AAA data, average U.S. gasoline prices jumped 11 cents overnight Tuesday to approximately $3.11 per gallon.

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba reported that a railway employee sustained injuries when a Russian drone struck an unoccupied passenger train in the southern Mykolaiv region during the early morning hours of Wednesday.

Kuleba also disclosed that Russian forces attempted another drone assault on a train traveling between Dnipro in the east-central region and Kovel in the northwest late Tuesday evening. However, railway personnel successfully thwarted this attack, causing the drone to crash several meters from the locomotive.

Ukraine’s national railway company, Ukrzaliznytsia, stated that Russian forces have escalated their drone assaults on rail infrastructure, with train cars and locomotives serving as primary objectives.

The railway operator documented 18 separate attacks since the beginning of March, resulting in damage to 41 different facilities.

According to the company, Russian forces have also targeted locomotives, cargo cars, and specialized repair equipment, while railway maintenance yards and bridges have faced bombardment throughout the month.

Earlier this week, a Russian drone strike on a passenger train in the Dnipropetrovsk region resulted in one fatality and left seven others wounded on Monday.

MADRID – Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez reinforced his strong stance against U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran during a national television broadcast Wednesday, despite facing trade punishment threats from President Trump.

The Spanish leader used stark language to describe the potential consequences of the military action, stating: “This is how humanity’s great disasters start … You cannot play Russian roulette with destiny of millions.”

The diplomatic rift between the NATO partners deepened after Sanchez publicly condemned the American and Israeli bombardment of Iran as both dangerous and unlawful. Spain subsequently prohibited U.S. military planes from accessing Spanish naval and air installations in the country’s southern region for operations targeting Tehran.

During his address, Sanchez emphasized that military force cannot resolve global challenges. “The position of the Spanish government can be summarised in four words: ‘No to the war,’” he declared, describing his country’s position as principled rather than deceptive.

The Prime Minister appeared to directly address Trump’s economic threats, saying: “We’re not going to be complicit in something that’s bad for the world nor contrary to our values and interests simply to avoid reprisals from someone.”

Sanchez drew parallels to the Iraq conflict’s aftermath, citing increased terrorist activity and rising energy costs as examples of unintended consequences. He argued that the Iranian military operation would produce similarly unpredictable results without creating a more equitable global system.

A prominent figure in South Africa’s struggle against apartheid has passed away. Mosiuoa “Terror” Lekota, who served as the nation’s defense minister and spent years fighting white minority rule, died Wednesday at 77 following an extended battle with illness, according to his political party.

Lekota spent eight years behind bars on the notorious Robben Island prison from 1974 to 1982, sharing his confinement with Nelson Mandela and other leading figures in the anti-apartheid movement. Even after his release, authorities imprisoned him again for continuing his activism against the regime.

Known for his passionate involvement in youth political movements during apartheid, Lekota later held the position of defense minister from 1999 through 2008. He also chaired the African National Congress, the party that took control of the government following South Africa’s historic 1994 democratic elections.

Lekota’s ties with the ANC deteriorated when Thabo Mbeki was ousted as president in 2008, after losing the party leadership to Jacob Zuma the previous year. This prompted Lekota to establish the Congress of the People (COPE) as a rival organization.

His new party made a strong showing in the 2009 elections, capturing more than 7% of votes nationwide and securing 30 seats in the 400-member parliament, making it the third-largest opposition force. The split significantly weakened ANC support as numerous members and leaders defected to join Lekota’s movement.

The ANC’s influence continued to wane, ultimately losing its parliamentary majority for the first time in 2024 and now operates as the leading party in a coalition arrangement.

Beyond his activism credentials, Lekota earned respect as a dedicated legislator and political figure who amplified opposition voices in government. Internal conflicts within COPE, however, led to its steady deterioration and complete failure to secure any parliamentary representation in the 2024 elections, effectively ending Lekota’s legislative career.

Health concerns forced him to withdraw from political life in 2025, with his party naming an interim leader following his departure.

Political figures across South Africa have offered condolences following news of his death.

Bantu Holomisa, who serves as deputy defense minister and heads the opposition United Democratic Movement, praised Lekota’s impact. “He decided to leave the ANC and formed COPE with other South Africans, by doing so he literally strengthened the opposition parties,” Holomisa stated.

“His role was not doubted, because he and others from the ANC did understand the passage of the struggle. And they knew very well what was the original agenda, which seemed to have been hijacked,” Holomisa added.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Following the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in an Israeli airstrike last week, attention has turned to his son Mojtaba as a potential successor to lead the Islamic Republic during wartime.

The younger Khamenei has remained out of public view since Saturday’s deadly strike on his father’s Tehran offices, which claimed the life of the 86-year-old leader. The attack also killed Mojtaba’s spouse, Zahra Haddad Adel, whose family has deep ties to Iran’s religious government.

While Iranian state media hasn’t disclosed his location, officials believe Mojtaba Khamenei remains alive and has likely sought shelter as U.S. and Israeli military operations continue targeting Iran.

Despite never holding an elected or appointed government role, the secretive figure has long been viewed as a potential heir to Iran’s top position. His father’s death in combat, along with his wife’s martyrdom, may strengthen his appeal among the elderly religious scholars who comprise the 88-member Assembly of Experts responsible for choosing Iran’s next supreme leader.

The eventual successor will inherit command of Iran’s military forces during active conflict and oversight of the nation’s highly enriched uranium reserves, which could potentially be weaponized if ordered.

According to United Against Nuclear Iran, a U.S. advocacy organization, Mojtaba served his father in multiple capacities as “a combination of aide-de-camp, confidant, gatekeeper and power broker,” similar to how Ahmad Khomeini supported Iran’s first Supreme Leader Ruhollah Khomeini.

Born in Mashhad in 1969, roughly a decade before Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, Mojtaba witnessed his father’s opposition activities against Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi during his childhood.

An official account of Ali Khamenei’s life describes how the shah’s secret police force, SAVAK, once raided their family home and assaulted the future leader. When young Mojtaba and his siblings were told their father was taking a trip, the elder Khamenei recalled saying: “But I told them, ‘There is no need to lie.’ I told them the truth.”

Following the monarchy’s collapse, the family relocated to Tehran. Mojtaba later served in the Iran-Iraq conflict as part of the Habib ibn Mazahir Battalion, a Revolutionary Guard unit whose veterans went on to occupy senior intelligence roles, likely with Khamenei family support.

When his father assumed the supreme leadership in 1989, Mojtaba gained access to vast financial resources through Iran’s bonyads — state-funded foundations controlling assets previously owned by the shah.

His influence expanded as he worked from his father’s downtown Tehran headquarters. Classified U.S. diplomatic communications released by WikiLeaks in the late 2000s dubbed him “the power behind the robes.” One document alleged he monitored his father’s communications, controlled access to the leader, and was building his own network of supporters.

A 2008 diplomatic cable noted that Mojtaba “is widely viewed within the regime as a capable and forceful leader and manager who may someday succeed to at least a share of national leadership; his father may also see him in that light,” while acknowledging his limited religious credentials and relatively young age.

The document further stated: “Mojtaba is, however, due to his skills, wealth, and unmatched alliances, reportedly seen by a number of regime insiders as a plausible candidate for shared leadership of Iran upon his father’s demise, whether that demise is soon or years in the future.”

According to the U.S. Treasury Department, Mojtaba maintained close relationships with Revolutionary Guard leadership, including commanders from the elite Quds Force and the volunteer Basij militia that brutally crushed nationwide demonstrations in January.

The Trump administration imposed sanctions on him in 2019 for helping to “advance his father’s destabilizing regional ambitions and oppressive domestic objectives.”

Intelligence reports suggest Mojtaba secretly backed hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s 2005 victory and his controversial 2009 reelection, which triggered the Green Movement uprising.

Former presidential contender Mahdi Karroubi, who ran in both elections, criticized Mojtaba as “a master’s son” and accused him of election interference. His father reportedly responded that Mojtaba was “a master himself, not a master’s son.”

Iran has experienced only one previous leadership transition since the 1979 revolution. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini passed away at 86 after spearheading the revolution and guiding Iran through its devastating eight-year conflict with Iraq.

The incoming leader will assume power following a 12-day war with Israel, as U.S.-Israeli forces work to neutralize Iran’s nuclear capabilities and military strength while hoping to inspire domestic uprising against the theocratic system.

Iran’s supreme leader sits at the center of the nation’s intricate Shiite religious government structure, holding ultimate authority over all state decisions. The position includes serving as military commander-in-chief and head of the Revolutionary Guard, the paramilitary organization designated as terrorist by the United States in 2019 and empowered under his father’s rule.

The Guard leads Iran’s self-proclaimed “Axis of Resistance,” a network of militant organizations and regional partners designed to challenge U.S. and Israeli interests throughout the Middle East. The force also controls significant business interests within Iran and manages the country’s ballistic missile program.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered sharp criticism Wednesday regarding the escalating Middle East crisis, describing the situation as evidence that the global diplomatic system has broken down.

Speaking at the Lowy Institute think tank during a visit to Sydney, Australia, Carney expressed frustration that Washington failed to coordinate with allied nations before launching military action against Iran over the weekend alongside Israeli forces. The strikes came after diplomatic talks concerning Tehran’s nuclear program reached an impasse.

The military action has triggered widespread regional violence, with Iranian forces retaliating against multiple Gulf nations including Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. Iranian attacks have also targeted American diplomatic facilities in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, forcing the U.S. to shut down embassy operations throughout the region.

“The current conflict is another example of the failure of the international order, despite decades of UN Security Council resolutions, the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency in a succession of sanctions and diplomatic frameworks,” Carney stated during his Australian speech.

“Iran’s nuclear threat remains, and now the United States and Israel have acted without engaging the UN or consulting with allies, including Canada,” he added.

The Canadian leader emphasized the need for immediate peace efforts, telling reporters that “Canada calls for a rapid de-escalation of hostilities and is prepared to assist in achieving this goal.”

Carney indicated that all nations involved in the fighting, including America and Israel, must adhere to established international combat protocols.

When questioned about whether the military strikes violated international law, Carney suggested they appeared problematic but deferred to legal experts for a definitive assessment. “It appears that these actions are inconsistent with international law,” he said, adding “it’s for others more expert than me … to make that determination.”

The Prime Minister confirmed that Canada received no advance warning about the planned attacks and was not invited to participate. He suggested his country would have declined involvement anyway, stating “We would not have been in a position … to take a judgement that met our standards if we had been asked to participate.”

Despite his criticism of the military approach, Carney acknowledged after the strikes began that Canada backed American efforts “acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent its regime from further threatening international peace and security.”

Carney’s Australian visit is part of a broader Asia-Pacific tour that includes stops in Japan and India, designed to strengthen partnerships between what he termed “middle powers.”

“Canada is focused on building a dense web of connections, ad hoc coalitions that work issue by issue, with partners that share enough common ground on those issues to act together,” Carney explained Wednesday.

“In contrast, great powers can afford to go it alone. They have the market size, the military capacity to leverage, to dictate terms. Middle powers like Canada do not,” he noted.

Officials indicated that Canada and Australia plan to expand collaboration in defense, maritime security, critical mineral resources, trade relationships, and artificial intelligence development.

A dispute has erupted between a United States mining corporation with backing from billionaires Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates and Belgium’s AfricaMuseum regarding who should have the right to digitize historical maps from the colonial period of what is today the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The mining startup KoBold Metals stated it had proposed assisting the DRC with digitizing the colonial-period collection, which sits on museum shelves extending approximately 500 meters and holds millions of records documenting how Congo’s mineral resources were charted and extracted.

“We scan, we digitise the documents, and make them accessible to the public immediately,” Benjamin Katabuka, Director General for KoBold Metals in DRC, told Reuters.

“This country needs more investment in exploration, and we need the data to be available to the public to make that happen,” he added.

The Belgian institution, with support from Belgian officials, has declined the offer, stating it already maintains a separate initiative with the DRC to digitize the information, funded by the European Union.

“We cannot delegate the management of collections to private companies; it would go against all scientific and institutional ethics,” museum director Bart Ouvry told Reuters.

KoBold obtained authorization last year to explore for lithium and additional minerals in DRC and established agreements with Kinshasa to digitize information, including materials housed in Belgium, according to the company.

Katabuka explained that the DRC government made the request for archive access. “KoBold is coming to support the project, technically and financially,” he stated.

KoBold referenced a 2022 Belgian statute that established a system for returning colonial-period collections to African nations. Archives, however, are not included in this framework.

Ouvry explained the museum is collaborating with Congo’s National Geological Service to digitize and distribute the geological archives through a project anticipated to require up to five years. Information would be accessible in both nations “in accordance with Belgian and European law,” he noted.

Congo’s ministry of mines did not respond to requests for comment.

The museum’s comprehensive archive, situated just outside Brussels in Tervuren, contains materials that are handwritten, delicate and still not completely cataloged, according to the head of the museum’s earth sciences department.

Belgium’s King Leopold II claimed Congo in 1885 for his personal profit – the territory was ransacked and the population endured severe violence. The King controlled it as his personal domain until 1908, when it transitioned to a Belgian colony.

Ouvry stated the archives remain accessible, duplicates can be furnished upon request, and private corporations must provide a support letter from the DRC government to examine geological maps.

A Belgian government representative for foreign affairs described the geological archives as a public resource. “Belgium cannot, under any circumstances, grant exclusive access to a foreign company or private entity with which it does not have a contractual relationship,” spokesperson Florinda Baleci stated.

International rivalry for essential minerals is intensifying and DRC contains abundant deposits of lithium, copper, cobalt and coltan. The nation’s ministry of mines calculates that 90% of potential resources remain undeveloped.

KoBold represents one of multiple U.S. corporations expanding operations in Congo as Washington strengthens a strategic alliance with Kinshasa to secure supplies and decrease dependence on China for materials required for batteries, electronics and defense systems.

Nearly 900 people have lost their lives across the Middle East following the outbreak of hostilities between the United States, Israel, and Iran that began on February 28. The conflict has rapidly expanded beyond the initial combatants, pulling in Gulf nations that house American military installations and drawing Lebanon into the violence.

The following casualty figures represent reports from participating nations as of March 3, marking the fourth day of warfare. These death counts have not been independently confirmed by Reuters.

Iran has suffered the heaviest losses, with the Iranian Red Crescent Society documenting 787 fatalities. Among the most tragic incidents was a missile attack that struck a primary school in the southern city of Minab on the conflict’s opening day, killing 165 schoolgirls and staff members. Officials have not clarified whether military personnel from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps are included in the overall death count.

Israeli casualties stand at 10 civilians, with nine of those deaths occurring when an Iranian missile hit Beit Shemesh near Jerusalem on March 1, as reported by Magen David Adom, Israel’s ambulance service. The Israel Defense Forces has not reported any military fatalities.

Lebanon’s health ministry confirms 50 people have died in Israeli airstrikes on Lebanese territory.

Several Gulf states have also reported casualties. Bahrain’s interior ministry confirmed one death after a fire erupted in Salman Industrial City following the interception of a missile. Kuwait has lost three people, including two soldiers, in Iranian attacks according to the country’s health and foreign ministries. The United Arab Emirates defense ministry reports three fatalities.

Maritime casualties include one person killed when a projectile struck the Marshall Islands-flagged product tanker MKD VYOM off Oman’s coast near Muscat.

American military losses total six service members who died in an attack on a facility in Kuwait, according to U.S. Central Command.

Sri Lanka’s naval forces successfully rescued no fewer than 30 individuals from a failing Iranian vessel in waters close to the island nation on Wednesday, according to the country’s foreign minister who addressed parliament about the incident.

The rescue operation was launched by Sri Lanka’s navy following an emergency distress signal received from the Iranian vessel, a defense ministry representative confirmed earlier Wednesday.

While Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath provided no additional specifics about the incident, he indicated that Sri Lanka would pursue proper measures in response to the situation.

Reports from regional news outlets indicated the vessel experienced difficulties off Galle’s coastline in the nation’s southern region, with those who sustained injuries being transported to a medical facility in Galle for treatment.

BEIJING – A pair of high-ranking Chinese Communist Party leaders were notably missing from Wednesday’s launch of China’s most significant annual political gatherings, as ongoing investigations continue to shake the party’s upper echelons.

General Zhang Youxia, who holds China’s top military position, was nowhere to be seen among the 23 members of the party’s politburo during the opening ceremony of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, according to eyewitness accounts. Also absent was Ma Xingrui, who previously served as the party’s leading official overseeing China’s western Xinjiang region.

Zhang, who also serves as vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, has been under official investigation since January. Meanwhile, Ma has remained out of public view since the end of October.

The absences highlight the continuing shake-up within China’s Communist Party leadership as officials face scrutiny in what observers describe as a significant purge of senior party members.

Iranian authorities have announced plans for a three-day farewell ceremony honoring Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who died Saturday following joint airstrikes by the United States and Israel, according to state media reports.

Hojjatoleslam Mahmoudi, who leads Iran’s Islamic Propagation Council, revealed that the memorial service will commence Wednesday evening and extend through three days. Details regarding the funeral procession will be released at a later time.

Beginning at 10 p.m. local time (6:30 p.m. EST), members of the public will have the opportunity to view Khamenei’s remains at the Imam Khomeini Prayer Hall in Tehran, the official announced.

“The Mosalla (prayer hall) will be receiving visitors and the dear people can attend and take part in the farewell ceremony and mark a strong presence once again,” Mahmoudi stated to Iranian media outlets.

Khamenei, who was 86 years old at the time of his death, had maintained strict control over Iran for decades through policies centered on opposition to both the United States and Israel. Iranian state media confirmed his death resulted from the coordinated military strikes conducted over the weekend.