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Tehran Signals Defiance as Supreme Leader Vows Retaliation and Strait Closure

  A man holds a picture of Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, while people attend a funeral ceremony for the Iranian military commanders who were killed in strikes, in Tehran Iran’s Supreme Leader issued his first public remarks following the deaths of senior Iranian commanders, vowing that the country will “avenge the martyrs” and maintain the closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz until what he described as “justice” is served. His comments, delivered during a nationally broadcast address, underscore a sharp escalation in rhetoric at a moment of heightened regional tension. The Supreme Leader framed the recent losses as sacrifices in the defense of Iran’s sovereignty, promising that those responsible “will face consequences.” He also reaffirmed Iran’s decision to keep the Strait closed, a move that has already disrupted global shipping routes and rattled energy markets. The strait, one of the world’s most critical chokepoints for oil transport, has long been a flas...

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Hope Returns: Ukraine Welcomes Home Over 1,000 POWs in Landmark Exchange



Ukraine Celebrates Return of POWs After Istanbul Peace Talks

Ukraine has successfully repatriated a new group of prisoners of war from Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Wednesday. This marks the ninth exchange under the Istanbul-negotiated agreements and brings the total number of returned Ukrainian soldiers to over 1,000.

The latest group includes many who were seriously ill or wounded, with some having endured more than three years in Russian captivity. “The servicemen who are returning today defended Ukraine in different sectors of the front,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram. “All are receiving key support and medical assistance”.

The exchange follows the third round of peace negotiations held in Istanbul, where both sides agreed to swap 1,200 prisoners and the remains of fallen soldiers. Ukrainian officials emphasized that these humanitarian gestures are among the few tangible outcomes of the ongoing talks, which also aim to secure a ceasefire and the return of abducted Ukrainian children.

Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko echoed the sentiment, stating, “Ukraine owes each one of them. That is why we continue — every day — to bring our people home”.

While broader peace remains elusive, the prisoner exchanges offer a glimmer of hope for thousands of families awaiting the return of their loved ones. More swaps are expected in the coming weeks as negotiations continue.

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