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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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G7 Eyes Expanded Ukraine Aid Amid Rising Tensions After Polish Airspace Breach

Canada's Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne, centre, speaks with colleagues at the G7 Finance Ministers meeting in Banff, Alta.in May, 2025.

The Group of Seven (G7) nations is exploring new measures to strengthen financial support for Ukraine following a major escalation in the war — the confirmed incursion of Russian drones into Polish airspace earlier this week. The incident, which Poland described as deliberate, prompted NATO to bolster its eastern defences and triggered emergency consultations under Article 4 of the alliance’s treaty.

At a meeting chaired by Canada’s Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne, G7 finance chiefs discussed accelerating the use of immobilized Russian sovereign assets to fund Ukraine’s defence and recovery. The talks also considered additional sanctions, trade restrictions, and tariffs targeting entities aiding Russia’s war effort.

The push for increased aid builds on the Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) mechanism — a G7 initiative designed to channel up to $50 billion to Ukraine, largely from proceeds of frozen Russian state assets. Recent EU contributions under this program have already delivered billions to Kyiv, with funds earmarked for military needs, infrastructure repair, and economic stability.

The drone incursion into Poland — the most serious airspace breach involving Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion — has heightened concerns about regional security and underscored the urgency of sustaining Ukraine’s war effort. Western leaders have reiterated that defending Ukraine is integral to safeguarding NATO territory and deterring further Russian aggression.


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