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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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Ukraine Sets $120 Billion Defence Goal for 2026 Amid Intensifying War

Ukrainian service personnel use searchlights as they search for drones in the sky over the city during a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine.

Ukraine’s Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal has announced that the country will require at least $120 billion for its 2026 defence budget as the war with Russia enters its fourth year. The funding is aimed at maintaining fortified defence lines, ramping up drone and weapons production, protecting airspace, and deterring further Russian aggression.

Shmyhal warned that spending less than Russia risks paying “with our territories and, most importantly, with our lives”. Ukraine’s defence expenditure has surged since the 2022 invasion, now accounting for over 31% of GDP, with this year’s budget allocating at least $63 billion, supplemented by in-kind military aid from Western allies.

Roksolana Pidlasa, head of the parliamentary budget committee, noted that the daily cost of the war rose to $172 million in 2025, up from $140 million in 2024, covering wages, weapons, and compensation for casualties. Kyiv is urging allies to explore using frozen Russian assets to help meet the funding target.

The conflict has intensified in recent months, with fierce fighting along more than 1,000 km of frontline and increased Russian airstrikes on Ukrainian cities. Diplomatic efforts remain stalled, and NATO forces recently intercepted Russian drones that violated Polish airspace.

Shmyhal stressed that until a diplomatic solution is reached, Ukraine must keep fighting — and that requires sustained, large-scale financial support.


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