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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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Humanitarian Aid on Trial in Greece

 

File photo: Migrants from Afghanistan is towed by rescuers of the Refugee Rescue NGO, on the island of Lesbos, Greece.


Twenty-four humanitarian aid workers have gone on trial in Greece, facing felony charges of migrant smuggling, money laundering, and membership in a criminal organization. The case, unfolding on the island of Lesbos, targets former volunteers of the now-defunct NGO Emergency Response Centre International (ERCI), which operated search-and-rescue missions between 2016 and 2018.

Among the defendants are Sarah Mardini, a Syrian refugee and professional swimmer whose story inspired the Netflix film The Swimmers, and Seán Binder, a German-Irish rescue diver. Both were arrested in 2018 for their involvement in helping migrants and refugees arriving by sea from Turkey. If convicted, the defendants face up to 20 years in prison.

Greek prosecutors allege that the group facilitated illegal entry into the country by monitoring coastguard communications and relaying information to smugglers. Rights organizations, however, have condemned the charges as baseless and politically motivated, describing the trial as one of Europe’s largest attempts to criminalize humanitarian solidarity.

The trial comes amid a broader tightening of migration policies across Europe, with governments under pressure from rising right-wing parties. Greece, which saw more than one million migrants arrive during the 2015–2016 refugee crisis, has been accused of illegal pushbacks and harsh border enforcement in recent years.

This case has drawn international attention, with critics warning that prosecuting aid workers sets a dangerous precedent for humanitarian efforts worldwide. The outcome will not only determine the fate of the defendants but could also shape the future of refugee assistance in Europe.

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