International
Widespread regret and condolences for the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisí
The death in a helicopter accident of the president of Iran, Ebrahim Raisí and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hosein Amir Abdolahian, has generated great regret in Arab countries and widespread condolences in the West.
The helicopter in which Raisí and other authorities were traveling disappeared for unexplained reasons this Sunday when it was returning from the city of Tabriz and the aircraft was found today in a mountainous area of the Varzeqan region, in Eastern Azerbaijan.
Among the Arab countries, the Lebanese government decreed on Monday three days of official mourning for the death of President Raisí.
Lebanon maintains good relations with Iran, one of the foreign powers that are considered most influential in the nation, due in large part to the close collaboration between Tehran and the Lebanese Shiite group Hizbulá.
The president of Syria, Bashar al-Asad, expressed his condolences and thanked Ebrahim Raisí for his work to strengthen the ties between the two countries, important allies at various levels.
The president of Iran had made a historic visit to Damascus a year ago, the first of an Iranian leader of his level since 2010, a year before the outst of the war in Syria.
Iran is a key route for supplying oil derivatives and other goods to Syria, subject to a series of international sanctions that limit its trade activities, and also maintains a strong armed presence in Syrian territory, where Iranian advisers and pro-Iranian militias are present.
For his part, the president of the Palestinian National Authority, Mahmud Abbas, on Monday offered his condolences to the Islamic Republic of Iran after the fatal accident and that of Tunisia, Kais Said, also expressed “great sadness and pain.”
Meanwhile, the president of Turkey, the Islamist Recep Tayyip Erdogan, expressed his condolences for his “esteemed counterpart and brother” Raisí and highlighted the efforts of the deceased “for the peace of the Iranian people and our region during his term.”
One of the most heartfelt reactions was that of the Lebanese Shiite group Hizbulá, a close ally of Tehran.
“For us he was an older brother, a strong supporter and a firm defender of our cause, and of the cause of the nation, especially Jerusalem and Palestine. And a protector of the Resistance movements and its mujahideen in all the positions of responsibility he held,” Hizbulah said in a statement.
The Lebanese group is part of an informal anti-Israeli alliance led by Tehran known as the “Axis of Resistance”, several of whose members hold fronts of support for the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas in the framework of the war that began seven months ago in Gaza.
Hizbulah, who leads one of those fronts against Israel from southern Lebanon, allegedly receives strong arms and logistical support from his Iranian allies.
And the de facto government of the Taliban in Afghanistan also expressed its condolences on the death of Ebrahim Raisí, who was part of a Cabinet determined to build good relations with the fundamentalists despite occasional incidents.
Under the command of Raisi, who came to power in 2021 and was one of the favorites to succeed the supreme Iranian leader, Ali Khamenei, Tehran became one of the few countries interested in improving bilateral relations with the Taliban when they took power in Afghanistan that same year.
The Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad al Thani, and the Shiite Houthi rebels of Yemen expressed their “sincere condolences” to Iran on Monday in two messages.
Qatar is one of the closest Arab countries to Iran and has mediated on several occasions between the Government of Tehran and other countries, in particular the United States, to bring views on issues such as the nuclear program or that of Iranian ballistic missiles.
The Houthis of Yemen are an Iran-backed Shiite political and religious movement that took up arms in 2014 against the internationally recognized Yemeni government, and since then they control large areas of the north and center of that country in the south of the Arabian Peninsula.
In recent months, Houthis have managed to attract international attention for their attacks with ballistic missiles and drones, allegedly Iranian, against Israeli merchant ships or ships linked to Israel in the Red Sea, in retaliation for that country’s war in Gaza.
Russian President Vladimir Putin today expressed his condolences for the “enormous tragedy” of Raisi’s death, whom he described as a “friend.”
“As a true friend of Russia, he made a valuable personal contribution to the development of good-neighbourly relations between our countries and made great efforts to bring them to the level of strategic partnership,” the Russian president added.
Russia and Iran have strengthened their relations in recent years, especially since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, since Tehran supplies Moscow with the Shahed drones with which it bombs the territory of the neighboring country.
For his part, Chinese President Xi Jinping assured that his people “have lost a good friend.”
Xi highlighted the “important contributions of the Iranian president to the security and stability” of his country, as well as to “its development and prosperity,” according to a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry. In this line, the Chinese leader recognized Raisí’s efforts to “strengthen and develop the integral strategic relationship” between China and Iran, ties that he believes will “continue to be strengthened.”
In 2021, China and Iran sealed a 25-year economic cooperation agreement that broadly provides for Chinese investments in the Iranian energy and infrastructure sectors.
The president of the European Council, Charles Michel, expressed condolences for the death of Raisí, Minister Abdolahian and his entourage. “Our thoughts are with the families,” he wrote in a message on his social network account X.
The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, joined with a statement in which he also conveyed his condolences to the rest of the deceased authorities, their relatives and “the affected Iranian citizens.”
Meanwhile, the NATO spokeswoman, in a message on social network X wrote: “Our condolences to the people of Iran for the death of President Raisí, Foreign Minister Amir Abdolahian and other people who died in the helicopter accident.”
Japan also sent its condolences to Iran. “There is nothing sadder than the news of a sudden death like this. We convey our condolences to the Government of Iran and its people, as well as to the families of the victims,” said Japanese government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi.
International
Trump plans permanent federal cuts amid partial government shutdown
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he is planning permanent cuts to the federal government as a result of the partial shutdown caused by disagreements between Democrats and Republicans.
The Republican administration also stated that it intends to slash billions of dollars in federal funding to several Democratic-led states. Trump shared on his social media platform Truth Social that he held a meeting with Russell Vought, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, to discuss the planned cuts.
Approximately 750,000 federal employees have been affected since October 1 due to the government shutdown. “I will meet today with Russ Vought to determine which of the many Democratic agencies—most of which are political scams—should be cut, and whether these cuts will be temporary or permanent,” Trump wrote.
“I cannot believe the far-left Democrats have given me this unprecedented opportunity,” he added, referring to the Congressional deadlock.
During the political crisis, Trump has adopted a mocking tone, targeting opponents such as House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. “They are not stupid people, so maybe this is their quiet and swift way of wanting America to be great again,” he added.
The partial government shutdown began Wednesday, following the end of the U.S. fiscal year without a budget extension. Republicans are pushing to continue public spending until November 21.
International
Trump administration warnings prompt Bad Bunny to skip U.S. stops on World Tour
Puerto Rican rapper and reggaeton superstar Bad Bunny, one of the most-streamed artists in the world, recently announced that his world tour will not include the United States due to concerns over potential immigration raids during his concerts.
The warning comes after a U.S. government official indicated on Wednesday that immigration authorities could conduct raids during the next year’s Super Bowl, following the announcement that Bad Bunny will headline the halftime show.
Since returning to office in January, former President Donald Trump has launched a strict immigration agenda, promising to deport millions of undocumented individuals residing in the United States.
“There is no safe place for those who are in this country illegally. Not at the Super Bowl, not anywhere else,” said Corey Lewandowski, advisor to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. “We will find them. We will arrest them. We will detain them and deport them,” he added during a podcast on Wednesday with conservative influencer Benny Johnson.
Due to these risks, Bad Bunny confirmed that his U.S. dates are canceled, prioritizing the safety of fans and concertgoers who could be affected by immigration enforcement.
International
Trump pledges to restore ‘Warrior Spirit’ of U.S. military in rare meeting with Top Officers
President Donald Trump vowed on Tuesday to “revive the warrior spirit” of the U.S. armed forces that “won and built this nation,” during a speech before top military leaders outside Washington, D.C.
“Together, in the coming years, we will transform our armed forces into something stronger, tougher, and faster,” Trump told U.S. generals and admirals gathered at an unusual meeting in Quantico, Virginia.
Earlier, Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth said at the same meeting that the U.S. military must be reformed to end “decades of decline,” which he attributed to diversity policies.
In this rare gathering of senior commanders summoned from bases around the world, Hegseth declared the end of “ideological trash,” citing concerns about climate change, harassment, “toxic” leaders, and promotions based on race or gender as examples.
“We will end the war on warriors,” emphasized Hegseth, using the new terminology adopted by the Trump administration.
According to Hegseth, this new “warrior mindset” means the military will return to recruitment and training standards based on physical endurance.
“I want to be very clear: this is not about preventing women from serving,” he insisted. “Our female officers are the best in the world, but when it comes to jobs requiring physical power for combat, standards must be neutral and high,” he explained.
“If women can achieve it, excellent. If not, that’s just how it is,” he added.
Trump plans permanent federal cuts amid partial government shutdown
Trump administration warnings prompt Bad Bunny to skip U.S. stops on World Tour
Trump pledges to restore ‘Warrior Spirit’ of U.S. military in rare meeting with Top Officers
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