International
Funeral ceremonies begin in Iran for the death of President Raisí
Iran began on Tuesday the funeral ceremonies by President Ebrahim Raisí and Foreign Minister Hosein Amir Abdolahian, who died on Sunday in a helicopter accident along with seven other people, which will last for several days.
The events began in Tabriz, capital of the northwestern province of Eastern Azerbaijan, the largest city closest to the site of the accident, which occurred in the mountainous area of Varzeqan.
According to Iranian televisions, thousands of people took to the streets of Tabriz to watch the convoy that carries the coffins of eight of the nine who died in the accident pass by, in a procession that left Shohada Square (martyrs) and which was destined for the great Mosala mosque.
The streets of Tabriz were a tide of turbans, the garment worn by the clerics in the Islamic Republic, and photos of Raisí, carried by the attendees at the events.
Shops, schools and government offices in the city are closed, something that has not happened throughout the country, in the second of the five days of mourning decreed by the supreme leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei.
After the acts of Tabriz, the coffins will be transported this afternoon to the sacred city of Qom, one of the main centers of the predominant Shii Islam in the country, and tomorrow Wednesday it will arrive in Tehran.
In the Iranian capital, foreign authorities are expected to participate in what will be a non-working day throughout the country.
After the capital, an event will be held on Thursday in the city of Birjand, where Raisí was a representative in the Assembly of Experts, the body in charge of electing the supreme leader in case of a vacancy.
Finally, the deceased will be buried on the same day in the sacred city of Mashad (northwest).
The helicopter in which Raisí and his companions were traveling disappeared on Sunday when he was returning from Tabriz along with two other aircraft – which arrived at their destination without problems – in what the official IRNA agency has described as a “technical failure.”
The American ‘Bell 212’ device acquired in the 1970s was found a day later with the lifeless bodies of its occupants.
The governor of East Azerbaijan, Malik Rahmati, the leader of the Friday prayers of the city of Tabriz, Mohammad-Ali Al-Hashem, also died in the accident, in addition to two pilots of the aircraft, a flight attendant, the presidential security chief and a guard.
Khamenei approved on Monday that the first vice president, Mohamad Mojber, be appointed interim president of the country.
Iran will hold presidential elections on June 28.
International
Senate Bipartisan Vote Moves Measure to Block Further U.S. Military Action in Venezuela
The U.S. Senate took a significant step on Thursday toward limiting President Donald Trump’s military authority in Venezuela, advancing a bipartisan war powers resolution that would block further military actions without explicit congressional approval, lawmakers said.
In a 52-47 procedural vote, the measure moved forward after five Republican senators joined all Democrats in supporting the effort. The resolution aims to require presidential authorization from Congress before the United States can engage in any new hostilities against Venezuela, a rare rebuke of Trump from both sides of the aisle following the controversial military operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
If ultimately passed, the legislation would obligate the administration to withdraw U.S. forces from any imminent hostilities in or against Venezuela unless Congress explicitly authorizes such actions. However, the measure’s future remains uncertain as it heads next to the House of Representatives, where a Republican majority is less likely to approve it, and any final version would likely face a presidential veto. Overriding a veto would require a two-thirds majority in both chambers, a high threshold in the current political landscape.
President Trump has sharply criticized Republican senators who broke ranks to support the resolution, saying they should not be re-elected and arguing that the measure undermines his authority to act in national defense. Nevertheless, the vote signals growing bipartisan concern in Congress about unchecked executive military action in the absence of legislative authorization.
International
Petro and Trump Agree on Joint Action Against ELN Guerrillas After Tense Diplomacy
Colombian President Gustavo Petro and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump agreed on “joint actions” to combat the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla group operating along the Colombia–Venezuela border, Colombia’s Interior Minister Armando Benedetti said on Thursday.
The announcement came after a period of heightened diplomatic tension triggered by recent U.S. airstrikes in Venezuela, the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, and threats of possible U.S. military action in Colombia. The phone call Wednesday evening was the first direct conversation between Petro and Trump since both leaders took office, and it helped ease the strained relationship.
During the call, both presidents committed to carry out joint efforts against the ELN, a guerrilla group that has repeatedly attacked Colombian security forces and is accused of kidnapping soldiers. In December, the ELN declared a “armed strike,” confining civilians in areas under its control in response to perceived threats of U.S. intervention.
According to Benedetti, Petro welcomed Trump’s invitation to meet in Washington and asked for U.S. support to “strike hard” against ELN positions along the porous border with Venezuela, where guerrillas often flee after clashes with Colombian forces.
The border region is a longstanding flashpoint, where armed groups, drug traffickers and illegal mining networks compete for control. Previous attempts by Petro’s government to negotiate peace with the ELN have stalled after a major offensive in Catatumbo that left hundreds dead and displaced thousands.
International
Lula Vetoes Bill That Would Have Shortened Bolsonaro’s Prison Sentence
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva vetoed on Thursday a bill that would have significantly reduced the prison sentence of his far-right predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently serving time for attempting a coup d’état.
Despite the veto, the conservative-majority Congress retains the power to override the decision through a vote.
In September, following a landmark trial, Brazil’s Supreme Court sentenced Bolsonaro to 27 years in prison after finding him guilty of conspiring to remain in power in an “authoritarian” manner following his defeat to Lula in the 2022 presidential election.
The 70-year-old former president has been incarcerated in a Brasília prison since late November. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court rejected a request for house arrest on health grounds.
Under the current legal framework, Bolsonaro would be required to serve approximately eight years before becoming eligible for sentence leniency. However, a bill passed by Congress in December could have reduced that period to just over two years, prompting Lula’s veto.
Senate Bipartisan Vote Moves Measure to Block Further U.S. Military Action in Venezuela
Petro and Trump Agree on Joint Action Against ELN Guerrillas After Tense Diplomacy
Lula Vetoes Bill That Would Have Shortened Bolsonaro’s Prison Sentence
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