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Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has said the country is prepared to deliver more bitter defeats to its enemies as tensions increase in the Strait of Hormuz.

In a statement released on Telegram to mark the anniversary of the Islamic Republic and the birthday of his late father, Ali Khamenei, he praised Iran’s military for standing firm against the United States.

He said the country’s forces had responded strongly despite growing pressure.
He warned that Iran’s navy was ready for further action, saying, “our valiant navy is also ready to inflict new bitter defeats on its enemies.”

The comments come as Iran tightens control over the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil route. Authorities confirmed the waterway has been closed again and is now under strict military supervision.

According to a statement from Iran’s joint military command, the move followed the United States’ refusal to lift its blockade on Iranian ports in the Persian Gulf.

A military spokesperson said the situation would remain unchanged until Iran is allowed full freedom of movement for its ships.
Iran’s state broadcaster also confirmed that ships can no longer pass freely, stating that access now requires approval from Iranian authorities.

The military explained: “The Islamic Republic of Iran, following previous agreements in negotiations, has agreed in good faith to the managed passage of a limited number of oil tankers and commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz.”

It added: “Unfortunately, the Americans continue the so-called blockade. For this reason, control of the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state, and this strategic strait is under the strict management and control of the armed forces.”

The statement further warned: “As long as the United States does not end the complete freedom of passage of vessels from Iran to destination and from destination to Iran, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will remain under strict control and in its previous state.”

Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran had promised not to shut the strait again after briefly reopening it.
“It will no longer be used as a weapon against the World!” he wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Iran vows ‘bitter defeats’ for US

United States President, Donald Trump has said that Iran cannot blackmail the US with its flip-flopping on the fate of the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump said this on Saturday at a White House event following the closure of the strategic waterway a few hours after it opened.

“We’re talking to them. They wanted to close up the strait again, you know, as they’ve been doing for years, and they can’t blackmail us,” Trump said.

According to the president, there would be some information about Iran later in the day.

DAILY POST reports that Iran’s military on Saturday declared the Strait, through which about one-fifth of the world’s crude and liquefied natural gas normally passes closed, a day after saying it was open.

The Islamic Republic stated that it was responding to a continued US blockade of Iranian ports.

Iran described it as a violation of their ceasefire, while Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said Iran’s navy was ready to inflict new bitter defeats on its enemies.

Strait of Hormuz: Iran can’t blackmail us -Trump

A presidential aspirant on the platform of the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Saturday said Nigeria is bleeding from within because of institutionalised corruption on a massive scale. In a post on his X handle, the former governor of Anambra State said it was “deeply troubling” to read recent World Bank reports indicating that, […]

…defends fresh prosecution The Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has reacted to recent statements issued by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, over the renewed legal proceedings connected to the 2018 Offa robbery case. Speaking with journalists in Ilorin on Saturday, the APC State Publicity Secretary, […]

Iran says there is no timeline for the next round of talks with the United States after earlier discussions failed to produce results.

Speaking at a diplomatic forum in Antalya, Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said both countries are first trying to agree on a basic framework before moving forward.

“Until we agree on the framework, we cannot set a date,” he said. “We hope that as soon as we can finalise that, then we can move on to the next step”.

He explained that Iran does not want to rush into talks that could collapse and worsen tensions.

“We do not want to enter into any negotiation or meeting that is destined to fail and could serve as a pretext for another round of escalation,” he said.
“I can assure you that Iran is very much committed to diplomacy”.

Meanwhile, Pakistan and Egypt are stepping up efforts to mediate between both sides.
Egypt’s foreign minister, Badr Abdelatty, said talks are progressing.

“We hope to do so (reach an agreement) in the coming days,” he said, adding that “not only us in the region, but the whole world is suffering from the continuation of this war.”
Abdelatty avowed that “we are pushing very hard in order to move forward.”

Khatibzadeh also criticised the United States for sending mixed signals, especially through statements linked to President Donald Trump.

“The American side tweets a lot, talks a lot. Sometimes confusing, sometimes, you know, contradictory,” he said.
“It is up to the American people to decide whether these statements are consistent and in accordance with international law”.

Despite tensions, Iran insisted it remains firm in its position.

No date for next round of talks with US – Iran

A Former member of the House of Representatives, Bimbo Daramola, has declared his intention to return to the national assembly, pledging a renewed commitment to the development of his constituency. Daramola, who represented Ikole/Oye Federal Constituency between 2011 and 2015, said that his decision to return to the green chamber was driven by what he […]

Bauchi State chapter of the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has announced severance of talks with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over planned defection of its members and supporters led by the state governor, Sen Bala Abdulkador Mohammed. The announcement of the decision was made on Saturday by the state chairman of the […]

The planned defection of Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC, has collapsed following disagreements over a proposed power-sharing formula.

Chairman of the Turaki-led PDP faction in the state, Sama’ila Burga, made this disclosure on Saturday while addressing newsmen in Bauchi.

Burga said the consultations between the governor, his Turaki-led PDP faction, and the APC leadership ended in a deadlock after the ruling party reportedly rejected a 60/40 formula for the control of party structure in Bauchi State.

Meanwhile, the governor and his supporters have, however, declared their openness to align with other political parties, noting that plans were underway to consider fresh options for possible defection from the ward to the state level.

Burga further stated that the APC had shown it was not ready to accommodate the PDP structure and the state government.

According to him, the APC initiated talks through the governor, involving its national leadership and the Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, who visited Bauchi to persuade Mohammed to join the party.

He said the discussions, however, stalled after the APC failed to agree to the 60–40 sharing formula, which he noted had been adopted in similar defections in other states.

“This is how it has been done in other places where governors defected to APC. They rejected this formula and we have closed that discussion. You cannot expect a government bringing its structure from ward level to the state not to have control of the party.

“We have called for this press conference at the instance of His Excellency, the Governor, who is leading the discussions,” he said.

BREAKING: 2027: Bauchi Gov cancels defection move to APC, gives reasons

The planned defection of Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) has collapsed.

This was announced on Saturday by the Chairman of the Turaki-led PDP faction in the state, Sama’ila Burga, who blamed the APC for nothing that the party was not ready to accommodate the PDP structure and the state government.

He said the detection was over following disagreements over a proposed power-sharing formula.

Recall consultations between the governor, his Turaki-led PDP faction, and the APC leadership was conducted in order to receive the PDP group into the APC.

After weeks of negotiations, the consultation to facilitate the defection has ended in a deadlock after the ruling party reportedly rejected a 60–40 formula for the control of party structure in Bauchi State.

The governor and his supporters have, however, declared their openness to align with other political parties, noting that plans are underway to consider fresh options for possible defection from the ward to the state level.

Burga disclosed that the APC initiated talks through the governor, involving its national leadership and the Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, who visited Bauchi to persuade Mohammed to join the party.

He said the discussions, however, stalled after the APC failed to agree to the 60–40 sharing formula, which he noted had been adopted in similar defections in other states.

“This is how it has been done in other places where governors defected to APC. They rejected this formula and we have closed that discussion. You cannot expect a government bringing its structure from ward level to the state not to have control of the party,” Burga said

Burga added, “We have called for this press conference at the instance of His Excellency, the Governor, who is leading the discussions.”

Burga further stated that after extensive consultations with stakeholders, the PDP faction resolved to discontinue the talks.

“After careful consideration, it became clear that the conditions collectively advanced for such a political realignment were not accepted by the APC leadership. In light of this, we want to announce that the discussions have not yielded a conclusive outcome and are hereby formally discontinued,” he said.

He noted that the party is now exploring alternative political platforms.

“While we appreciate the outreach and engagement by the APC, we wish to state unequivocally that the process has now been brought to a close. Consequently, the PDP in Bauchi State, in consultation with His Excellency and other critical stakeholders, is actively considering all available political options other than the APC to determine the most suitable path forward in line with the aspirations and best interests of the people of Bauchi State,” he added

Bauchi Governor Halts APC Defection Plan Over Sharing Formula Dispute is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

A former Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Yusuf Ibrahim- Zailani, has formally declared his intention to contest the Kaduna Central Senatorial seat in the 2027 general elections, while endorsing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani for re-election.

Zailani, an ally of President Bola Tinubu, made the declaration on Saturday at Rigachikun Primary School, saying his decision followed persistent appeals from constituents, which he described as a “divine call to serve.”

“This is not about personal ambition. I am answering a divine call to serve my people and advance the interests of Kaduna Central,” he said.

The former speaker urged his supporters to embrace what he termed a “joint ticket,” backing his senatorial bid alongside Tinubu’s second-term ambition and Uba Sani’s re-election

“I urge you to support a joint ticket — from the presidency to the governorship and the Senate. Together, we can achieve more for our people,” he added.

Zailani hinged his ambition on the leadership of Tinubu, whom he described as his political mentor, commending the President’s economic policies, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy.

He claimed that the policy had significantly increased federal allocations to states, especially in the North, enabling governors to meet key obligations.

“Today, governors receive more funds than ever before. The president has done his part by making resources available. These allocations are enough to pay salaries, execute projects, and tackle insecurity,” he said.

He, however, challenged northern governors to translate the increased revenues into tangible development, stressing that the onus now lies on state governments to deliver.

“There is no excuse for failure. Leaders must justify these resources by improving the lives of the people. They must fear God and avoid mismanagement of public funds,” Zailani added.

The senatorial aspirant also called on the federal government to intervene in the rising cost of fertiliser, proposing a subsidy to bring down the price to about ₦15,000 per bag.

According to him, the high cost of agricultural inputs negatively impacted farmers during the last planting season and could threaten food production if not urgently addressed.

“Our farmers suffered greatly due to the high cost of fertiliser. The government must act now to support them and boost food production,” he said.

Zailani reaffirmed his loyalty to Tinubu and Uba Sani, dismissing speculations about any preferred candidate for the Senate seat and expressing confidence in their support for his aspiration.

“There is no anointed candidate. I am confident that the President and the governor will support my ambition,” he said.

Following the declaration, Zailani led a large crowd of supporters on a road show from Rigachikun to the Stadium Roundabout to mobilise grassroots support for his candidacy.

2027: Ex-Kaduna Speaker Declares For Senate, Drums Support For Tinubu, Sani is first published on The Whistler Newspaper