Iran’s senior representative at the United Nations stated that Tehran has no plans to shut down the Strait of Hormuz, comments that appeared to clash with a warning attributed to the country’s newly declared “supreme leader,” Mojtaba Khamenei.
Iranian officials named Mojtaba Khamenei the country’s new ruler earlier this week after his father, longtime strongman Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed on the opening day of the American military campaign known as “Operation Epic Fury.” Questions remain about the younger Khamenei’s condition and authority, as he has not appeared publicly or released any video messages since his elevation to the position. At a ceremony where Iranians were asked to pledge “allegiance” to him, organizers displayed a cardboard likeness of Khamenei because he did not attend the gathering.
Iranian state television broadcast what it described as a message from Mojtaba Khamenei on Thursday, marking the first statement attributed to him since he was declared leader. However, the broadcast included no images or video showing him alive, fueling speculation that he may have been seriously wounded or even killed during the recent American and Israeli airstrikes. Iranian state media previously reported that Khamenei had been injured, though it provided no further details.
The statement attributed to Mojtaba Khamenei included several threats directed at the United States, Israel, and their allies.
“The demand of the masses of the people is the continuation of effective and regret-inducing defense,” the statement claimed. “The revenge we seek is not only for the martyrdom of the great leader of the revolution. Every member of the nation who is martyred by the enemy becomes an independent case for revenge.”
The message also referenced the strategic waterway through which a significant share of the world’s oil shipments passes.
“Certainly, the lever of blocking the Strait of Hormuz must continue to be used.”
Those remarks appeared to conflict with statements made Thursday by Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations. During an interview with the Kurdish news outlet Rudaw, Iravani was asked whether commercial vessels were still able to travel through the Strait of Hormuz.
“We are not going to close the Strait of Hormuz.”
Iravani also added a more general caveat about Iran’s position regarding the waterway.
“It is our inherent right to preserve peace and security in this waterway.”
The Iranian government-aligned outlet Mehr News also reported Iravani’s comments.
“Iran will exercise its inherent right to maintain peace and security in the Strait of Hormuz; this is our responsibility,” he said, according to the Mehr translation. “Iran does not intend to close the Strait of Hormuz. However, maintaining peace and security in this lifeline waterway is our inherent right and this is considered our inherent right.”
Despite those assurances, Rudaw reported that the Strait of Hormuz — one of the most critical shipping routes in the world — was already “effectively closed,” as Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had designated the area as a restricted combat zone.
“The Strait of Hormuz has been closed,” the head of the IRGC, Ebrahim Jabbari, declared last week. “We will attack and set ablaze any ship attempting to cross.”
“We will not let oil be exported from the region,” he emphasized, issuing a direct warning to the oil-producing Gulf states and their customers, many of whom are located in East Asia.
The reported shutdown of the strait prompted sharp reactions internationally, including from one of Iran’s closest partners, the Chinese Communist Party. China is believed to be the largest buyer of Iranian oil and relies heavily on energy imports from the Middle East to meet its massive demand.
After “Operation Epic Fury” began, videos circulating online showed long lines forming at gas stations across China as residents rushed to fill their tanks amid fears that oil shipments from the Middle East could be disrupted.
“The Strait of Hormuz and its adjacent waters are an important international trade route for goods and energy. To keep the region secure and stable serves the common interests of the international community,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning proclaimed last week.
Chinese officials have repeatedly called on Iran not to interfere with shipping through the strait and have urged all parties involved in the conflict to de-escalate.
Beijing has demanded that all sides “stop military operations at once, avoid further escalation, keep the shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz safe, and prevent further impact on the global economy.”
Following China’s objections, the IRGC appeared to soften its earlier threats, suggesting that vessels belonging to countries friendly with Iran would be permitted to pass.
“We had previously said that, based on international laws and resolutions, in times of war, the Islamic Republic of Iran will have the right to control the passage through the Strait of Hormuz,” the IRGC said in a follow-up statement. The group added that ships connected to the United States, Israel, or European countries will “certainly be hit.”
Because of the complex system of maritime registration and ship ownership, however, vessels flying the flag of one country may actually be transporting cargo for another nation that is not directly involved in the conflict, such as China or South Korea. Early indications suggested that Chinese shipping companies were hesitant to resume traffic through the strait immediately due to fears their vessels could still be targeted.
On Wednesday, dramatic footage surfaced showing explosions striking three ships in the Strait of Hormuz. One vessel was identified as flying the Thai flag, while another carried the flag of the Marshall Islands — neither country having any direct connection to the conflict involving Iran.
As the coming Shabbos, Parshas Vayakhel-Pekudei, approaches amid ongoing security tensions, Israel’s Home Front Command has released special guidance for the Shabbos-observant public, outlining practical steps for remaining informed about emergency alerts while maintaining proper kedushas Shabbos.
In a public information video released ahead of the weekend, officials urged mispallelim to make sure they know where the nearest protected space is located in relation to their shul and along the route leading to it. The Home Front Command also advised that a charged mobile phone be left in the shul so that early warning alerts and the notification permitting people to leave protected spaces can still be received during tefillah.
According to the current policy, gatherings are permitted for up to 50 people, provided that those present are able to reach a proper protected space within the required time if an alert is issued.
During these tense days, the Home Front Command is urging the public to remain alert and attentive to official warnings and instructions distributed through authorized channels.
Regarding mobile devices, officials advised leaving a phone turned on and fully charged throughout Shabbos in order to receive advance alerts as well as notifications allowing people to exit protected spaces. Messages can be received on any fourth-generation cellular device or newer, including kosher phones. Authorities also recommended leaving an additional phone inside the protected area so that the notification permitting people to leave can be heard there as well.
For those using home computers, officials recommended utilizing the National Emergency Portal. Users should activate the audible alert system and configure the settings so that warnings relevant to their community will be received. Before Shabbos, residents are advised to disable sleep mode on both the computer and screen through the device’s settings and keep the alert display open throughout Shabbos.
Another option mentioned is the gal shaket system, which transmits emergency alerts through designated radio frequencies. Households are encouraged to leave a radio on and tuned to one of the participating stations. These include Kol Barama on 105.7, 104.3, 92.1, and 107.6 FM; Kol Chai on 92.8, 93, and 102.5 FM; Radio Darom on 101.5 FM; Galei Yisrael on 106.5, 94, and 89.3 FM; and Kan Moreshet on 90.5, 90.8, 92.5, and 100.7 FM.
Authorities also renewed warnings regarding falling debris and fragments from missile interceptions following the recent barrages. The Home Front Command stressed that interception debris can be extremely dangerous and that approaching such sites poses a serious threat to life.
“It is important for us to emphasize and sharpen this critical point,” said Lt. Col. (Res.) Danny Cohen, a Home Front Command spokesman addressing the religious and chareidi public. “We are seeing various sites where debris has fallen, and gathering at these locations poses a serious danger to life. There may be munitions scattered in the area that have not yet exploded, and approaching the site could, G-d forbid, end in disaster. People must stay away, keep onlookers at a distance, and alert the police.”
Officials also praised the public for carefully following the safety instructions during recent alerts and promptly entering protected areas when sirens sound, emphasizing that such compliance quite literally saves lives.
{Matzav.com}
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is backing a proposal that would dramatically tighten the state’s estate tax rules, lowering the exemption threshold from more than $7 million to $750,000 and raising the highest estate tax rate from 16% to 50%.
The plan appeared in a memo circulated by Mamdani’s office to state lawmakers in recent weeks. The document outlined nearly a dozen possible measures to generate additional revenue as officials work through negotiations over the state budget. Mamdani is grappling with a projected $5.4 billion deficit in the city budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 and is seeking assistance from Albany to help close the gap.
The likelihood of the proposal being adopted this year appears slim. Neither the State Senate nor the Assembly included the idea in their budget proposals, and Governor Kathy Hochul’s office also left it out of its own spending plan. Both legislative chambers did approve budget recommendations this week that included increases to income and corporate taxes, but the estate tax change was not among them.
Pressure to raise revenue is expected to intensify as state leaders confront growing fiscal challenges. According to New York City Comptroller Mark Levine, the city is projected to face a cumulative deficit of at least $28 billion over the next four fiscal years.
If enacted, the change supported by Mamdani would mark a dramatic shift in the state’s tax structure. New York already stands among roughly a dozen states that levy their own estate tax in addition to the federal tax. Reducing the exemption to $750,000 would give New York the lowest estate tax threshold in the country.
Across the United States, most states do not impose taxes on inherited wealth. Among those that do, exemption levels vary widely, ranging from $1 million in Oregon to nearly $14 million in Connecticut, according to figures compiled by the Tax Foundation.
Mamdani’s push for heavier taxes on large estates is likely to deepen concerns among wealthy residents who have already reacted nervously to his progressive agenda. The democratic socialist stirred debate after saying, “I don’t think that we should have billionaires” in an interview shortly after winning the June 2025 Democratic primary.
At the same time, some business leaders had initially taken encouragement from Mamdani’s tone during the months leading up to the November general election. During that period, he emphasized that he was not firmly committed to income or corporate tax hikes he had previously described as necessary to finance his broader policy platform. His campaign estimated that the agenda — which includes proposals for free universal child care for children ages six weeks through five years, no-cost bus service across the city, and freezing rents in regulated apartments — would require at least $7 billion annually once fully implemented.
Economists have warned that estate taxes can have unintended consequences in jurisdictions where income taxes are already high. A 2023 analysis by economists Enrico Moretti and Daniel Wilson examined state-level data and found that wealthy taxpayers may relocate to lower-tax states, particularly later in life, reducing the tax base in high-tax areas. In states with lower income taxes, estate taxes tend to be more effective at generating revenue, the study concluded.
“What we’re saying is you can either be progressive on income tax or be progressive on adopting an estate tax, but if you do both it’s going to backfire,” Moretti, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, said at the time. The richest New York City residents pay some of the highest income tax rates in the nation, with the top rate reaching 14.8% for those earning $25 million or more.
{Matzav.com}
President Donald Trump told leaders of the Group of Seven this week that Iran is nearing defeat, saying the regime is “about to surrender” as American and Israeli forces continue a large-scale military campaign targeting Iran’s military capabilities.
According to Axios, Trump made the comment during a virtual meeting with G7 leaders on Wednesday, where he highlighted the progress of the ongoing U.S.-led operation aimed at crippling Iran’s missile forces, naval assets, and defense industry.
“I got rid of a cancer that was threatening us all,” Trump reportedly told the leaders, referring to “Operation Epic Fury” and the strikes that have hammered Iranian military targets over the past two weeks.
Newsmax contacted the White House for a response to the report.
Officials from three G7 nations who were briefed on the call told Axios that Trump conveyed strong confidence that Iran’s ruling regime is close to collapsing following sustained attacks carried out by the United States and Israel.
At the same time, Trump indicated that the damage to Iran’s leadership structure may be so extensive that there may be no one left in a position to formally declare surrender.
“Nobody knows who is the leader, so there is no one that can announce surrender,” Trump reportedly said.
The comments came as the war moved into its second week, with U.S. officials reporting that Iran’s military capabilities have been significantly weakened.
Pentagon officials have stated that thousands of Iranian targets have been eliminated during the campaign, including missile launch sites, naval vessels, and facilities used to manufacture weapons.
Trump echoed those claims in a message posted on Truth Social, asserting that U.S. forces are “totally destroying the terrorist regime of Iran.”
“Iran’s Navy is gone, their Air Force is no longer, missiles, drones and everything else are being decimated,” Trump wrote. “We have unparalleled firepower, unlimited ammunition, and plenty of time.”
Despite the optimistic assessment from Washington, Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, released his first public statement on Thursday, declaring that the country will continue the fight and warning that the conflict could widen.
Speaking in remarks broadcast on Iranian state television, Khamenei vowed retaliation for Iranian “martyrs” and hinted that the regime could expand its attacks in regions where the West is “highly vulnerable.”
Iran has also continued issuing warnings about potential disruptions to maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global shipping route that carries roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil supply.
Recent attacks on oil tankers in the area have already driven global oil prices above $100 per barrel, fueling concerns about broader economic consequences.
According to Axios, several G7 leaders urged Trump during the discussion to bring the conflict to a swift conclusion and ensure security in the Strait of Hormuz in order to stabilize global energy markets.
Trump reportedly told the leaders that conditions around the strait are improving and suggested that commercial shipping could soon return to normal operations.
Officials who participated in the call said Trump remained “ambiguous” about the exact timeline for ending the war but stressed the importance of continuing the campaign in order to “finish the job” and prevent Iran from rebuilding its military or nuclear programs.
{Matzav.com}
A commercial flight from Riga to Dubai turned into an unusual experience for one traveler who found herself as the sole passenger on board during the seven-hour journey. The rare occurrence quickly captured attention online after the passenger documented the flight and shared the footage on social media, prompting widespread reactions from viewers.
The video, which was posted by an English teacher from Latvia, shows the nearly empty cabin with rows of unoccupied seats stretching throughout the aircraft. The passenger, identified as Marina Gila, filmed the unusual scene during her March 8 trip to Dubai and shared it on Instagram, where the footage quickly spread across social media platforms.
In the clip, the aircraft appears almost surreal, with no other travelers visible anywhere in the cabin. Sitting by a window seat, she joked about the unique situation and described the experience as an unexpected “VIP flight.”
The video shows long rows of empty seats as she walks through the cabin and settles into a window seat. At one point she laughs that the commercial flight felt more like flying on a private jet. In the caption accompanying the video, she wrote: “כשאתה הנוסע היחיד במטוס לדובאי ב-8 במרץ 2026!”.
The footage sparked a wide range of reactions online, with viewers expressing amusement and curiosity about the unusual scenario. Some commenters joked that there was no need to wait in line for the restroom and that snacks on board would be freely available. Others noted the advantage of being able to choose any seat for the best view or maximum legroom. Several users also pointed out that the usual scramble for overhead storage space or preferred rows disappears entirely when there are no other passengers on board.
Online commenters also speculated about how a typically busy route could end up operating with only one passenger. Some suggested that last-minute cancellations may have emptied the cabin, while others proposed that the airline may have needed to reposition the aircraft to Dubai for scheduling reasons or that an unusual booking pattern collapsed at the last moment.
Another theory mentioned by viewers was that the return flight from Dubai may have been fully booked by passengers seeking to leave the city amid the ongoing conflict involving Iran, which could explain why the aircraft traveled nearly empty in the opposite direction.
{Matzav.com}
Six American service members were killed Thursday when a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft went down in western Iraq, U.S. Central Command confirmed.
CENTCOM announced the deaths in a statement posted on social media, saying, “All six crew members aboard a US KC-135 refueling aircraft that went down in western Iraq are now confirmed deceased.”
Earlier reports from the military had confirmed that four of the crew members had died in the crash.
U.S. Central Command also said that preliminary information indicates the aircraft did not go down as a result of hostile or friendly fire. Officials added that the cause of the crash remains under investigation.
The Islamic Resistance of Iraq, an umbrella group made up of Iran-aligned factions, has asserted that it carried out the attack. The organization, however, has not presented any proof supporting that claim.
Another aircraft was reportedly involved in the incident as well. According to Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, that plane was able to continue its flight and land safely in Israel.
{Matzav.com}
A large missile fragment fell Friday afternoon in Yerushalayim Gush Shemonim neighborhood, narrowly missing what could have been a major tragedy in a busy area shortly before Shabbos.
The heavy piece of debris, reportedly weighing dozens of kilograms, landed on Givat Moshe Street in the Gush Shemonim area of Yerushalayim. The impact occurred near the Rachmastrivka and Satmar mikvaos, a location that is typically crowded on Friday afternoons as residents head to the mikveh and make last-minute preparations for Shabbos.
According to available information, the fragment struck the area about seven minutes after the air raid siren sounded. Despite the size and speed of the falling metal, no one was injured.
Security camera footage from the area captured the moment the large fragment dropped into the street.
Residents said the outcome could easily have been far worse given the time of day, when the street is usually filled with people.
One neighbor described the incident as a clear miracle, explaining that the street is normally crowded at that hour with people heading to the mikveh and doing their final shopping before Shabbos. Had the fragment struck a child or passerby, he said, the consequences could have been devastating.
The incident follows a similar scare that occurred just one day earlier in Jerusalem’s Batei Ungarin neighborhood, where a suspected missile fragment also fell, causing panic among residents and prompting police to respond.
Residents noted that in many parts of the city there are limited options for protection, as numerous buildings lack reinforced safe rooms or nearby shelters, leaving people with few ways to shield themselves during such incidents.
{Matzav.com}War Secretary Pete Hegseth said Friday that Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was injured during the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military campaign and may have suffered severe injuries. The comments came during a Pentagon briefing broadcast live on Newsmax, where Hegseth said the Iranian leadership is under mounting pressure after nearly two weeks of coordinated strikes by American and Israeli forces.
During the briefing, Hegseth said intelligence assessments indicate that Khamenei was wounded during the operation and suggested that his injuries could be significant. He pointed to the absence of any public appearance or recorded message from the Iranian leader as a possible indication of the situation.
“We know the new so-called not so supreme leader is wounded and likely disfigured,” Hegseth said.
Hegseth described the Iranian regime as increasingly unstable following the sustained bombardment, claiming that its leadership has been forced into hiding and is struggling to communicate effectively.
According to Hegseth, the administration believes the military campaign is achieving its intended objectives. Appearing alongside Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine, he said Iran’s air defense network has largely been neutralized, its air force is no longer operational, and its naval capabilities have suffered severe damage.
He also said that the frequency of Iranian missile and drone attacks has declined sharply as American and Israeli forces continue targeting launch sites, weapons depots, manufacturing facilities, and command infrastructure.
Caine supported that assessment, stating that “Operation Epic Fury” had reached its 13th day and was continuing to make progress toward the goals outlined at the beginning of the campaign. Those objectives include eliminating Iran’s missile threat, severely weakening its defense production capacity, destroying its naval strength, and preventing the regime from acquiring nuclear weapons.
The goals of the campaign align with what Hegseth previously described in earlier Pentagon briefings as a “laser-focused” operation rather than an extended military engagement in the Middle East.
Officials also emphasized during Friday’s briefing that the Pentagon has no intention of turning the operation into a nation-building effort or a prolonged military occupation.
Hegseth said President Donald Trump has maintained a clear and limited scope for the mission, focusing strictly on protecting U.S. interests. He contrasted the current strategy with what he described as the shifting and unsuccessful missions carried out by earlier administrations.
“We’ve defined these objectives. We’re pursuing those objectives,” Hegseth said.
Gen. Caine also praised the role of U.S. forces participating in the campaign, noting that American troops have carried out precise strikes from land, sea, and air.
He said U.S. artillery units have already deployed advanced missile systems to strike targets far inside enemy territory and destroy several Iranian naval vessels.
The briefing took place a day after a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq during a mission connected to the conflict.
Caine said the crash was not caused by either hostile or friendly fire. The Associated Press reported that four of the six crew members on board had been confirmed dead, while efforts continued to locate the remaining two.
Officials said the administration’s message Friday was clear: the military campaign remains on course, the strategic objectives remain unchanged, and the Iranian regime is facing mounting pressure as the operation continues under Trump’s peace-through-strength approach.
{Matzav.com}The IDF announced that since the launch of Operation Roaring Lion, Israeli forces have killed more than 350 Hezbollah terrorists, including a number of senior commanders who were involved in directing operational units and advancing attacks against the State of Israel.
In a statement issued Friday, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said that over the past week Israeli forces conducted a series of coordinated operations carried out from the air, sea, and ground. During those missions, many terrorists were eliminated, including high-ranking figures from several terror organizations operating out of Lebanon.
Among the senior operatives killed were Zid Ali Jomaa, identified as Commander of Hezbollah’s Firepower Management; Ali Reza Bi-Azhar, Head of the Intelligence Branch of the Lebanon Corps within the Quds Force; Ahmad Rasouli, who was responsible for Intelligence in the Palestine Corps of the Quds Force; and Ali Maglas Tabaja, Commander of the Imam Hussein Division.
The military also reported the elimination of several other high-level figures, including seven senior Hezbollah commanders, five commanders from the Palestine and Lebanon Corps of the Quds Force, three commanders belonging to the Imam Hussein Division, and one commander affiliated with Islamic Jihad.
According to the IDF, the strikes also targeted the senior leadership structure of Iranian regime representatives operating in Lebanon, a move the military said weakens Iran’s influence and operational presence both in Lebanon and throughout the broader Middle East.
“The eliminations and strikes in Lebanon significantly degrade the command-and-control and firepower abilities of the Hezbollah terrorist organization, and it minimizes the threats to the State of Israel and its civilians,” said the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit.
“These various terrorist organizations operate from within the civilian population in Lebanon, advancing terror activities against the State of Israel while cynically exploiting civilians as human shields. The IDF will not allow harm to the civilians of the State of Israel and will continue to operate to remove any threat,” it stressed.
{Matzav.com}
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived in Beirut on Friday for what he described as a visit of “solidarity” with Lebanon, cutting short a stay in Turkey where he had joined Muslims observing Ramadan and urged global efforts to combat anti-Muslim prejudice.
Guterres, a longtime Portuguese Socialist leader, has frequently spoken about the spiritual significance of Islam and the observance of Ramadan. He has argued that the values associated with the holy month reflect a broader vision of hope and peace that could benefit societies around the world.
According to AFP, Guterres’ trip to Lebanon comes as humanitarian conditions deteriorate in the country, where more than 800,000 people have been displaced amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah terror group.
“I have just landed in Beirut for a visit of solidarity with the people of Lebanon. They did not choose this war. They were dragged into it,” the United Nations secretary-general revealed on X.
“The UN and I will spare no effort in striving for the peaceful future that Lebanon and this region so richly deserve.”
The United Nations said that during Guterres’ visit it plans to launch an emergency funding appeal to assist people affected by the fighting. At the same time, the U.N.’s migration agency said it urgently needs $19 million to sustain its operations in Lebanon over the next three months.
“Humanitarian needs are rising faster than the response,” Mathieu Luciano, the Lebanon mission chief for the International Organization for Migration, told reporters in Geneva per AFP.
Lebanon entered the conflict in the Middle East over the past week when Hezbollah, backed by Iran, began launching attacks on Israel from Lebanese territory following the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint U.S.-Israeli strikes.
Israel responded by widening its military operations in Lebanon on Friday, striking multiple targets. Among them was a bridge spanning the Litani River that Israeli officials said Hezbollah had been using as a route for moving its fighters.
At the same time, Hezbollah continued launching new attacks against Israeli forces despite repeated calls from the international community for the group to disarm.
{Matzav.com}
Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel acknowledged Friday that officials from the communist government have recently held discussions with representatives of the United States, confirming for the first time that such contacts have taken place as Cuba struggles through a severe national crisis.
Díaz-Canel said the discussions were focused on addressing ongoing disagreements between the two countries, though he did not provide details about the negotiations or identify the Cuban representatives involved.
According to Díaz-Canel, the talks are intended to explore possible solutions through diplomatic engagement. He said they are aimed at “finding solutions through dialogue to the bilateral differences between our two nations.”
Cuba is currently experiencing a profound economic collapse, with widespread poverty and hardship across the island after more than six decades of communist rule. The situation has worsened following the sudden loss of heavily subsidized oil shipments from Venezuela. Those supplies ended after President Donald Trump ordered the arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro during a law enforcement operation in Caracas on January 3.
For years, Venezuela had served as a crucial source of cheap oil for the Cuban government. Both Maduro and his predecessor, Hugo Chávez, maintained close ties with Havana and provided regular oil shipments in exchange for security assistance and other support from the Cuban regime.
President Trump has said repeatedly in recent weeks that the United States has been communicating with Cuban officials as the country’s crisis has intensified.
“The Cuban Government is talking with us. They’re in a big deal of trouble, as you know. They have no money; they have no anything right now, but they’re talking with us, and maybe we’ll have a friendly takeover of Cuba. We could very well end up having a friendly takeover of Cuba,” President Trump told reporters on late February.
Until Friday, Cuban authorities had not publicly confirmed those contacts. Díaz-Canel acknowledged them during a broadcast on state television, where he appeared alongside senior members of the communist leadership.
“In line with the consistent policy of the Cuban Revolution throughout its history, and guided by the Army General as the historic leader of our Revolution and by myself, and in coordination with the highest structures of the Party, State, and Government, Cuban officials have recently held talks with representatives of the Government of the United States,” Díaz-Canel said.
“These conversations have been aimed at seeking solutions, through dialogue, to bilateral differences that exist between the two nations. There are international factors that have facilitated these exchanges,” he continued.
During his remarks, Díaz-Canel avoided discussing the severe economic hardship facing ordinary Cubans. Instead, he said the purpose of the talks was to identify shared issues that require attention and to determine whether both governments are willing to pursue practical steps to resolve them.
“Furthermore, the objective is to determine the willingness of both parties to undertake concrete actions for the benefit of the peoples of both countries,” Díaz-Canel said.
He also said the discussions are meant to explore potential areas of cooperation that could address security concerns and contribute to stability in the United States, Cuba, and the wider Latin American and Caribbean region. The United States has designated Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism because of the regime’s longstanding support for international terror groups. President Trump earlier this year signed an executive order addressing national security concerns related to the Cuban government.
Díaz-Canel added that the Cuban government generally does not respond to what he described as speculation, an apparent reference to recent reports about the talks with Washington. He characterized the discussions as a delicate process requiring careful handling.
He said the negotiations are part of a “very sensitive process” that is being carried out with “seriousness and responsibility” and requires effort to find solutions and “create spaces for understanding that allow us to move away from confrontation.”
“During the exchanges that have taken place, the Cuban side has expressed its willingness to carry out this process on the basis of equality and respect for the political systems of both States, as well as for the sovereignty and self-determination of our Government,” Díaz-Canel said. “This has been stated taking into account a sense of reciprocity and adherence to international law.”
As of Friday, the White House had not publicly responded to Díaz-Canel’s remarks.
President Trump addressed the situation in Cuba during his speech at the Shield of the Americas Summit in Florida last week, predicting that major changes could soon occur on the island. He also said Cuban officials had been in contact with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and described the communist government as nearing collapse.
“As we achieve a historic transformation in Venezuela, we’re also looking forward to the great change that will soon be coming to Cuba,” President Trump said. “Cuba’s, at the end of the line. They’re very much at the end of the line. They have no money, they have no oil. They have a bad philosophy. They have a bad regime that’s been bad for a long time.”
Meanwhile, Cuban opposition groups and members of the Cuban diaspora recently gathered to sign the “Agreement for the Liberation of Cuba,” a document outlining proposals for establishing a transitional government after 67 years of communist rule on the island.
{Matzav.com}
Rudy Giuliani cautioned Thursday that increasing corporate taxes in New York City will likely push more businesses to relocate elsewhere, saying the city’s current leadership is repeating economic policies that previously drove companies away. Speaking on Newsmax, the former mayor argued that the approach being proposed today mirrors mistakes he worked to reverse while in office.
During an appearance on “Carl Higbie FRONTLINE,” Giuliani criticized Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s proposal to raise corporate taxes at a time when many companies are already moving operations to states with lower tax burdens.
“It’s true. I have a sense of — it’s hard to describe,” Giuliani said when asked about the direction of the city. “Last night, for example, I had dinner with two very close friends, both of whom are very, very successful businessmen, both from New York, and they now live in Florida.”
Giuliani said the discussion with his friends focused on the same concern raised during the program: the steady movement of businesses away from New York toward states where taxes and operating costs are lower.
He contrasted Mamdani’s tax proposal with the economic strategy he adopted when he first took office as mayor in 1994. At that time, he said, New York City was grappling with budget shortfalls and rising crime in the years following the administration of his predecessor, David Dinkins.
“I went through with them the budget decisions that I made in 1994. I did exactly the opposite of what [Mamdani is] doing,” Giuliani said. “I had a deficit that proportionally was as big as his, maybe bigger.”
Giuliani said he determined that raising taxes during a fiscal crisis would only deepen the city’s economic problems by pushing residents and businesses to leave.
“I decided maybe I’d do something novel. I would lower taxes,” he said.
As an example, Giuliani pointed to a decision his administration made to dramatically reduce the city’s hotel occupancy tax.
“I cut it in more than half, and within two years I was collecting three times more revenue from it,” he said. “Three years later, I had so many more people coming to New York, so many more conventions. On the lower tax, I was making a fortune.”
Giuliani said the lesson from that period is that tax policies must remain competitive if a city wants to retain both businesses and residents.
“You have to have taxes, but they have to be like anything else,” he said. “They have to be reasonable, rational, sensible.”
{Matzav.com}
