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An atmosphere of extraordinary awe and hisorerus filled the home of Grodno Rosh Yeshiva Rav Yitzchok Hacker on Yom Kippur, as the Rosh Yeshiva, who has been in very serious condition, remained at home for all of the day’s tefillos, davening with a small minyan of family members and close talmidim.

Despite his weakened condition, in the days preceding Yom Kippur the Rosh Yeshiva was still able to deliver a special shmuess of chizuk to the older bochurim of the yeshiva.

The tefillos in the Rosh Yeshiva’s home followed precisely the traditional nusach of Yeshivas Grodno, including the familiar niggunim and piyutim established over the years by the baal tefillah, R’ Ephraim Piontek. Talmidim and alumni of the yeshiva approached the amud with awe and trepidation. Rav Yechiel Wilansky served as baal tefillah for Mussaf, while Rav Avraham Yitzchok Shoymer, a grandson of the renowned baal tefillah Rav Tzvi Eisenstein zt”l, led Neilah.

A number of particularly moving moments took place over the course of the day. At Kol Nidrei, the Rosh Yeshiva himself held a Sefer Torah, with his son, R’ Yosef Shlomo, who serves as rosh hakibbutz in the yeshiva, standing alongside him.

During Krias HaTorah on Yom Kippur morning, Rav Hacker received shlishi. Following his aliyah, the Rosh Yeshiva requested that a special Mi Shebeirach be recited for his longtime friend and partner in leading the yeshiva, Rav Tzvi Drabkin.

Later in the day, for Maftir Yonah, the Rosh Yeshiva honored his close talmid, R’ Shmuel Vanderwalde, as an expression of hakaras hatov for the extensive assistance he has provided in recent years with registration for the incoming Shiur Alef.

Yom Kippur reached its emotional climax with Neilah, which was conducted in an atmosphere of tremendous intensity. Despite his condition, the Rosh Yeshiva’s voice could be heard clearly throughout the home as he poured out his heart in tefillah and tachanunim for the yeshuah of Klal Yisroel.

As the holy day came to an end, the shofar was sounded by the Rosh Yeshiva’s son, R’ Yosef Shlomo, bringing to a close an unforgettable Yom Kippur in the home of the Grodno Rosh Yeshiva.

{Matzav.com}

The community of Beitar Illit was plunged into mourning following Yom Kippur with the sudden petirah of Rav Avraham Yitzchok Reiner zt”l, a distinguished member of the Masmidim community, who was niftar at the age of 63. In a particularly poignant twist, Rav Reiner passed away at approximately 5:50 p.m., during the very hour of Neilah — the tefillah for which he had served as the community’s longtime baal tefillah for decades.

Rav Avraham Yitzchok was born on 8 Av 5723 to his father, Rav Eliyahu Reiner zt”l. Upon reaching marriageable age, he married the daughter of Rav Shlomo Rubin zt”l. Together, they built a beautiful Torah family, and Rav Reiner merited to see all seven of his children married during his lifetime.

For many years, Rav Reiner devoted himself to harbotzas haTorah and chinuch. He served as a melamed in the preparatory division for yeshiva at Talmud Torah Kaminetz, while also spending many years immersed in Torah learning in kollelim.

Rav Reiner was also widely known for his expertise in the painstaking preparation of matzos, serving as a highly regarded redler. His expertise earned the confidence of Rav Avraham Yehoshua Soloveitchik, and he became a trusted figure among members of the Brisker community in matters relating to matzah production.

Another lesser-known aspect of Rav Reiner’s Torah accomplishments dated back approximately four decades, when he authored one of the early works devoted to explaining the Hoshanos recited during Sukkos. His work preceded the many publications on the subject that appeared in subsequent years.

Those who knew Rav Reiner described him as an exceptionally pleasant and gracious person, devoted to Hashem and beloved by those around him. He was known for greeting others warmly and radiating kindness to everyone he encountered.

During the past year, Rav Reiner had been suffering from an infection that developed following surgery.

For approximately the last two decades, one of the most familiar and moving features of Yom Kippur in the Masmidim community of Beitar Illit was Rav Reiner standing before the amud for Neilah. Year after year, as the holiest day reached its final and most intense moments, his voice accompanied the kehillah through the closing tefillah of Yom Kippur.

This year, however, Rav Reiner did not stand before the amud. Instead, at approximately 5:50 p.m., during Neilah itself, the longtime baal tefillah returned his neshamah to its Creator — at the very hour in which, for so many years, he had led his fellow mispallelim in the final, stirring tefillos of the Yom HaKadosh.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

The Federal Aviation Administration on Monday launched a new artificial intelligence-powered system at the three major airports serving the Washington, D.C., region, marking the first operational deployment of technology officials hope will eventually reduce flight delays and improve management of U.S. airspace.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has spent months promoting the new technology as one piece of the administration’s effort to modernize the nation’s air traffic control system. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said Monday that the Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes and Trajectories system, known as SMART, would provide controllers with “much better decision-making capabilities.”

Both Bedford and Duffy stressed that SMART is intended to assist air traffic personnel rather than take over their jobs. Under the FAA’s system, recommendations generated by SMART are reviewed by agency personnel, who retain authority over whether to act on them.

“There is a lot of conversation about AI and who is controlling the airspace,” Duffy said during a press conference marking the SMART launch, which will be used at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Dulles International Airport and Baltimore/Washington International Airport. “It’s always going to be a human that manages the airspace in America.”

Bedford said he demonstrated the technology for airline CEOs “a few weeks ago,” and that what they saw “opened their eyes about the inefficiencies in the airspace and how much work we’re our controllers to … have to sort out.”

The launch of the advanced AI system came on the same day the FAA found itself grappling with a much older problem: failures involving the aging infrastructure that underpins the country’s air traffic control network.

An equipment failure at an FAA facility in Philadelphia caused major disruptions across the Northeast on Monday. Ground stops and lengthy delays affected Newark Liberty International, John F. Kennedy International and LaGuardia airports after a primary communications circuit failed and officials discovered that a backup fiber-optic line had also been severed.

Bedford said the damaged fiber line represented a “massive” break caused by construction activity between New Brunswick and Newark, New Jersey. Officials initially estimated that repairs could take approximately 13 hours.

Duffy said the fiber had been accidentally cut during construction. The damaged telecommunications lines were eventually repaired, allowing airport operations across the region to begin returning to normal later Monday, though substantial delays remained.

The debut of SMART followed reports that some airline officials initially had reservations about adopting the technology. Subsequent meetings between FAA officials and airline executives, including a September 10 session involving Bedford and airline CEOs, helped address some of those concerns.

During a demonstration at the Transportation Department, Bedford explained that SMART will pull together real-time information to help controllers make better decisions about the movement of aircraft. The FAA says the platform centralizes approximately 200 streams of information, including weather conditions, flight paths, traffic patterns and controller staffing data.

One problem the system is designed to address involves rapidly changing weather. Aircraft can sometimes remain on the ground waiting for action while controllers simultaneously handle dozens of other flights. SMART is intended to analyze changing conditions and provide information that allows decisions to be made earlier.

Bedford said the technology could shorten departure and arrival delays in those situations. It can also identify instances in which multiple aircraft heading to the same airport are projected to arrive at approximately the same time and recommend small changes to their trajectories so their arrivals are better spaced.

“We think we can use better predictive analytics, and we can use the better understanding of how weather is evolving, … and we can make much better airspace decisions,” he said.

Duffy said travelers should begin noticing the effects of the new technology as its use expands, although the benefits will not appear immediately. Officials are looking toward next summer for more visible improvements as SMART is introduced more broadly across the aviation system.

The Washington-area launch will initially serve as a testing period for the technology before the FAA expands SMART to additional parts of the country. The agency says the system will continue operating alongside existing air traffic management technology, with human controllers remaining responsible for the safe separation and movement of aircraft.

Released hostage Rom Braslavski shared a deeply personal message ahead of Yom Kippur, writing about his decision to fast despite receiving a heter from a rav, and describing how his anger toward Hashem following his ordeal in captivity ultimately gave way to renewed emunah.

“Despite the permission I received from the rabbi, this year and every year I will fast on Yom Kippur and afflict my soul,” Braslavski wrote. “May you have an easy and meaningful fast and be sealed for a good year.”

One person responded by asking Braslavski a piercing question: After everything he endured during his captivity, how could he not harbor anger toward Hashem?

Braslavski acknowledged that anger had indeed been part of his struggle.

“At first, there was a great deal of anger. And for that I ask forgiveness. Who are we to be angry at the King of the World???” he responded.

His comments followed an emotional message Braslavski posted on Erev Yom Kippur after visiting the Kosel, where he reflected at length on his captivity, his faith and the moments during his ordeal when he felt himself faltering.

“Forgive me, HaKadosh Boruch Hu,” he began.

“Father in Heaven, I came all the way to the Kosel in our beautiful land to tell You I’m sorry. I’m sorry that I didn’t do more at Nova, I’m sorry for all the times in captivity when I broke down, when I doubted, when I lost faith.”

Braslavski continued by asking forgiveness for what he viewed as moments of weakness during his captivity.

“I’m sorry for all the times I allowed the feeling of humiliation to hurt me. I’m sorry for all the times I didn’t stand strong against the terrorists. For every time I fainted, for every time I cried.”

At the same time, Braslavski described an underlying conviction that remained with him throughout his captivity: that Hashem would ultimately bring him home.

“I always knew in captivity that You would save me. I always knew You would not let me remain in Gaza. I felt You with me in Gaza day after day, hour after hour.”

He described his ordeal as a profound test of emunah, comparing what he experienced to the nisayon of Avraham Avinu at the Akeidah.

“You tested me, HaKadosh Boruch Hu, You tested my faith, as You did Avraham Avinu at the Akeidah, and I feel that I passed it. I am proud that I am Your son.”

Braslavski also revealed that his captors attempted to pressure him into converting to Islam, but said that he refused to give in.

“Every time they tried to convert me to Islam, I did not give in to their pressure. Even in captivity, I always knew that a Father would not abandon His children.”

In perhaps the most striking portion of his message, Braslavski expressed gratitude even for the ordeal itself, saying that what he endured had transformed the way he sees his life and his relationship with Hashem.

“Father, I thank You for causing human animals, terrorists, to kidnap me. Thank You for opening my eyes. Thank You for all the times You saved me from death. You were there with me, and for that I thank You, Hashem Yisborach.”

Braslavski concluded by contrasting where he had been on the previous Yom Kippur with where he stood this year.

“A year ago, on the last Yom Kippur, I was a prisoner of Zion in Deir al-Balah. And today I am free at the Kosel.”

He then described looking toward Har Habayis as he made his way to the Kosel.

“On the way to the Kosel, I saw the Al-Aqsa Mosque. With Hashem’s help, Father in Heaven, You will return that to us as well.”

Braslavski ended his message with a final expression of gratitude for his freedom:

“Thank You, Hashem Yisborach, for redeeming me from the house of bondage.”

{Matzav.com}

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani renewed his sharp criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu on Monday, again calling him a “war criminal” as the Israeli leader prepares to arrive in New York for the United Nations General Assembly.

Speaking in a CNN interview, Mamdani stood by his longstanding accusations against Netanyahu, maintaining his position despite acknowledging earlier this summer that New York City does not have the legal authority to carry out the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant against the Israeli prime minister. CNN reported ahead of Netanyahu’s visit that Mamdani continues to regard him as a war criminal, even after backing away from his earlier pledge that the NYPD would arrest Netanyahu upon his arrival in the city.

Mamdani has repeatedly used even stronger language in discussing the Israeli leader. In July, after city lawyers reviewed the question of whether New York could act on the ICC warrant, Mamdani declared, “Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal, the architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people.”

He also argued at the time that Netanyahu should face legal proceedings over Israel’s conduct in Gaza.

“There is a reason the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest,” Mamdani said. “As human beings, we have spent generations building a shared understanding that there are crimes so grave they offend all of humanity. Anyone, with their eyes, with their heart, with their conscience, should recognize the devastation he has wrought and understand that he belongs before a court of law.”

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and then-Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in November 2024, alleging war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection with the Gaza war. Netanyahu and Gallant rejected the allegations, while Israel disputed the court’s jurisdiction and denounced the warrants. The ICC allegations remain charges, not convictions.

Mamdani had pledged while campaigning for mayor that Netanyahu would be arrested if he entered New York City. After taking office, however, his administration conducted a legal review and concluded that the city lacked independent authority to enforce an ICC warrant.

“It is clear that we do not have the independent legal authority to enforce this warrant,” Mamdani said in July. “The federal government, however, does, and I call on them to join the ICC and execute this warrant.”

He nevertheless made clear that the legal determination had not changed his personal position toward the Israeli leader.

“And I want to be equally clear: Benjamin Netanyahu is not welcome in New York City, nor is any other war criminal at large.”

The United States is not a member of the ICC, and President Donald Trump has rejected the prospect of Netanyahu being arrested on American soil. The Trump administration has also moved against the court over its actions involving Israel and the United States, including preparing broader sanctions targeting the ICC.

Netanyahu, for his part, has made clear that Mamdani’s position will not prevent him from traveling to New York for the General Assembly. The Israeli prime minister has previously accused Mamdani of “fomenting hate” through his rhetoric and has rejected the mayor’s allegations concerning the Gaza war.

The dispute is particularly significant because Netanyahu is due in New York during one of the city’s most security-intensive weeks of the year. CNN reported Sunday that Mamdani does not intend to participate in the demonstrations expected during Netanyahu’s visit, while saying that protesters have the right to demonstrate.

The mayor’s renewed criticism came the same day he hosted President Trump at Gracie Mansion for a cordial meeting focused primarily on New York City issues, including affordability and development. Despite their extensive political disagreements, Trump and Mamdani appeared together afterward and emphasized areas in which the federal and city governments could cooperate.

Mamdani’s position on Netanyahu stands in particularly stark contrast to Trump’s. The President has remained a strong supporter of the Israeli prime minister and has rejected efforts to subject Netanyahu to ICC jurisdiction. Mamdani, meanwhile, has continued to insist that the Israeli leader should ultimately face the international court.

The legal picture, however, remains unchanged: whatever Mamdani’s views of Netanyahu, New York City has concluded that the mayor and NYPD do not possess independent authority to execute the ICC warrant.

Netanyahu is expected to address the U.N. General Assembly during his New York visit, where the wars involving Israel and the broader Middle East are expected to be among the major subjects confronting world leaders this week.

{Matzav.com}

Chinese President Xi Jinping will arrive in the United States on Wednesday for a three-day state visit that will include meetings with President Donald Trump, with trade, technology, artificial intelligence and other major points of friction between Washington and Beijing expected to feature prominently in their discussions. China’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that Xi will be in the United States from September 23 through September 25 at Trump’s invitation.

Trump extended the invitation during his own state visit to China in May, as the two governments sought to stabilize relations following years of disputes involving trade, technology, intellectual property, Taiwan and other issues. Economic matters, including rare-earth minerals and advanced technology, are expected to be among the subjects addressed during this week’s talks.

China’s government said Xi is expected to have “an in-depth exchange of views on major issues concerning China-U.S. relations and world peace and development.” Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun, speaking at his regular briefing Monday, emphasized the importance Beijing places on direct engagement between the two leaders but provided few specifics about the substance of the upcoming talks.

“Head-of-state diplomacy plays an irreplaceable role in providing strategic guidance to China-U.S. relations,” Guo said, according to a Foreign Ministry translation of his statements. “The exchange of visits by the two presidents within the span of half a year will mark a milestone of historic significance.”

“China will work with the United States to enrich the dimensions of the China-U.S. constructive relationship of strategic stability, strengthen dialogue and cooperation, and properly manage differences, so as to deliver greater benefits to our two peoples and further contribute to world peace, stability and prosperity,” he promised.

The trip will mark Xi’s first formal state visit to the United States in more than a decade. His last was in 2015, although he traveled to California in 2023 for talks with then-President Joe Biden. This week’s visit is expected to include the ceremonial events traditionally associated with a state visit, including a formal White House welcome and state dinner.

Technology is expected to occupy a significant place on the agenda, particularly as the United States and China compete over the development of artificial intelligence and advanced computing. The two countries have also faced disagreements over technology exports and access to sophisticated semiconductors.

Leading American technology executives are expected to be among the guests during Xi’s visit, while reports have indicated that Beijing has considered including prominent Chinese business executives in its delegation.

Trade will also be a central subject. Washington and Beijing have been working through disputes involving tariffs, agricultural purchases, supply chains and other commercial issues, while both governments have sought to prevent those disagreements from developing into another broader trade confrontation.

Xi’s visit comes as China and the United States remain divided over several international issues in addition to their economic competition. Those include Taiwan and the conflicts involving Iran, as well as Beijing’s relationship with Russia. Despite those disagreements, both governments have emphasized maintaining regular high-level communications.

President Trump is expected to personally welcome Xi when the Chinese leader arrives in the Washington area. A senior U.S. official said Trump plans to greet Xi at Joint Base Andrews, an unusual gesture for an American president welcoming a visiting foreign leader.

The reception will follow Trump’s May trip to Beijing, where Chinese authorities staged an elaborate welcome for the American president before Trump and Xi held talks at the Great Hall of the People.

During that visit, the two leaders publicly emphasized the potential for cooperation between their countries. Xi said at the time, “The people of China and the United States are both great peoples. Achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and making America great again can go hand in hand,” Xi said. “We can help each other succeed and advance the well-being of the whole world.”

Xi is not expected to take part in this week’s United Nations General Assembly gathering in New York. Trump, meanwhile, is scheduled to address the General Assembly on Tuesday, before Xi arrives in the United States for the state visit.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump’s job approval has fallen to 29% in a new national American Research Group poll, while 68% of Americans disapprove of his performance, according to the survey released Monday. The same poll found an even lower rating for Trump’s handling of the economy, with 26% approving and 71% disapproving.

The survey, conducted September 16-20 among 1,100 adults nationwide, carries a theoretical margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. Because of that margin, the one-point decline in approval from August — when Trump stood at 30% approval and 66% disapproval — should not by itself be treated as a statistically significant change.

Still, the September result continues a longer decline in ARG’s polling series. Trump stood at 37% approval in September 2025, falling to 35% by the beginning of 2026, 34% in March, 32% in April and 30% throughout June, July and August before reaching 29% this month.

The 29% figure is also considerably lower than Trump’s standing in some other current national surveys, underscoring the importance of viewing an individual poll in the context of broader polling. For example, other recent national polling has placed Trump’s approval in the 30s and low 40s.

Among registered voters in the ARG survey, Trump’s overall approval was 30%, while 68% disapproved. The poll found substantial partisan differences: 65% of Republicans approved of Trump’s job performance and 34% disapproved; among Democrats, 1% approved and 98% disapproved. Independents registered 26% approval and 70% disapproval.

Economic sentiment was particularly negative in the survey. Just 26% of all adults approved of Trump’s handling of the economy, compared with 71% who disapproved. Among registered voters, the figures were 27% approval and 71% disapproval.

Trump’s economic approval in ARG’s polling has declined from 34% in September 2025 to 26% today. Among Republicans in the latest survey, 63% approved of his economic performance and 36% disapproved. Just 1% of Democrats approved, while independents gave Trump a 19% approval rating on the economy and 75% disapproval.

The survey found widespread pessimism about the direction of the economy. Only 5% of respondents said they believe the national economy is getting better, while 17% said it is remaining about the same and 72% said it is getting worse.

That pessimism extended even to respondents who otherwise approve of Trump. Among those giving the President positive marks for his overall job performance, 12% said the economy is improving, 32% said it is staying the same and 49% said it is getting worse. Among Trump disapprovers, 81% said economic conditions are deteriorating.

Expectations for the coming year were similarly downbeat. Six percent of Americans said they expect the national economy to be better a year from now, 17% predicted little change and 70% expected conditions to be worse.

Notably, among the 29% who approve of Trump’s overall job performance, 9% said they expect the economy to improve during the coming year, while 26% expect it to remain unchanged and 56% believe it will worsen.

That represents a major change within ARG’s group of Trump approvers compared with February 2025. At that time, 46% of respondents who approved of Trump expected the economy to improve during the following year, compared with 30% who expected it to worsen.

The survey also found that 67% of Americans believe the country is currently in a recession, while 19% said it is not and 14% were undecided. That question measures public perception rather than an official economic determination; recessions in the United States are conventionally dated by the National Bureau of Economic Research rather than by public polling.

Asked to rate current economic conditions, 8% described the national economy as excellent, very good or good. Another 86% placed it in one of the negative categories — bad, very bad or terrible — including 65% who selected “terrible.”

Respondents were also overwhelmingly negative about their own finances. Eighteen percent rated their household financial situation as excellent, very good or good, compared with 75% who rated it bad, very bad or terrible.

Just 3% said their household finances are currently improving, 20% said they are staying the same and 71% said they are getting worse.

The outlook for personal finances was virtually identical: 3% expected their household financial situation to be better a year from now, 20% expected it to be approximately the same and 71% predicted it would be worse.

Even among respondents who approve of Trump’s overall job performance, 56% said they expect their household financial situation to deteriorate during the next year. Five percent expected improvement and 34% anticipated little change.

The latest ARG numbers also show a significant difference from the same point during Trump’s first term. In September 2018, the pollster measured his overall job approval at 37%, with 59% disapproving. His economic approval at that time stood at 39%, compared with 55% disapproval.

The new poll arrives weeks before the November midterm elections, although presidential approval polling does not directly measure voter preferences in individual House and Senate races. The ARG results also represent one pollster’s measurement at one point in time, and other contemporary surveys have produced materially different estimates of Trump’s national approval.

American Research Group said its September survey consisted of 1,100 completed interviews with a random sample of adults 18 and older living in households in the continental United States. The sample included 312 Republicans, 328 Democrats, 361 independents and 99 non-voters, with interviews conducted from September 16 through September 20.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said Monday that he was holding meetings on the continuing conflict with Iran, reiterating that Tehran will not be permitted to obtain a nuclear weapon as Iran’s Revolutionary Guard warned that it is prepared to expand the fighting and deploy new weapons if the conflict escalates.

Speaking to reporters following his meeting with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani at Gracie Mansion, Trump said, “They’re not gonna have a nuclear weapon. Let me just put it that way,” adding, “And they’re not doing well. In fact, I have meetings on it today.”

Trump’s remarks came as Hossein Mohebbi, a spokesman for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, warned that Tehran considers the conflict ongoing and is prepared to alter its approach if fighting with the United States intensifies.

Trump on Iran:

They’re not doing well. In fact, I have meetings on it today. They are doing very poorly. pic.twitter.com/8gXmE3DY3m

— Clash Report (@clashreport) September 21, 2026

“The war is not over,” Mohebbi said in a statement carried by Iranian state media. “We will certainly change the geography of the war,” he said, adding, “We will certainly bring new weapons with new capabilities into the battle.” Mohebbi said the Revolutionary Guard has prepared itself for a prolonged conflict.

The Iranian spokesman also indicated that Tehran could broaden the range of locations it attacks. “Our targets will no longer necessarily be the same as before,” he said, according to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, while claiming that Iran has additional targets that it has not yet struck.

Trump has been considering the next steps in the U.S. campaign against Tehran, with possible courses of action including additional military operations, continued economic pressure and efforts to reach an agreement with the Iranian government.

During an interview with Axios last week, Trump described the possibility of another major round of strikes against Iran as a consequential decision. “I have a big decision coming up. Do I want to go in and annihilate [the Iranian regime] or do I not? It’s a big decision. Anything could happen with me,” he said.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, meanwhile, has said that his government does not seek another war but will not submit to outside pressure or intimidation. He has also said Tehran intends to honor its existing agreements despite its deep distrust of its adversaries.

“We do not want war and conflict and consider them harmful not only to the people of our country but to the world. At the same time, we will in no way yield to force and bullying,” Pezeshkian said, according to Iran International.

Pezeshkian has also argued that Iran should remain receptive to diplomatic efforts, saying negotiations could help provide security while cautioning that Tehran believes its adversaries could attempt to exploit negotiations against it.

“We have no trust whatsoever in the enemy, but we remain committed to our agreements,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

Yom Kippur was marked by an atmosphere of extraordinary awe and emotion in the home of the Slabodka Rosh Yeshiva, Hagaon Rav Dov Landau, where the senior Rosh Yeshiva poured out his heart in tefillah for Klal Yisroel and davened throughout the day surrounded by family members and close talmidim.

Before the Rosh Yeshiva wrapped himself in his tallis for Kol Nidrei, an emotional scene unfolded in his home. Tens of thousands of names of donors to tzedakah funds, representing Yidden seeking yeshuos, had been placed on his table. Rav Landau was visibly moved by the enormous number of names and davened with tears for the klal and for each individual, asking that their judgment be sealed for good and that they be inscribed in the Book of Life and Peace.

At the onset of Yom Kippur, Rav Landau entered the bais medrash of Yeshivas Slabodka. In a stirring scene, he held a Sefer Torah alongside the Rosh Yeshiva, Hagaon Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, as the many talmidim of the yeshiva looked on with reverence at the two senior gedolei Torah.

Rav Landau subsequently returned to his home, where Maariv was held with a small minyan consisting of family members and close talmidim. His grandson, Rav Menachem Landau, one of the heads of Yeshivas Slabodka L’Tzeirim, served as shliach tzibbur, leading the tefillah with great emotion.

Shacharis on Yom Kippur morning began in Rav Landau’s home at netz hachamah. His talmid, Rav Meir Blum, mashgiach at Yeshivas Mishkan HaTorah L’Tzeirim, led the tefillah.

During Krias HaTorah, Rav Landau received shlishi. Following the aliyah, a special Mi Shebeirach was recited for the success, yeshuah and protection of Klal Yisroel, both in Eretz Yisroel and throughout the world. Mussaf, including the stirring Seder HaAvodah recounting the service of the Kohen Gadol, was led by Rav Landau’s talmid, Rav Moshe Rabinowitz.

The Mincha davening in Rav Landau’s home carried with it a special sense of tradition and remembrance. Rav Eliezer Fisher, son of Rav Shalom Fisher zt”l, the legendary longtime secretary of Yeshivas Slabodka, went to the amud. For those present, the sight was particularly moving, as his father had served as shliach tzibbur for Mincha each Yom Kippur in the yeshiva’s heichal.

As Yom Kippur drew to its climax with Neilah, Rav Landau once again made his way to the bais medrash of Yeshivas Slabodka, where he stood together with hundreds of talmidim during the final moments of the holy day.

The cries of “Shema Yisroel” and “Hashem Hu HaElokim” reverberated through the heichal. Then, following the final blast of the shofar, the assembled talmidim erupted in a powerful rendition of “L’shanah haba’ah b’Yerushalayim habenuyah,” bringing an unforgettable Yom Kippur in Slabodka to a close.

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and his family spent the opening hours of Yom Kippur davening at a private minyan in the Rechavia home of philanthropist R’ Moti Sonnenfeld, rather than at the nearby Yad Tamar shul, despite reports that security officials had constructed a special passageway between Netanyahu’s residence and the shul.

The Shin Bet and the security division of the Prime Minister’s Office constructed what was described as a “secret tunnel” shortly before Yom Kippur. The secured passage, reportedly between 15 and 20 meters long, connected the prime minister’s residence at 35 Gaza Street in Yerushalayim with the Yad Tamar shul on HaAri Street in Rechavia.

According to sources, the passage was built so that Netanyahu could walk securely from his residence to the shul to participate in the Yom Kippur tefillos. Air conditioning was reportedly installed in the passage as well. In the end, however, Netanyahu did not daven at Yad Tamar.

Matzav learned that Netanyahu instead joined a minyan at the Rechavia home of R’ Moti Sonnenfeld together with his wife, Sara, and their sons, Yair and Avner.

The Netanyahu family attended Kol Nidrei and Maariv.

The private minyan consisted of approximately 30 mispallelim, all of whom had received prior Shin Bet security clearance. Netanyahu davened alongside his sons, Yair and Avner, while Sara Netanyahu sat in the ezras nashim.

At the conclusion of the tefillah, Netanyahu thanked those who had joined the minyan.

{Matzav.com}

Ben Gurion Airport reopened Monday night following its annual Yom Kippur shutdown, bringing Israel’s main international gateway back to life after more than 32 hours without regular arrivals or departures.

Israel’s airspace began reopening after the conclusion of the 25-hour fast Monday evening, with the first international arrival at Ben Gurion scheduled for 10:30 p.m. and the first departing international flight set to take off at 11:30 p.m.

The reopening followed the nearly complete suspension of Israeli aviation for Yom Kippur, an annual occurrence during which commercial air traffic, public transportation and many other services throughout the country come to a halt.

Operations at Ben Gurion had wound down Sunday afternoon ahead of the start of Yom Kippur. At Terminal 1, the final departure took off at 1 p.m., followed by the last domestic arrival at 1:10 p.m.

Terminal 3 remained active for slightly longer. Its final international arrival and departure were scheduled for 1:55 p.m. Sunday, after which regular flight operations ceased for the duration of Yom Kippur.

The airport remained largely silent until Monday night, when international operations began restarting at Terminal 3. The first arriving flight was scheduled for 10:30 p.m., followed one hour later by the first outbound flight at 11:30 p.m.

Terminal 1 is reopening somewhat later. According to the Israel Airports Authority’s Yom Kippur schedule, both its international and domestic operations are set to resume at 2 a.m. Tuesday.

The return of flights at Ben Gurion is part of a broader reopening across Israel following Yom Kippur. Bus service began resuming Monday night, while Israel Railways service is scheduled to restart Tuesday.

Other Israeli airports are following a different timetable. Ramon Airport near Eilat, where aviation activity ended at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, is scheduled to reopen at 6 a.m. Tuesday. Haifa Airport, whose last arrival took place at 2 p.m. Sunday, is likewise expected to resume operations at 6 a.m. Tuesday.

Israel’s land crossings also shut down or operated on restricted schedules for Yom Kippur. The Begin Crossing at Taba was scheduled to reopen at 10 p.m. Monday, while several other crossings return to their normal schedules Tuesday.

The Yom Kippur shutdown was planned in advance and was not related to a security incident or technical problem. Israel routinely suspends virtually all commercial aviation during the holiest day on the Jewish calendar, leaving the normally bustling Ben Gurion Airport almost completely dormant.

With Yom Kippur now over, passengers are being advised to confirm their flight schedules and terminal information directly with their airlines as the airport moves from the holiday shutdown back to regular operations. The Israel Airports Authority has also reminded travelers that some airlines operate from both Terminals 1 and 3, making it important to verify the correct terminal before traveling to the airport.

The reopening comes during an especially busy period for international travel, with the conclusion of Yom Kippur followed shortly by Sukkos and the heavy passenger traffic traditionally associated with the Yom Tov season.

{Matzav.com}

Matzav.com regrets to inform you of the petirah of Rabbi Yeruchem Septimus z”l, a longtime mechanech who devoted many years to chinuch habanos as principal of Bais Kaila High School in Lakewood, NJ. He was 79 years old.

Rabbi Septimus was niftar on Motzoei Yom Kippur following a prolonged illness.

For many years, Rabbi Septimus served as principal of Bais Kaila, where his life was bound up with the education and development of generations of talmidos. In his role at the school, he carried the responsibility of helping guide young women during some of the most formative years of their lives, working alongside the school’s mechanchos and administration in maintaining the standards and values upon which the mosad was built.

Rabbi Septimus was a dedicated educator who understood that chinuch extends far beyond the classroom. His position placed him at the center of the day-to-day life of the school, where he dealt with the countless details, challenges and responsibilities that accompany the education of bnos Yisroel.

Over the course of his years in chinuch, Rabbi Septimus earned the respect of colleagues, parents and students alike. His many years at Bais Kaila represented a sustained commitment to the community and to the sacred work of educating another generation.

Rabbi Septimus is survived by his family, including his sons, R’ Dov Septimus, R’ Yaakov Eliyahu Septimus, R’ Shmuel Septimus and R’ Chaim Tzvi Septimus, as well as his extended family and the generations of students whose lives he touched during his decades in education.

The levayah will take place Tuesday morning at 10:30 a.m. at Congregation Sons of Israel Memorial Chapel, located at 613 Ramsey Avenue in Lakewood.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump formally opened the White House’s new granite helicopter landing pad Monday, cutting a ceremonial ribbon on the South Lawn as the major television networks declined to provide their customary pooled coverage amid an escalating dispute with the administration over press access.

Using oversized golden scissors, Trump sliced through a red, white and blue ribbon to inaugurate the approximately $6 million project, which features the presidential seal. Standing alongside members of the construction crew responsible for the project, Trump called the finished helipad “a work of art.”

The White House carried the ceremony through its own video operation and social-media channels. But with Marine One idling immediately behind Trump, the helicopter’s engines largely drowned out the President’s remarks on the White House feed.

Ordinarily, a network television camera and high-powered microphone assigned to the White House television pool would have provided broadcast-quality video and audio of the ceremony. No such pooled camera was present Monday.

Earlier in the day, the television networks suspended presidential pool coverage after the White House prevented CNN from taking its scheduled turn in the rotation. CNN ordinarily participates with ABC, CBS, Fox News and NBC in a five-network system that supplies video from presidential events to other news organizations around the world.

The White House defended its decision to restrict CNN, MS NOW and Politico from White House grounds, saying in a statement: “Access changes are nothing new. What is new, however, is the sudden claim that it becomes sacred only when the outlets are friendly to the Radical Left. The rule was never ‘every outlet gets in.’ It was always ‘our side stays in.’”

The suspension of the television pool has implications well beyond the five participating networks. Numerous news organizations rely on the pool to obtain professional video and clear audio of presidential appearances, while wire services distribute the footage to customers around the world.

C-SPAN also normally depends on the television pool to carry many presidential events and said it would therefore not broadcast Monday afternoon’s ceremony.

“Without a pool feed, we will not be showing” the president’s event, the network noted.

After cutting the ribbon, Trump walked along a line of construction workers, shaking hands and thanking them for their work before making his way toward Marine One.

The President then departed aboard the presidential helicopter for Joint Base Andrews, where he was to board Air Force One for New York and events surrounding the United Nations General Assembly.

For the short trip to Andrews, Trump boarded the newer VH-92A Patriot version of Marine One. The new South Lawn landing pad was constructed in part to accommodate the heavier helicopter and protect the lawn from the greater heat generated by the aircraft.

The helipad is one of several construction projects Trump has pursued at the White House and elsewhere in Washington during his second term, alongside plans for a new White House ballroom and a monumental arch.

It was not immediately clear how long the television pool suspension would continue. The dispute comes during a particularly active week for presidential coverage, with Trump scheduled to participate in meetings with foreign leaders and events connected to the United Nations General Assembly.

The five television pool members — ABC News, CBS News, CNN, Fox News Media and NBC News — issued a joint statement objecting to the White House restrictions.

“The public has a vital interest in receiving accurate, independent information about its government. No administration should restrict a news organization because it objects to its reporting,” read a joint statement from ABC News, CBS News, CNN, Fox News Media and NBC News, the five White House television pool members.

A roughly 30-foot-long homeless encampment has appeared directly across from an NYU dorm in Manhattan’s East Village, where people living at the site say changes in the city’s approach to street homelessness under Mayor Zohran Mamdani have made remaining outdoors preferable to entering a shelter, the New York Post reports.

The makeshift encampment, located at East Ninth Street and Third Avenue alongside Ukrainian Village Park, includes a large blue tarp stretched over office chairs, suitcases, bicycles and other belongings occupying part of the sidewalk. It sits in full view of pedestrians and NYU students living across the street.

“Some people are nice, some people think we invade their space,” Raymond, 45, who lives in the shelter, said Monday. “I was in a Bowery shelter and they stole my stuff. I’d rather be outside.”

Raymond said conditions for those choosing to sleep outside have become “much better” since Mamdani became mayor.

“The past mayor had the police and they just came through and took stuff,” Raymond said. “Now they ask if we are ok and need help.”

The East Village site is one of several homeless encampments that have emerged around Manhattan during the past year. Other encampments have been reported near the Intrepid Museum on the West Side, beneath the FDR Drive on the East Side and in Greenwich Village.

Under the Mamdani administration’s policy, the Department of Homeless Services rather than the NYPD takes the lead in dealing with homeless encampments. After an encampment is formally notified, outreach workers are supposed to engage those living there each day for seven days, offering shelter, medical care and other services. At the end of that period, the site is cleared. Mamdani has said the approach is intended to connect homeless New Yorkers with services rather than simply move them from one location to another.

Once the seven-day period concludes, city agencies can move ahead with cleaning the site and removing material remaining at the location. The city’s 311 guidance says the Department of Homeless Services works with agencies including the NYPD and Department of Sanitation in addressing encampments.

Raymond and another man, Dave, who were near the NYU encampment Sunday, said the city’s current approach has contributed to their preference for remaining outside rather than entering the shelter system, where they said theft and other problems can occur.

“There are plenty of services out there if you want it,” said Dave, 31. “This is a choice. If you wanted to be inside, you could. I have friends who froze to death over the last two winters just because they wanted to be outside.”

Dave said he previously worked as a waiter on Long Island before becoming homeless after developing a drug addiction.

Police officers responded to the East Ninth Street encampment Sunday following a 311 complaint. According to the report, officers instructed those at the site to “condense and get rid of some stuff,” before leaving. The city’s 311 policy calls for officers to inspect reported encampments and refer confirmed sites to the Department of Homeless Services.

The sprawling collection of tarps and belongings prompted at least one pedestrian to compare the scene to the large homeless population concentrated in downtown Los Angeles.

“It doesn’t look a lot different from Los Angeles,” one passerby said, referring to Skid Row.

[Photo: The New York Post] 

President Donald Trump renewed his call Monday for an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, saying the conflict is killing an estimated 25,000 people every month while also pointing to the growing damage inflicted on Russia’s oil-refining industry by Ukrainian attacks.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump connected his latest appeal to Ukraine’s sustained strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, saying that Moscow has “lost control of its Diesel Oil Industry” as a result of the fighting.

“A large number of their Diesel refineries have been blown up and are, at least temporarily, out of commission,” Trump wrote. “This ridiculous and never ending War with Ukraine must be ended.”

“The whole World suffers as 25,000 people, mostly soldiers, are being killed each month,” he added. “What a shame!”

Trump’s figure of 25,000 deaths per month could not immediately be independently confirmed.

Accurately determining military casualties has remained difficult throughout the more than four-year war, with both Russia and Ukraine releasing limited information about their own battlefield losses.

The President’s remarks came a day after Ukraine launched more than 1,000 drones and missiles against targets across Russia, including hundreds directed toward Moscow. Russian officials described the barrage against the capital as the largest of the war.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin called the assault the biggest drone attack on the Russian capital since the fighting began.

The strikes damaged the Moscow Oil Refinery as well as a residential building. Russian authorities said two people were killed and approximately 20 others were injured in the Moscow region.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv employed domestically produced missiles and drones in attacks aimed at Russian oil and logistics facilities that Ukraine says are used to support Moscow’s military operations.

Trump’s comments also followed reports that, during a telephone conversation Sunday, he urged Zelenskyy to halt attacks on Russian oil refineries, citing concerns that the strikes were contributing to tightening worldwide diesel supplies and higher fuel prices.

According to the Financial Times, which cited officials familiar with the conversation, Trump repeatedly focused on diesel during the call and pressed the Ukrainian leader to stop targeting Russian refining capacity in order to preserve supplies for the international market.

Diesel prices in the United States have climbed to unprecedented levels amid disruptions to Russian refining operations and broader turmoil affecting energy supplies from the Middle East.

The national average price of diesel reached a record $6.51 per gallon on Monday, according to AAA data.

Trump and Zelenskyy are scheduled to meet Tuesday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, as the United States continues efforts aimed at reducing the fighting and restarting negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv.

Following Sunday’s conversation with Trump, Zelenskyy said there was “diplomatic momentum” surrounding the efforts and that their upcoming meeting “could change a lot.”

Iranian airlines could effectively be forced out of international operations beginning Wednesday, September 23, as the Trump administration prepares to use secondary sanctions against airports and companies that continue servicing Iranian carriers, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced Monday.

“On September 23, all Iranian airlines will be shut down around the world,” Bessent said in an interview with CNBC.

The global restrictions are expected to be enforced through the threat of U.S. secondary sanctions. Bessent warned that airlines, airports and other businesses continuing to provide services to Iranian carriers could face consequences under Washington’s sanctions regime.

The enforcement strategy is designed to make it extremely difficult for Iranian aircraft to operate outside the country. Airports, ground-handling companies, fuel suppliers, ticketing agencies and other service providers that assist sanctioned Iranian carriers could risk losing access to the U.S. dollar financial system. Bessent specifically warned that companies cannot provide Iranian aircraft with fuel or landing services or sell tickets for the carriers without risking such penalties.

The latest move follows the Treasury Department’s expansion of sanctions earlier this month to Iranian airlines that had not previously been designated, as Washington increases economic pressure on Tehran and the infrastructure supporting its aviation industry.

U.S. sanctions have long targeted Iranian aviation companies, including Mahan Air, over allegations that aircraft and aviation networks have been used to transport military personnel, weapons and other equipment. The latest measures broaden the pressure by targeting the foreign companies and facilities Iranian carriers depend upon to continue international operations.

Washington has also accused Iranian aviation networks of supporting Tehran’s military relationships abroad, including the movement of military equipment and weapons to Iranian-aligned groups in the Middle East and assistance connected to Russia. The sanctions are intended to disrupt those transportation channels while also placing additional pressure on Iran’s economy and commercial aviation sector.

The impact is already beginning to be felt. Mahan Air recently suspended international flights to destinations including Istanbul, Ankara and Muscat as U.S. pressure increasingly affected the overseas companies providing services necessary for its operations.

If airports and aviation companies broadly comply with the American sanctions threat, Iranian carriers could find themselves unable to obtain landing permission, fuel, ground services, insurance and other necessities for international flights, effectively isolating much of Iran’s commercial aviation network from the rest of the world.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Monday that CNN, MS NOW and Politico were welcome to cover his joint appearance with President Donald Trump at Gracie Mansion, days after Trump barred the three news organizations from the White House. The exchange came as the outlets filed suit against the administration seeking restoration of their White House credentials.

Mamdani made the remarks during a press conference at the mayoral residence after a reporter asked whether he had confronted Trump over his decision to exclude CNN, MS NOW and Politico.

“I told the president that we’re going to have all of the members of the press here on the lawn. And that is something that I believe in, as everyone, no matter the opinion or the critique that we engage in,” Mamdani said.

Trump then addressed the controversy himself, defending the White House restrictions while also responding to the decision by the five television networks that make up the presidential TV pool — Fox News, ABC News, CBS News, CNN and NBC News — to suspend pooled television coverage after CNN was prevented from carrying out its scheduled pool assignment.

“It’s interesting because they said they were going to boycott me, but they never boycott me. So I wasn’t very worried about that. Look at all that press,” Trump said.

The President went on to explain why he was speaking with the assembled journalists at Gracie Mansion despite his objections to the coverage produced by some of the outlets. Trump argued that news organizations have an obligation to cover his administration fairly, pointing to his election victory, his administration’s foreign-policy record and economic figures.

“I’m only doing it because I think the press also has an obligation,” he said.

“We have the best economic numbers for the country in the history of our country. We have $21 trillion pouring in, the biggest number ever… Nobody’s ever done what we’ve done,” he added.

Trump then contended that giving certain news organizations access to the White House could pose national-security concerns, again accusing the outlets of publishing what he calls “fake news.” The three organizations challenging the ban say the decision amounts to unconstitutional retaliation based on their reporting.

“I never get anything positive. It’s always negative, even having to do with the war. We’ve done so well,” he said, referring to Iran.

“You would think that an outlet would write at least reasonably well, but never. If you look at CNN, it’s fake news,” he added.

The dispute has now moved into federal court. CNN, MS NOW and Politico filed suit Monday seeking to regain access to the White House, arguing that revoking their credentials because of coverage the President dislikes violates First Amendment protections. The administration maintains that the outlets remain free to publish and report and that White House physical access is a privilege rather than an automatic entitlement.

“They’re very bad for the country, very bad for national security. So I have that obligation. So we’ll see how it works out,” he said.

A major communications failure snarled air travel across the Northeast on Monday, triggering ground stops and lengthy delays at more than half a dozen airports, including JFK, LaGuardia and Newark, after both a primary circuit and a newly installed backup system failed.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said a circuit failure affecting Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control knocked out radio and radar capabilities serving John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport.

The disruption also affected Philadelphia International Airport, Teterboro Airport and Westchester County Airport, according to the FAA.

The problems began at approximately 10 a.m. and ultimately contributed to more than 1,000 delayed or canceled flights across one of the nation’s busiest aviation corridors, where officials have already been grappling with aging air traffic control infrastructure.

The timing added to the complications, with approximately 130 world leaders and dozens of government ministers arriving in New York for the annual United Nations General Assembly.

Officials then discovered another problem that made the outage significantly worse: a recently constructed fiber-optic backup system in New Jersey had been damaged during nearby construction.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said work being performed along an Amtrak rail line resulted in a fiber-optic cable being cut, severing Verizon communications lines that were supposed to provide backup service.

“This incident underscores the need for additional funding to modernize aging infrastructure and prevent disruptions like this in the future,” Duffy added.

Officials did not immediately determine exactly when the backup fiber-optic cable had been damaged.

Bedford said the problem became apparent only when the primary circuit went down and the system attempted to switch over to the backup connection.

“Unfortunately, that circuit failed today,” Bedford said. “And when it went to flip into the backup, we discovered that the backup fiber had a break.”

By approximately 6 p.m., officials said repairs had been completed and airport operations throughout the region were beginning to return to normal, although passengers were cautioned that the effects of the daylong disruption would continue for some time.

“The telecom lines have been repaired, and all airport operations in the Northeast are resuming,” Duffy said in an update posted to X.

“It will take some time to clear all existing delays, so please check with your airline for the latest information.”

Even after service was restored, JFK, LaGuardia, Newark, Teterboro and Philadelphia were continuing to experience substantial delays of roughly an hour.

Newark and Philadelphia alone recorded more than 600 delayed flights during the disruption, according to flight-tracking service FlightAware. The outage had halted or sharply restricted arrivals and departures as aviation officials worked to restore the communications systems.

Boston was also temporarily affected by the cascading problems. A ground stop was imposed there as the airport dealt with additional traffic spilling over from the disruptions elsewhere in the Northeast, but that restriction was subsequently lifted.

Bedford said Monday’s breakdown exposed deeper weaknesses in the architecture supporting the nation’s air traffic control system and warned that simply replacing individual components would not eliminate the underlying vulnerability.

“The network design is terrible. And if we don’t fix the network design, we’re going to continue having these failures,” he said.

The Northeast experienced similar air traffic control problems last year, prompting efforts to replace aging equipment and strengthen the communications infrastructure supporting the region’s airports.

Bedford said that while newer technology is being installed, the basic structure of the system remains largely unchanged from what controllers have relied upon for decades.

“Today, the data architecture is the same,” Bedford said. “We’re pulling copper up and putting fiber down, but it’s the same data architecture that we’ve had for 50 years.”

Congress last year approved $12.5 billion for upgrades to the nation’s air traffic control system and efforts to increase the number of air traffic controllers, part of a broader push to address congestion, staffing shortages and recurring flight disruptions at airports across the country.

The United States has denied visas to several members of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s delegation for this week’s United Nations General Assembly, including members of his communications team, as President Donald Trump and Tehran exchange increasingly severe warnings amid the continuing war and possible diplomatic contacts in New York.

The Trump administration has nevertheless authorized Pezeshkian, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and a reduced group of essential Iranian officials to enter the United States for the U.N. gathering. The State Department said last week that allowing the core delegation to attend was consistent with U.S. obligations as host country to the United Nations.

Iranian state media reported Monday that other members of the presidential delegation had been denied visas.

“In an unprecedented hostile move by the US government, Trump has denied US visas to certain members of the president’s high-level delegation, including members of his communications team,” Iran’s official IRNA news agency reported.

The precise number and identities of those denied visas were not immediately disclosed. Iranian media reported that Pezeshkian is expected to travel to New York on Tuesday and address the General Assembly on Wednesday.

The visa restrictions come as Pezeshkian prepares to become the highest-ranking Iranian official to enter the United States since the current conflict began with U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran in February.

Those who have received permission to enter the United States will face unusually strict restrictions while in New York. The State Department has limited members of the Iranian delegation largely to the U.N. headquarters area, Iran’s U.N. mission, the Iranian ambassador’s residence and JFK Airport.

The administration is also again restricting the delegation’s ability to purchase luxury goods and other items while in the United States, a measure Washington imposed on Iranian officials during last year’s General Assembly as well.

Araghchi left Iran on Sunday evening for the U.N. gathering, with a stop in Qatar. His trip comes as Qatar continues to serve as an intermediary between Washington and Tehran in efforts to determine whether negotiations can resume.

The diplomatic maneuvering is unfolding alongside a military and economic confrontation that has sharply escalated in recent days. Iran has conveyed a series of conditions through intermediaries for renewed negotiations, including demands related to the Strait of Hormuz and the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports. U.S. naval forces, meanwhile, have continued enforcing restrictions around Iranian maritime traffic.

Trump has said he remains open to speaking directly with Pezeshkian while both leaders are in New York. The President is scheduled to address the General Assembly on Tuesday, with Pezeshkian expected at the podium a day later.

But Trump has simultaneously issued stark warnings about the consequences if Iran rejects an agreement.

Speaking to Fox News on Sunday, Trump said the alternatives facing Tehran included “wiping Iran out,” or allowing its economy to “rot” if an agreement cannot be reached.

The President has also described himself as being in a decision-making phase regarding Iran, while signaling that military action, additional economic pressure and diplomacy all remain under consideration. Reuters reported that Trump has coupled his threats with an expressed willingness to meet Pezeshkian.

The prospect of the two presidents being in New York at the same time has consequently fueled speculation about whether the U.N. gathering could produce an opening for negotiations. No Trump-Pezeshkian meeting has been publicly confirmed.

Markets have been closely watching those diplomatic possibilities because the war has severely disrupted shipping and energy flows through the Persian Gulf and surrounding waterways. Oil markets have remained volatile as traders weigh the possibility of negotiations against the danger of further military escalation.

Iran, however, has responded to Washington’s warnings with threats of its own.

“If the US makes any mistake against the Islamic Republic of Iran, all its positions and interests in the region will be targeted by sustained, effective and painful attacks,” Iran’s Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters said, according to the Tasnim news agency.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has separately warned that further escalation could expand the geographical scope of the conflict and said Iranian forces could employ new weapons and tactics if additional attacks are launched.

The escalating rhetoric follows renewed regional instability involving the Houthis in Yemen. Houthi missile and drone attacks against Saudi targets have increased tensions between Washington and Tehran, with the United States accusing Iran of responsibility for supporting the group. Iran and the United States have also traded warnings over the possibility of a broader confrontation.

The current visa controversy adds another layer to an already unusual U.N. week. Despite the continuing hostilities, Washington announced Thursday that it would issue visas to Pezeshkian, Araghchi and Iran’s essential delegation rather than exclude Iran’s leadership entirely.

The United States has particular responsibilities regarding access to the United Nations because the organization’s headquarters is located in New York. Under the 1947 U.N. Headquarters Agreement, Washington generally must facilitate the entry of representatives traveling to U.N. business, although the United States has long maintained that national-security considerations can justify restrictions in particular circumstances.

Washington therefore appears to be pursuing a two-track approach: allowing Iran’s president, foreign minister and essential officials to attend the General Assembly while limiting the size, movement and activities of the delegation and, according to Iranian officials, refusing visas to some supporting personnel.

Whether the U.N. gathering produces direct diplomacy remains uncertain. For now, Pezeshkian is heading to New York with a reduced delegation, Trump is publicly leaving open the possibility of talks, and both governments are simultaneously warning that failure to reach an agreement could bring substantially greater military escalation.

The warning period is over for motorists caught speeding through construction zones on MTA bridges and tunnels, with automated cameras beginning Tuesday to issue actual tickets to vehicle owners traveling more than 10 mph above posted speed limits.

New York first authorized automated work-zone speed enforcement in 2021 under Gov. Kathy Hochul, initially applying the program to construction areas on state highways. The initiative, intended to improve safety for highway workers and motorists, was expanded last year to include MTA Bridges and Tunnels. Cameras began operating at active MTA construction zones on June 30.

Since enforcement equipment was activated this summer, more than 15,000 warning notices have been mailed to motorists, according to the MTA.

Beginning Sept. 22, however, those warnings will be replaced with fines. A vehicle caught traveling more than 10 mph above the posted limit will trigger a $50 fine for a first violation. A second offense carries a $75 penalty, while subsequent violations within 18 months will cost $100 each.

Before a citation is issued, the MTA says the recorded violation will be reviewed and confirmed by a certified technician. Because offenses recorded through the automated system are classified as non-moving violations, motorists will not receive points on their licenses, and the violations will not be added to their driving records.

The cameras are being deployed at active work zones across all nine bridges and tunnels operated by the MTA in New York City: the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge, Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge, Henry Hudson Bridge, Hugh L. Carey Tunnel, Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge, Queens Midtown Tunnel, Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, Throgs Neck Bridge and Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge.

Motorists should not necessarily expect to see a traditional fixed speed camera. Unmarked vehicles outfitted with radar and camera equipment may be positioned near active construction zones during working hours to record speeding vehicles.

Drivers who fail to pay their citations by the deadline may also face late fees on top of the original penalty. The MTA says fines can be paid online, through a mobile app, by mail or in person at New York City Department of Finance Business Centers. Individual citations will include additional payment instructions on the reverse side.

The MTA says the enforcement effort is aimed primarily at reducing the dangers faced by people working alongside moving traffic. According to figures cited by the agency, work zones across the United States saw nearly 900 deaths and approximately 40,000 injuries in 2023.

The agency also says most New York State road workers surveyed about the automated enforcement program reported feeling safer in work zones where speed cameras are being used.