Iran’s military warned on Wednesday it would block trade through the Red Sea, along with the Gulf and Sea of Oman, if the US naval blockade on Iranian ports continues.

In a statement carried by Iranian state television, the head of the military’s central command centre said if the US continues with its blockade and “creates insecurity for Iran’s commercial vessels and oil tankers”, it will also constitute “a prelude” to violating the ceasefire.

“The powerful armed forces of the Islamic republic will not allow any exports or imports to continue in the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman, and the Red Sea,” said Ali Abdollahi.

He added that Iran will “act decisively to defend its national sovereignty and its interests”.

The United States has imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports since Monday after US-Iran talks over the weekend in Pakistan failed to produce a deal to end the war.

But maritime tracking data on Tuesday indicated that several ships sailing from Iranian ports had crossed the Strait of Hormuz despite the blockade.

On Wednesday, Iran’s Tasnim news agency quoted unnamed informed sources as saying that shipping from Iran’s southern ports had continued.

It added that Iranian “commercial vessels have set sail for various destinations around the world” during the past 24 hours.



AFP

US President Donald Trump on Monday deleted a social media image apparently depicting him as Jesus after an outcry from religious leaders that he was being blasphemous.

The image posted on Trump’s Truth Social platform showed him in flowing red and white robes, touching the forehead of what appeared to be a sick man and with light shining from his hand and head.

An American flag waved in the background while various figures gazed up at the president in reverence.

The AI picture was posted late Sunday and removed Monday.

Asked about the post, Trump denied that he was trying to look like Jesus Christ.

“I did post it, and I thought it was me as a doctor and had to do Red Cross,” he told journalists. “It’s supposed to be me as a doctor, making people better. And I do make people better. I make people a lot better.”

The post generated an outcry from a series of prominent conservative Christians who are among Trump’s biggest backers.

“I don’t know if the President thought he was being funny or if he is under the influence of some substance or what possible explanation he could have for this OUTRAGEOUS blasphemy,” Megan Basham, a conservative journalist and commentator wrote on X.

“He needs to take this down immediately and ask for forgiveness from the American people and then from God.”

Trump has previously used religious images in his posts. During his 2023 bank fraud trial, he shared a sketch from a supporter that showed him sitting next to Jesus in the courtroom.

His advisors have also repeatedly cast him in a Jesus-like role.

During an Easter lunch event at the White House earlier this month, Paula White-Cain, a televangelist who has served as his spiritual advisor, likened Trump to Jesus. “You were betrayed and arrested and falsely accused. It’s a familiar pattern that our Lord and Savior showed us.”

Trump has more avidly embraced his perceived messianic role after the July 2024 assassination attempt, said Matthew Taylor, a visiting scholar at the Center on Faith and Justice at Georgetown University who studies Christian nationalism.

“Many people have told me that God spared my life for a reason, and that reason was to save our country and to restore America to greatness,” Trump told supporters in his victory speech after his 2024 election win.

The Jesus image post could further fracture Trump’s base at a time when they are questioning the Middle East war, particularly Catholics offended by his public spat with Pope Leo, who has criticized the US bombing of Iran, Taylor told AFP.

“A lot of right-wing supporters were already pushing back against the war in Iran. The rift was already emerging for a lot of his Catholic base, and with the denunciations of Pope Leo this does threaten to alienate that crowd,” Taylor said.

But Kristin du Mez, a historian at Calvin University, doesn’t see the support among his die-hard fans wavering.

His conservative Christian supporters “are keeping their distance from what would clearly count as blasphemy,” she said.

“But I also see a lot of dodging. Yes, blasphemy is bad, this is inappropriate, he should take this down,” du Mez told AFP. “What I’m not seeing is in any way suggesting that they’re not going to continue supporting the man.”

…Iranian president condemns Trump’s attack on Pope as desecration of Jesus

Pope Leo XIV has responded to recent criticisms from US President Donald Trump, asserting that his mission is rooted in the Gospel and he has no fear of the American president.

Speaking to journalists on Monday during a flight to Algeria—the first leg of his African tour—the Pontiff addressed Trump’s labels and accusations regarding global security.

According to Vatican News, the Pope stressed that he does “not see my role as that of a politician. I am not a politician, and I do not want to enter into a debate with him.”

Addressing Trump’s claims, where the President called the Pope a “liberal person” who “doesn’t believe in stopping crime,” the Pope said, “I do not think the message of the Gospel should be abused as some are doing.

“I continue to speak strongly against war, seeking to promote peace, dialogue, and multilateralism among states to find solutions to problems.”

The Pope reiterated his mission of peace, urging all world leaders to pursue reconciliation, saying, “Too many innocent lives have been lost, and I believe someone must stand up and say there is a better way. I say this to all world leaders, not only him: let us end wars and promote peace and reconciliation.”

The pontiff reportedly added, “I have no fear of the Trump administration or speaking out loudly of the message of the Gospel, which is what I believe I am here to do, what the Church is here to do.”

“We are not politicians,” he argued. “We don’t deal with foreign policy with the same perspective he might understand it, but I do believe in the message of the Gospel, as a peacemaker.”

The Pope’s comments come after President Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews on Sunday that he was “not a big fan” of the Pontiff, and accused him of “toying with a country that wants a nuclear weapon” following the global leader of Catholics’ plea for peace.

The exchange comes as the Pope begins an 11-day tour of Africa.

AFP reports that the papal visit to Africa takes in Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea, and will cover more than 18,000 kilometres (11,000 miles) between April 13 and 23.

On his first stop in Algiers, the pope reportedly met with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and was also set to address diplomats.

Monday’s itinerary was also reported to include a visit to the Great Mosque of Algiers — home to the world’s highest minaret — and the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa, overlooking the Bay of Algiers.

Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has publicly condemned U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent criticism of Pope Leo XIV, describing the remarks as an insult to the pontiff and a desecration of Jesus Christ.

Trump said on Sunday that he is “not a big fan” of Leo XIV, saying he is “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy.”

He made the comments in response to the 70-year-old American pope’s criticism of ongoing conflicts involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran.

Trump argued that the pontiff had unfairly criticised his administration while overlooking actions taken against religious gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“He’s a very liberal person, and he’s a man that doesn’t believe in stopping crime,” the U.S. president said.

He added that he does not “want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon,” and said, “If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican.”

The remarks sparked global outrage.

Reacting in a post on X on Monday, Pezeshkian wrote, “His Holiness Pope Leo XIV (@Pontifex), I condemn the insult to Your Excellency on behalf of the great nation of Iran, and declare that the desecration of Jesus, the prophet of peace and brotherhood, is not acceptable to any free person. I wish you glory by Allah.”

US under Trump’s directive and in collaboration with Israel, launched missile strikes on Iran in February under Operation Epic Fury, sparking retaliation from Iran, which struck some nations in the Gulf.

A reconciliation meeting was held in Islamabad, Pakistan, over the weekend but ended in deadlock.