INTERNACIONAL
Mojtaba Khamenei touts new anti-US alliance as Gulf backchannels seep into Tehran: analyst
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Iran’s supreme leader has launched a sweeping counteroffensive against President Donald Trump, attempting to rally Middle Eastern nations into an anti-American alliance, an analyst warned Sunday.
The aggressive maneuvering came hours after Trump pitched an expansion of the Abraham Accords, as an analyst said Tehran is seeking to position itself as the region’s «new sheriff» while forcing Gulf states with backchannels to Iran to choose between Washington’s security umbrella and a «New Islamic Civilization.»
On Sunday, negotiations between Iran and the United States appeared to be ongoing, with Trump not yet signing off on a potential peace agreement.
Trump recently held a phone call with leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain to discuss expanding the 2020 Abraham Accords, followed by a May 25 post on Truth Social.
IRAN’S KHAMENEI LAUNCHES BLISTERING ATTACK ON TRUMP AFTER MIDDLE EAST VISIT
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Donald Trump, Bahrain Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan stand during the Abraham Accords signing ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 15, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg)
Mojtaba Khamenei issued a direct counter-response on X on May 26, issuing a call for a «New Islamic Civilization» aimed at those same regional capitals.
«I, with sincerity and purity of intention, invite all Islamic countries and governments to friendship and cooperation in goodness, so that by working together we may take steps toward the advancement of the Islamic Ummah and the resolution of the Islamic world’s problems,» Khamenei posted.
Highlighting «the nations of the region» and «common interests that will shape the new order and the future architecture of the region and the world,» he spoke of «the Islamic Ummah and the #New_Islamic_Civilization.»
«The United States will no longer have a safe haven for its mischief and for establishing military bases in West Asia,» he also warned.
«Mojtaba Khamenei’s statement is that the Muslim world should consolidate under Iran’s leadership — the ‘Ummah,’ the ‘new Islamic civilization’ — against the American-led order,» Dr. Omar Mohammed told Fox News Digital.
«That is the theme, and it runs straight into the Accords narrative. This is a bid to build an alliance against the Abraham Accords,» said Mohammed, director of the Antisemitism Research Initiative Program on Extremism at George Washington University.
TOP ISRAELI MILITARY OFFICIAL REVEALS OPERATION AGAINST IRAN INVOLVED ‘STRATEGIC AND OPERATIONAL DECEPTION’
In this picture obtained from Iran’s ISNA news agency, Mojtaba Khamenei (C), son of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, walks along a street in Tehran on May 31, 2019. (Hamid FOROUTAN / ISNA / AFP via Getty Images)
«In his statement, he also frames American bases on Muslim soil as an occupation to be expelled while wrapping it in religious language that casts the regime as God’s instrument.»
The counterterrorism expert noted that while the «Ummah» doctrine itself is not new — having been used by Mojtaba’s father for years — the timing and targeted nature of the pitch represent a major escalation.
«This came into the Ummah with Iran, not into normalization with Israel under Washington,» Mohammed explained. «Same audience, opposite frame, 24 hours apart, and a bid to assemble that alliance.»
«The statement was published in full and carried by Iranian state media. It also tracks with his first statement as leader on March 12, when he demanded that U.S. bases in the region close.»
«This was not a stray post,» the expert warned. «While the doctrine is old, aiming it at these regions the day after Trump’s pitch is what is new.»
The posturing comes as Khamenei establishes his footing on the world stage, though his hidden nature complicates traditional diplomacy.
IRAN’S ‘STUNNING STRATEGIC MISCALCULATION’ COULD ACCELERATE GULF TIES TO ISRAEL, EX-CENTCOM DIRECTOR PREDICTS
President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pose for photos with leaders during the Gulf Cooperation Council Leaders’ Summit at The Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on May 14, 2025. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
«Tehran is selling itself to the region as the new sheriff of the neighborhood,» Mohammed warned.
«The Saudis, Qataris and Omanis have channels into the Iranian state, but you can’t open a back channel to a man no one can locate. This has all been running through Pezeshkian and Araghchi.»
Despite Iran’s sudden rhetoric of «friendship,» regional reality is defined by months of Iranian aggression against its neighbors.
Tehran’s forces have actively fired upon Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE and Kuwait.
Mohammed added that Tehran wants to peel Gulf states away from Washington, while its threats remain aimed at both the United States and the countries that host American forces.
«Iran spent this war firing on them — it hit Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE and Kuwait, the same capitals it’s now inviting to brotherhood, and the UAE alone reported intercepting close to 2,000 drones and hundreds of ballistic missiles since Feb. 28,» Mohammed said.
«These are the states that host our forces: the Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, Al Dhafra in the UAE and Al Udeid in Qatar. You don’t take three months of Iranian fire and then sign onto its alliance.»
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Ultimately, Gulf capitals remain deeply skeptical of Tehran, Mohammed said, but they are equally watchful of American resolve.
«What actually worries the Gulf isn’t Mojtaba’s invitation — it’s the deal Washington might sign,» Mohammed noted, «one that hands Iran its money back with its missiles intact and reads as rewarding the regime that just attacked them.»
mojtaba khamenei, middle east, donald trump, alliances, iran
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A bitter family feud has spilled into Congress after Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, called on his former son-in-law, Rep. Max Miller, to resign, accusing the fellow Ohio Republican of abusive behavior and saying he poses a danger to Moreno’s daughter and granddaughter.
Moreno’s extraordinary statement on X Sunday marked the latest escalation in a years-long family clash that has spilled from a contentious divorce into national Republican politics. Miller, a Republican congressman endorsed by President Donald Trump, was married to Moreno’s daughter, Emily.
Their divorce and ongoing custody battle have increasingly played out in public, culminating Sunday with Moreno’s call for Miller to leave Congress just days before Ohio’s Aug. 5 deadline to replace congressional candidates on the ballot.
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Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, issued a public statement Sunday calling on his former son-in-law, Rep. Max Miller, to resign from Congress. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
On Sunday, hours after Miller publicly denied allegations stemming from the divorce, Moreno broke his public silence in a lengthy statement posted to X, saying his family had endured «pure hell» over the past two years and accusing Miller of increasingly «erratic and dangerous behavior.»
«Out of concern for the safety of my family, I hoped to keep this matter private but Max Miller’s increasingly erratic and dangerous behavior has made that impossible,» Moreno wrote.
Moreno went on to call Miller unfit for office, writing: «If there are any basic standards of character required to hold elected office, Max Miller fails them. He should not serve in the House of Representatives.»
The Ohio senator also alleged that Miller «needs serious psychological help» and wrote that he fears for the safety of his granddaughter while she is in Miller’s custody. Miller has denied the allegations and has not been charged with any crime related to the dispute.
Sunday’s post marked a dramatic shift for Moreno, who had previously avoided publicly commenting on Miller or the family’s legal dispute. The statement came just days before Ohio’s Aug. 5 deadline to replace a congressional candidate on the ballot.
Still, Moreno has been criticized online for not speaking up about the situation sooner. When asked by Notus last week, Moreno said he didn’t «know» if Miller should stay in office.
A source close to the Moreno family told Fox News Digital that the senator had wanted to break his silence for months, and has paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses as the legal battle between his daughter and Miller continues on.
But his daughter, the source said, didn’t want the lawmaker’s granddaughter to «eventually read about her grandfather attacking her dad.»
That changed after Miller’s livestream, which the source characterized as an «unhinged meltdown.»
SEN BERNIE MORENO CALLS FOR EX-SON-IN-LAW TO RESIGN FROM HOUSE, GET ‘SERIOUS PSYCHOLOGICAL HELP’
Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio, vowed to stay in the race Sunday, but the Republican Party might still pressure him to resign before Wednesday’s deadline so they can replace him before the November general election ballot deadline. (CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Earlier Sunday, Miller posted a livestream denying allegations of domestic and child abuse related to the divorce.
During the livestream, Miller also alleged that his ex-wife has struggled with mental health issues and shared a Dropbox link containing court filings and other documents that he said support his version of events.
«Just want to be clear: no court, no agency has ever substantiated any allegation of abuse against me. No criminal charge has ever been filed against me,» Miller said. «Every single one of these allegations were already investigated, and I cooperated fully every single time because I had nothing to hide and I have nothing to hide now.»
GOP REP. MAX MILLER PUSHES BACK AGAINST ABUSE ALLEGATIONS: ‘I HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE’
Moreno’s call for Miller to step down brought a years-long family dispute into the national political spotlight on Capitol Hill. (Aaron Schwartz/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Days before Sunday’s public clash, Emily Moreno’s attorneys sought restraining orders against Miller that would prohibit him from contacting or harassing members of her legal team.
Emily Moreno’s spokesman, Stefan Mychajliw, accused Miller of trying to «save his political career» and rejected the congressman’s characterization of the dispute.
«It is shameful that Max Miller decided to go on a bizarre and lie-filled rant about his ex-wife to desperately try to save his political career,» Mychajliw said in a statement.
«There is a documented trove of evidence that Miller has a history of violent and dangerous behavior and no amount of victim shaming will change that,» Mychajliw continued. «Miller can lie and spin on X, but he cannot do so under oath in a court of law. We are confident that justice will prevail in court.»
Asked about the senator’s public comments, Emily Moreno’s attorney, Subodh Chandra, declined to engage with the allegations. «When adverse parties in litigation are setting themselves on fire, I do not provide them with a fire extinguisher,» he told Fox News Digital.
With neither side backing down, the bitter family feud appears far from over, setting the stage for more courtroom battles and political fallout in the weeks ahead.
Fox News Digital reached out to the offices of Miller and Moreno for additional comment.
politics, republicans, senate, ohio, congress
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INTERNACIONAL
Intensas lluvias en Costa Rica afectan zonas de Matina, Sarapiquí y Tortuguero, con familias evacuadas y comunidades aisladas
Las intensas precipitaciones de las últimas horas han provocado inundaciones y afectaciones significativas en Matina, Sarapiquí y Tortuguero, zonas ubicadas en las provincias de Limón y Heredia. Según reportes de El Observador, cuerpos de emergencia mantienen operaciones activas para evacuar y asistir a decenas de personas damnificadas, entre ellas menores, adultos mayores y mujeres embarazadas.
De acuerdo con información difundida por El Observador, la Comisión Nacional de Emergencia (CNE) confirmó este domingo la atención prioritaria en Matina de Limón, donde el desbordamiento de un río en Finca Estrada dejó incomunicadas a 22 personas. Equipos de la Cruz Roja Costarricense y el Cuerpo de Bomberos se desplazaron al sitio desde la madrugada para ejecutar labores de rescate y traslado a zonas seguras. Entre los evacuados, resalta el caso de una adulta mayor en condición de encamamiento, quien recibió atención especializada.
El presidente de la CNE, Alejandro Picado, indicó que en Matina se habilitó un albergue temporal para las familias afectadas. Además, la institución reportó el rescate de cuatro personas en Bristol de Matina y la atención a una mujer embarazada en Batán. Según El Observador, la Cruz Roja informó que se logró evacuar a 16 personas, mientras continúan los esfuerzos para asistir a quienes permanecen aislados.
La misma fuente detalló que en Sarapiquí, provincia de Heredia, la situación se mantiene bajo vigilancia permanente. El Comité Municipal de Emergencias realiza monitoreo constante de los ríos, que presentan niveles elevados debido a las lluvias persistentes desde la madrugada. El presidente de la CNE señaló la importancia de este seguimiento, ya que el crecimiento de los cauces representa un riesgo para las comunidades cercanas.
En Tortuguero, ubicado en el cantón de Pococí, los reportes recabados por El Observador dan cuenta de precipitaciones intensas, vientos fuertes y oleaje considerable. El Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN) advirtió sobre la continuidad de las lluvias en la región del Caribe, así como sobre la saturación de suelos en cuencas vulnerables, especialmente en el cantón de Turrialba. La advertencia incluye la posibilidad de desbordamiento de ríos y quebradas, con más del 95% de saturación del suelo en zonas montañosas.
Durante la jornada del sábado, la municipalidad de Turrialba reportó emergencias por la crecida de ríos, situación que puso en riesgo varias viviendas. El alcalde, Carlos Hidalgo, informó que al menos cuatro casas quedaron al borde del cauce por el aumento repentino del nivel del agua.
El IMN pronosticó para este domingo una disminución gradual de los vientos, pero no descartó la presencia de lluvias en distintos puntos del país, con aguaceros de intensidad variable en el Caribe y el este del Valle Central. Para la tarde, se prevén precipitaciones más intensas en la vertiente del Pacífico y sectores montañosos, acompañadas de tormenta eléctrica.
El monitoreo de emergencias se extiende a otras comunidades de Limón, como Siquirres, Hamburgo, Islona y Dos Bocas. Además, el río Sixaola en Talamanca mostró niveles elevados, según los reportes recogidos por El Observador. Las operaciones de la Cruz Roja y los bomberos continúan en las zonas impactadas, con equipos desplegados para atender las necesidades urgentes de la población.
Las autoridades recomiendan a los habitantes de estas regiones estar atentos a los comunicados oficiales y mantener precaución ante el riesgo de inundaciones y deslizamientos.
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