Middle East oil producers are desperate to sell crude stockpiled during the recent Persian Gulf conflict, but gasoline and diesel inventories remain constrained due to shipping worries, TotalEnergies SE Chief Executive Patrick Pouyanné said.
Saturday, July 4, 2026
'Scriptural Diplomacy: Iran Sends Quranic Messages to Neighbors at Khamenei's Funeral'
Iran has transformed the mass funeral proceedings for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei into an arena for geopolitical signaling, pairing each visiting foreign delegation with a specific, politically targeted Quranic verse.
The scriptural messaging unfolds as tens of thousands of mourners gather in Tehran following the late Supreme Leader's death in the opening salvo of the U.S.-Israeli war.
Scriptural Directives to Rivals and Partners
The selection of Islamic texts appeared carefully calibrated to align with Tehran’s diplomatic relations with each attending nation.
Saudi Arabian dignitaries were met with a verse depicting two armies meeting in battle, explicitly contrasting a believing force with a non-believing one.
Meanwhile, the delegation from Türkiye received a text that explicitly elevated individuals who engage in active combat over those who choose to remain seated.
Messaging to Regional Proxies
Tehran utilized the religious setting to deliver distinct instructions to its regional alignment network during the ceremonies.
The Lebanese government delegation was read a passage criticizing individuals who refuse to sacrifice when called upon, a stark contrast to the verse directed at Hezbollah.
The Iranian-backed Lebanese group was told directly, "do not weaken or grieve, you are superior," while the Palestinian faction Hamas received a verse honoring men who fulfilled their covenant with Allah, noting that some have died while others wait.
Yemen's Houthis were greeted with a text praising believers who fought without weakening, reinforcing their active combat status.
Conversely, Qatar received a passage emphasizing forgiveness and divine favor, widely interpreted as an acknowledgment of its ongoing role in diplomatic mediation.
Geopolitical Fallout of a Wartime Funeral
The tailored religious messaging underscores a highly charged atmosphere in Tehran, where the clerical establishment and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) are navigating the aftermath of a devastating external conflict.
Khamenei, who governed the theocracy for 37 years, was killed alongside several family members in a February airstrike that initiated weeks of hostilities, resulting in more than 3,000 casualties inside Iran and the deaths of 13 U.S. service members.
While a fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire was brokered in April, observers note the targeted funeral diplomacy reflects a newly empowered hardline leadership in Tehran that remains highly willing to directly confront regional adversaries.
'NBC: War Injury Keeps Mojtaba Khamenei From Father's Massive Funeral'
Iran's supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is not expected to attend the funeral of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, NBC News reported, citing an Iranian official.
The new leader has not been seen in public or issued an audio statement since the war began.
He carries severe injuries from the February 28 U.S.-Israel strike that killed his father, according to people with knowledge of the matter.
The Injuries and the Silence
NBC News reported that Mojtaba Khamenei suffered burns to his face and body in the strike, and wounds to one of his legs that have required several operations.
The full extent of his injuries and how they affect his ability to fulfill his duties remain unknown, the sources said.
He was named successor to his father in March, weeks after the February 28 attack. Since then, there have been no public appearances or statements.
The Funeral: Scale and Symbolism
The funeral for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who ruled Iran for nearly 4 decades and was killed at age 86 alongside members of his family, began Friday in Tehran.
Organizers expect between 15 million and 20 million people to attend.
His casket, draped in the Iranian flag with a black turban on top signifying descent from the Prophet Muhammad, was placed on a white stage at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla mosque.
One tier below sat the caskets of 4 family members killed alongside him, including his 14-month-old granddaughter, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
Foreign dignitaries, including former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and delegations from China, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, India, and Afghanistan, attended.
A funeral procession is expected to flood Tehran's streets on Monday, with Khamenei to be buried Thursday in Mashhad, Iran's most prominent Shiite religious shrine city.
Sources:
European Parliament Moves to Ban Far-Right German AfD Party's EU Coalition
The European Parliament is poised to launch a formal procedure against the Europe of Sovereign Nations alliance, the political party housing the Alternative for Germany and other regional far-right groups.
A finding that the alliance failed to maintain the core tenets of the European Union would result in the loss of its official registration and the termination of its access to the EU budget.
More than 180 legislators have signed a petition to activate the verification process, which directs the Authority for European Political Parties and Foundations to investigate compliance.
The Legislative Path
A vote scheduled for Tuesday in Strasbourg requires parliamentary confirmation to proceed.
European Parliament officials indicate that the European People’s Party, Socialists and Democrats, and Renew Europe intend to back the motion, ensuring the request secures approval.
Established in August 2024 by eight national factions, the party is led by Alternative for Germany and includes Poland’s Confederation and France's Reconquête among its members.
The party exists as a distinct legal entity from the similarly named political group inside the European Parliament, which currently controls 27 seats.
EU rules dictate that while parties receive direct budgetary funding as alliances, individual lawmakers and parliamentary groups will face no legal consequences if the party status is revoked.
Dossier of Evidence
The head of the regulatory authority previously informed EU institutions of specific facts that raised doubts about the group's compliance with human rights, democracy, and minority protections.
A 294-page dossier details court decisions, official statements, and social media activity by member groups that may demonstrate violations of continental principles.
The gathered documentation details antisemitic, anti-LGBT, and anti-migrant rhetoric, alongside calls for the repatriation of citizens possessing foreign roots.
Specific entries cite xenophobic banners used by the Czech SPD party, actions by the Bulgarian Revival faction to halt film broadcasts, and a German judicial ruling designating the AfD platform as contrary to human dignity.
Next Procedural Steps
A spokesperson for the targeted alliance rejected the allegations, stating that the faction is facing criticism for addressing real public issues and defending its positions under the principle of free speech.
Following the legislative trigger, the regulatory authority must submit its formal findings to the alliance, providing an opening for potential corrective policies.
The independent regulator will then determine whether to remove the organization from the European registry, a decision that the European Parliament and Council retain the ultimate power to overturn.
Sources:
BioNTech has held talks with buyers over four German sites set to close, Handelsblatt says
BioNTech has held confidential talks with potential buyers about German sites that the COVID-19 vaccine maker plans to close, the Handelsblatt newspaper reported on Friday.
The German company said in May it would close three sites in Germany - Idar-Oberstein, Marburg and Tuebingen - by the end of 2027, and also end operations in Singapore by the first quarter of next year, affecting up to 1,860 jobs.
BioNTech also said it would exit its Berlin-based subsidiary JPT Peptide by the end of this year, affecting roughly 140 positions.
JPT Peptides, which BioNTech acquired in 2009, is no longer profitable and BioNtech has already started looking for a new peptide supplier, Handelsblatt reported, citing people familiar with the discussions.
JPT Peptides, which BioNTech acquired in 2009, is no longer profitable and BioNtech has already started looking for a new peptide supplier, Handelsblatt reported, citing people familiar with the discussions.
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