Khamenei Vows Nuclear Defense, Oil Prices Soar

0:00It's April 30th. From your city to your ears, this is Canada News Today, powered by AI. I'm Cory with the story. Iran's new supreme leader, Ayatollah, Mochitaba, Kamenei, just dropped his first statement since taking over after a February 28th air strike. Killed his father. He's vowing that Iran will defend its nuclear and missile programs like sacred national treasures, backed by 90 million proud citizens inside, and out. With a shaky ceasefire holding, the U.S. has blockaded the Strait of Hormuz to choke off Iran's oil exports, leaving Tehran with no buyers and storage, piling up fast. Oil prices are exploding as a result. Brent Crude hit, and $126 a barrel briefly today, up from $70 before the late. February war kicked off. That spike is hammering gas prices right before U.S. midterm elections and squeezing gulf allies who rely on the Strait for their own shipments.

1:00Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Pete Hakeseth faced brutal questioning from Democrats and some Republicans in Congress yesterday over the war's massive. Costs in lives, dollars, and weapons stockpiles. Today, Senators grill him on a proposed $1.5 trillion military budget for 2027, pushing for more drones, missiles, and ships. Kamenei didn't hold back either, saying Americans have no place in the Persian Gulf except at the bottom of its waters, as talks stall intentions, simmer in this high-stake standoff.