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US-Israeli strikes on Iran

Oil traders ramp up bets ahead of US President’s Iran talks update — FT

According to the publication, approximately 6,200 contracts for Brent and West Texas Intermediate crude oil were traded

LONDON, March 24. /TASS/. Traders placed $580 mln in oil bets 15 minutes before US President Donald Trump announced productive talks with Iran, causing sharp market volatility, the Financial Times (FT) wrote.

According to the publication, approximately 6,200 contracts for Brent and West Texas Intermediate crude oil were traded. Following Trump's announcement, oil prices fell, while S&P 500 futures rose.

On Monday, the US leader wrote on the social media platform TruthSocial that the US and Iran had held constructive talks over the past two days to end hostilities in the Middle East. He also announced that he had ordered the Pentagon to postpone strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure for five days. The American leader told reporters that both the US and Iran are demonstrating a desire to reach an agreement and that the two sides have "major points of agreement."

Meanwhile, the Iranian news agency Tasnim reported citing a source that Tehran has not held and is not holing any talks with Washington. According to the source, the US President abandoned strikes on Iranian infrastructure because "military threats from Iran have become more credible.".

Russian stock market closes mixed on Monday

The yuan dropped by ten kopecks to 11.91 rubles

Sustainable economic growth in Russia must occur with slowing inflation — Putin

"It's not easy, of course, but we must strive for it," the Russian president added

Russian stock market closes mixed on Monday

The yuan dropped by ten kopecks to 11.91 rubles

Pakistan ready to host US-Iran talks — diplomat

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tahir Hussain Andrabi says that Islamabad is ready for the talks "if both sides agree"

Delays with Dragon destroyer reveals uselessness of UK’s military ‘umbrella’ — diplomat

Ambassador Andrey Kelin says countries of the region expect protection for allowing London to deploy military facilities

Russia honors $65.6 mln Eurobond coupon payment — Finance Ministry

Payments were made in accordance with the decree of the Russian Federation on the temporary procedure of honoring state debt liabilities of the Russian Federation to residents and foreign creditors

Press review: Washington plans Iran ground move as oil surge adds $41.5B to Russia

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, March 23rd

Iran will act 'tit for tat' in conflict with US, Israel — ambassador to Germany

Majid Nili Ahmadabadi stressed that to de-escalate tensions, Iran required "guarantees that the atrocities committed by the US and Israel will not happen again," and called for compensation

Putin congratulates Kim Jong Un on his re-election

The Russian president stressed that Moscow highly values Kim’s personal contribution to strengthening bilateral ties

Novatek inks preliminary contract with buyer in Vietnam — CEO

The Russian gas producer is also interested in investments in infrastructural projects in Vietnam, Leonid Mikhelson said

Israel not participating in potential US-Iran talks — news outlet

According to the report, US special presidential envoy Steve Witkoff and the president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, are involved in the talks

Ukrainian people can emerge from geopolitical slaughter only with Russia — expert

Viktor Medvedchuk believes that Ukraine’s neutrality will not be tolerated in the West, and therefore all talk "of some kind of neutrality criminally delays this process"

Israel, US strike gas pipeline, distribution station in Iran

The infrastructure and neighboring residential buildings were damaged, while no injuries have been reported

Iran wants all sanctions on it lifted before ending war — Khamenei’s adviser

Mohsen Rezaei says that Iran will not end the hostilities until the payment of compensations

Russia’s air defenses down 526 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones over past 24 hours

The Defense Ministry reported that artillery units of Russia’s Battlegroup North destroyed over 1,000 Ukrainian targets in the Kharkov and Sumy Regions over the past week

Iran retains drone production capacity despite US, Israeli strikes — expert

Gary Samore, however, doubts that Iran is still able to produce larger, longer-range ballistic missiles because the US and Israel have destroyed or disabled known production facilities

American threats to strike Bushehr NPP in Iran pose great danger — Kremlin

On March 21, US President Donald Trump announced that the United States would destroy a number of Iran’s power plants if the Strait of Hormuz is not fully reopened to navigation within 48 hours

Russian envoy warns of 'saddest consequences' for those implicated in Bryansk attack

Ambassador to Great Britain Andrey Kelin emphasized that the attack was carried out after "political and diplomatic efforts on the Ukraine track were activated"

Belarusian president to travel to North Korea on March 25-26 — media

The two leaders will hold talks to discuss the full range of bilateral ties, identify major areas of mutual interest and the most promising projects, the news outlet said

Air France extends suspension of flights to Israel, Lebanon by April 4

Flights to Dubai and Riyadh are suspended until April 1

EU could deploy mission to Hormuz Strait after hostilities end — EC president

Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the need to "come to a solution that is negotiated," while also noting a critical situation for the energy supply allies

Russia offers further growth of mutual trade turnover to Vietnam — PM

Mikhail Mishustin said that Moscow pays particular attention to the buildup of economic interaction

Israel believes US in contact with chairman of Iran’s Mejlis — TV

The source claimed that Israel was aware that several countries were making mediation efforts to start negotiations, but Israel was surprised by Donald Trump's statement that these contacts were progressing

Fire in central Moscow extinguished, three people died

Fire and rescue units evacuated 19 people, including five children

US leader says ordered five-day delay on strikes against Iranian energy facilities

The US president said that "in-depth, detailed, and constructive conversations" will continue throughout the week

By attacking targets in Middle Eastern countries Iran uses right to self-defense — MFA

The territories of Muslim countries in the region are being exploited by the United States and the Zionist regime to carry out attacks against Iran, Abbas Araghchi noted

Hungarian NGO supports Orban's call for creation of European security system with Russia

Head of the Hungarian Community for Peace Endre Simo says that good relations with Russia and a peace between East and West correspond to Hungary's national interests

Moscow Military District receives new remote-controlled machine gun modules

The Trufel module is designed for remote operation of heavy machine guns and allows for real-time target observation and accurate fire at ranges of up to 2 km

Ukraine loses 1,275 troops over past 24 hours — Russian Defense Ministry

The Ukrainian army suffered the heaviest losses in the Krasny Liman area, losing a tank, an armored combat vehicle, 20 motor vehicles and four ammunition depots

US energy secretary considers Iranian control over Strait of Hormuz unacceptable

Earlier, US President Donald Trump said the Strait of Hormuz would reopen without delay if Washington and Tehran reach an agreement in their ongoing discussions

Russia puts 16 Rassvet constellation satellites into low orbit

They were taken under control by the Bureau 1440's Mission Control Center

Conflicting reports on talks, pause in strikes on energy sites: statements from Iran, US

TASS has compiled the main statements by the parties

Trump hopes for regime change in Iran

The American leader talked about Venezuela and stressed that the US were very successful there

Russian air defenses down over 70 UAVs over Leningrad Region — governor

According to Alexander Drozdenko, fire extinguishing operations around oil tanks at the port of Primorsk continue

Colombian military plane crash death toll revised up to 66 — TV

57 people were hospitalized

IN BRIEF: What is known about the detention of the tanker Deyna in the Mediterranean Sea

French President Emmanuel Macron claimed that the tanker was part of Russia's so-called shadow fleet

EU last in line for Russian energy supplies — Putin’s envoy

Kirill Dmitriev commented on a post by the BRICS News account during Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s visit to Russia

FSB seizes shipment of shoe insoles rigged with explosives destined for special op zone

A Ukrainian handler ordered a foreign national to receive a shipment of 504 improvised explosive devices disguised as heated shoe insoles through a logistics company in Moscow

Russian Navy upgraded missile frigate takes to sea for trials

The frigate is set to rejoin the Pacific Fleet by the end of this year

Kiev loses 8,500 troops, mercenaries in special op zone over one week — military expert

Andrey Marochko added that during this period, Russian forces destroyed more than 720 enemy combat vehicles

India mulls scaling up oil imports from Russia — Russian deputy foreign minister

Andrey Rudenko added that many countries are already looking to scale up their purchases of our energy resources

Zelensky cares not about country but tries to remind West of his usefulness — Nebenzya

Russia's permanent representative to the UN mentioned Zelensky's deployment of Ukrainian military specialists and drone crews to the Middle East

Houthis reject as fake media reports about joining Iran in Middle East war — source

According to the source, statements of this nature have never been released

Progress MS-33 freighter with 2.5 metric tons of cargo to dock with ISS

Docking with the Poisk module of the Russian segment of the ISS is scheduled for 4:35 p.m. Moscow time

Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan acting as mediators between US, Iran — media

According to correspondent Barak Ravid, senior officials from the three countries held separate talks with White House envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi

Ukrainian strikes affect over 130 Russians, including 10 children in past week — diplomat

According to Rodion Miroshnik, most deaths and injuries were caused by UAV attacks

Iran still mulls closing Strait of Hormuz, not knowing US next move — TV

The official cited by Al Jazeera confirmed that Iran and the US "exchanged messages through Egypt and Turkey to reduce tensions"

Tokyo weighs on nationalizing military factories

Nationalizing the factories would allow for direct state budget funding

Middle East escalation drives demand for peacekeeping by Russia and China — expert

Timofey Bordachev urged against jumping to conclusions about Washington being completely entangled in the Iranian crisis, as less than a month has passed since the start of the direct armed conflict

Kim Jong Un praises North Korea’s rejection of denuclearization as 'right decision'

The country’s leader emphasized that Pyongyang had, in a timely manner, "recognized the unchanging nature of imperialist forces striving for hegemony with ever-increasing intensity"

NATO launches Sea Shield 2026 exercise in Romania

The maneuvers organized by the Romanian Navy will take place in maritime, river, underwater, land, and air environments, the Romanian Defense ministry reported

Strait of Hormuz to reopen immediately if US, Iran reach deal — Trump

The US leader said that in this case, the strait would be "jointly controlled"

Middle East war widens schism between US, its European allies — agency

Some countries openly rejected Washington for the first time, the agency notes

Vorobey-10 drone carrying thermobaric munitions to be tested in special op zone

The Vorobey-10 has a range of approximately 15 km, and can carry a payload of up to 10 kg

Vietnam to have nuclear power generation capacity by 2034-2035 — Rosatom CEO

On March 23, Russia and Vietnam signed the intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in building the first nuclear power plant in Vietnam

US orders 22 B-2 strategic bombers, Trump says

Washington is using these aircraft in the current US-Israeli military operation against Iran

Fire in port of Primorsk, 249 UAVs: aftermath of attack on Russian regions

An apartment was damaged as a result of drone fragments hitting a multi-story building in the Tver Region

Russia ready to mediate in Middle East conflict — Foreign Ministry

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov confirmed Russia's readiness to provide all possible assistance in resolving the existing contradictions in the Middle East by peaceful means, taking into account interests of all regional countries

US destroys 158 Iranian ships, Trump claims

Trump also said that launches of Iranian drones and missiles allegedly decreased by more than 90%

Oil traders ramp up bets ahead of US President’s Iran talks update — FT

According to the publication, approximately 6,200 contracts for Brent and West Texas Intermediate crude oil were traded

Death toll from Colombia military plane crash rises to 34, with 21 people missing — TV

77 people were injured during the accident, 43 of them were taken to Bogota's hospitals

Russian Defense Ministry warns about strikes being prepared on military sites in Kiev

In order to thwart informational attacks against Russia, Russian forces will strike technological objects of the SBU and the 72nd Main PSO Center, the ministry informed

FACTBOX: Gasoline price surge, other key details on global market situation

Chinese authorities have announced a rise in retail prices for gasoline and diesel fuel within the country

US has no good options regarding Iran — The Economist

To almost everyone else it is clear that America entered this war with a "flawed strategy," the article said

Meeting between US, Iranian negotiators may be organized later this week — TV

According to the official, Washington is looking at appointing Vice President JD Vance the United States’ chief negotiator at the potential talks

All fuel stations may close in Bangladesh due to fuel shortage — newspaper

According to reports, customers have to wait for fuel in queues for several hours

Two killed, four others injured as blast rocks apartment building in Sevastopol — governor

Mikhail Razvozhayev says that the house partially collapsed, an adjacent residential building caught fire

If Zelensky were smarter, he’d travel to Moscow for talks — Finnish politician

It makes no sense for Vladimir Zelensky to continue this war, Armando Mema said

US strikes over 9,000 targets in Iran — Pentagon

More than 140 Iranian vessels have been damaged or destroyed, the US Central Command reported

US wants to wind down Iran war by mid-April ahead of Trump's Israel Prize awarding — Ynet

The Americans have marked April 9 as the date for the end of the war, the source said

Russian lawmaker sees Zelensky trying to delay talks for more NATO weapons supplies

State Duma Deputy Mikhail Sheremet says that Kiev often uses delays in negotiations "to gain military advantage"

Preps for Putin’s visit to China, new Ukraine talks: MFA statements

According to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko, Moscow is ready for negotiations on the Ukrainian settlement, but no specific dates have been determined yet

North Korean parliament adopts amendments, supplements to Constitution

In particular, the Socialist Constitution was renamed as the Constitution of DPRK

Proposals on Middle East de-escalation must be addressed to US — Iranian Foreign Ministry

According to the statement, Iran is not the side that started that war

US needs to curb Israel for dialogue with Iran — former head of counterterrorism center

Former director of the US National Counterterrorism Center Joe Kent believes that Israel will try to destroy the negotiations

Russia says silence on Arctic Metagaz attack makes Europe accomplice to Kiev's outrages

No European nation has condemned such actions of its Ukrainian wards, the statement says

Iranian authorities announce arrest of group cooperating with Israel

The police also said that the identification and arrest of agents and traitors is ongoing

Kiev needs to sign ‘capitulation documents’ to end Ukraine conflict — Russian MFA

Maria Zakharova stressed that any conflict was concluded by an agreement

Israel hits Bir Abed and Ruwais on southern outskirts of Beirut

Strong explosions were heard in the entire city

Saudi Arabia, UAE may join conflict against Iran — newspaper

According to The Wall Street Journal, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and other regional countries are "unified" in their discontent with Iran

NATO countries downing Russian drones over Ukraine to mean war with Russia — Medvedev

The politician stated that the "powerful European initiative ‘Eastern Sentry’" amused him and noted that it seemed all that remained of the ‘coalition of the willing'

Iran warns US and Israeli personnel to never feel safety again — agency

Iranian army spokesman Abolfazl Shekarchi vowed to ensure "the deserved punishment" for the "heinous deeds"

Ukrainian special services meddle in Hungary’s elections — top diplomat

Peter Szijjarto pledged that if the ruling party wins the elections, Hungary will remain committed to its position on Ukraine, will not provide any assistance to that country and will do its best not to let it be admitted to the EU

Iranian drones disrupt work of Amazon data centers in Bahrain — company

The company noted that it is temporarily redirecting customers to other AWS regions

IN BRIEF: President Putin’s key statements at a meeting on economic issues

The president said that Russia needs to return to a path of sustainable economic growth

Two Indian tankers passed through Hormuz Strait — ministry

The vessels are destined for India and are expected to reach ports in the country between March 26 and 28

Russian fish exports to EU up 5% in 2025 — association

The pollock fillet was the key driver for growth of Russian fish exports to the EU, which is associated with increase of its output

Trump’s threats against Iran raise concerns over lack of clear strategy — CNN

According to the publication, if the US president orders an attack on the plants, he is likely to trigger the most intense Iranian reprisals yet, which could pulverize global oil markets

Iran not to blame for Middle East conflict — Omani top diplomat

Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi said that Oman is working intensively to put in place safe passage arrangements for the Strait of Hormuz

US in contact with ‘top person’ in Iran, but not supreme leader — Trump

According to the US President, information about the new contacts between the US and Iran probably "hasn't been conveyed" to the officials in the Islamic Republic who are denying it

Russia sends signals to US about danger of strikes on Iran’s Bushehr NPP — Kremlin

On March 21, US President Trump announced that the United States would destroy a number of Iran’s power plants if the Strait of Hormuz is not fully reopened to navigation within 48 hours

Iran’s IRGC confirms delivering missile strikes on Dimona, Eilat in Israel, US army bases

The names of the military bases affected by the attack were not disclosed

US eyes taking over Strait of Hormuz as final Iran 'endgame' move — media

Such an operation may last "at least weeks," the newspaper reports

Netanyahu says Trump told him about possible Iran deal

President Trump believes there is an opportunity to leverage the tremendous achievements we have reached alongside the US military to realize the goals of the war through an agreement, an agreement that will safeguard our vital interests, Netanyahu said in a short video message distributed by his office

Israel’s air defenses cannot withstand massive Iranian strikes — La Repubblica

Military observer Gianluca Di Feo said that eighty missiles were used to repel the first wave of Iran’s retaliatory strike, with another 50 or so used during the conflict last June

Trump expects progress on halting hostilities with Iran within five days — TV

According to CNBC, the US leader also said that he considers a "regime change" in Iran to have already occurred

Adviser to Iranian parliament speaker says talks with US won't go on as previously

According to Ebrahim Rasouli, Iran doesn’t want the countries that "have sold themselves out to America" and Israel to "derive profit from the Strait of Hormuz"

Bank of Russia’s gold reserves in ounces fell to their lowest level since March 2022

This is the second consecutive month of decline in gold reserves in ounces

Russia, Vietnam sign agreement on nuclear plant construction

Prime Ministers of Russia and Vietnam Mikhail Mishustin and Pham Minh Chinh took part in the document signing ceremony, as well as CEO of the Russian state nuclear corporation Alexey Likhachev

Oil refining depth in Russia reach 84.2% in 2025 — Energy Ministry

The light oil products yield gained 10 percentage points over that period and totaled 65.8%

Lavrov stresses unacceptability of attacks on Iranian nuclear sites

According to the Russian foreign minister, the strikes are fraught with catastrophic environmental consequences