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IRAN'S ATTACKS ON US FACILITIES IN IRAQ

Current stage of standoff between US, Iran not over yet, Japanese expert warns

The pundit did not rule out that clashes between the US and Iran could occur in the future

© EPA-EFE/IRIB

TOKYO, January 9. /TASS/. The current stage of confrontation between Washington and Tehran is not over yet, and, if the United States really wanted to avoid escalation, it would not have killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, Yutaka Takaoka, chief research fellow at the Middle East Research Institute of Japan, told TASS on Thursday.

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UN chief encouraged by signs of de-escalation in Persian Gulf

"US President [Donald Trump]’s speech last night was not substantive. It seems that there is a sense of relief now, since the United States did not react fervently [to Iran’s strikes on military facilities in Iraq — TASS]. However, I would not be so optimistic. If [the US] wanted to avoid confrontation, it would not have killed Soleimani in the first place," the expert stressed.

He also did not rule out that clashes between the US and Iran could occur in the future. "I cannot give an optimistic forecast that everything ended after yesterday’s statement by Trump and Iran’s reaction [to Soleimani’s murder — TASS]," he added.

Tensions around Iran flared up after the US launched a strike on Baghdad’s airport on January 3 killing General Qasem Soleimani, the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ elite Quds Force. On January 8, Iran retaliated by launching missile strikes on two military facilities in Iraq used by the United States. According to the Pentagon’s spokesperson, Al-Asad Air Base and the airport of Erbil were targeted.

US President Donald Trump addressed the nation at the White House on Wednesday saying that the US was ready to embrace peace with Iran and was hoping that Tehran would live in harmony with all states around the world. At the same time, Trump announced that new "punishing sanctions" would be imposed on Iran.

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Russian embassy warns UK about dangers of calling for Moscow’s ‘defeat’

According to th statement, London is promoting new rounds of escalation

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Mira Rapp-Hooper mentioned the US administration’s version, according to which North Korea has allegedly sent troops to engage in active combat in Ukraine

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NATO countries engaged in full-fledged war against Russia — Medvedev

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Russia will expand network of direct flights to Asian countries — Deputy Foreign Minister

Russian airlines are now making direct flights to Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailan

Trump to tap Richard Grenell as US special envoy on Ukraine — agency

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West beginning to realize only part of Ukraine will remain — Lavrov

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Ukraine hopes to see US peace plan in January

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Biden’s actions on Ukraine meant to 'muck things up' for Trump — Lavrov

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Moscow not ruling out Trump’s meeting with North Korean leader

The restart of the negotiating process between the United States and North Korea "on previous conditions appears problematic", Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko said

Biden’s decision to use ATACMS against Russia may 'blow up in America’s face' — US expert

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Press review: Russia fires missile at Ukraine plant and Biden forgives Kiev $4.65 bln debt

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Lukashenko grants asylum to Schmidt persecuted on political grounds by Poland

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Russia to view F-16 fighter jets in Ukraine as threat in nuclear sphere — Lavrov

"During combat operations, our military will not be clearing out whether or not each particular jet of this class is equipped to carry nuclear weapons," the minister added

Russia's Oreshnik missile poses significant threat to West, Turkish expert warns

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Ukraine should consider territorial concessions to Russia in return for peace — magazine

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Conflict in Ukraine no longer regional war — German defense minister

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Ukraine conflict entering decisive phase, Polish PM says

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Russia entitled to use weapons against military sites of states attacking it — Duma

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