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Russia regrets Iran cannot join Extended Troika on Afghanistan, presidential envoy says

According to Zamir Kabulov, Iran is one of the key players on the "Afghan track"

MOSCOW, August 3. /TASS/. Russia regrets that the current situation in Iran-US relations does not allow Tehran to join the Extended Troika on Peaceful Settlement in Afghanistan (Russia, the US, China and Pakistan), Russian Special Presidential Envoy for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov said during an online discussion hosted by the Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund on Tuesday.

"When the Extended Troika was established, the parties were guided by the understanding that Iran would be its fifth member. However, given the well-known situation in relations between Iran and the United States, the Iranians are for political and ideological reasons unwilling to come to the same negotiation table with the Americans and address issues. It is their right," Kabulov emphasized. "However, we regret it as we indeed miss Iran as a partner because, at this stage, it would be important for us to work together with the Iranians, Pakistanis, Chinese and Americans to end the stalemate in the political settlement process in Afghanistan," he added.

According to the Russian presidential envoy, Iran is one of the key players on the "Afghan track." "Personally, I think that it is Pakistan and Iran that are the most important and influential countries in terms of the Afghan issue," Kabulov pointed out.

US Navy cruiser mistakenly downs F/A-18 fighter over Red Sea

According to US Central Command, the incident occurred during airstrikes on Houthi facilities

US Navy cruiser mistakenly downs F/A-18 fighter over Red Sea

According to US Central Command, the incident occurred during airstrikes on Houthi facilities

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The Russian leader also agreed with Sergey Mironov, head of the "A Just Russia - For Truth" faction in the Duma, who said that "the birth rate is insufficient, because the matter concerns extinction"

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Russia’s Energy Minister adding that the US LNG is "uncompetitive as of today"

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Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, December 20th

Russia’s Battlegroup South liberates settlement of Ostrovskogo in DPR — Defense Ministry

"The enemy lost up to 285 troops, two armored combat vehicles, two motor vehicles, a D-30 122 mm howitzer, a US-made M119 105 mm howitzers and five field ammunition depots," the ministry added

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According to Alexander Stepanov, strikes are systematic efforts to gradually wipe out the military capabilities of Ukraine

Drone attack triggers fire at fuel infrastructure facility in Russia’s Oryol Region

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According to John Mearsheimer, Russia has become much stronger over the past two to three years because it has managed to become "a truly sovereign country"

Yemeni capital city subjected to massive airstrike - TV channel

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"Robert Fico will travel to visit Putin as a European countries leader," Aleksandar Vucic said

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According to the head of state, tax revenues have seen a consistent increase in absolute figures

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Ahmed al-Sharaa, the militant leader of the main group driving the Syrian armed opposition, met with the leaders of the armed groups and discussed with them the new format of the Syrian army

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Acting Kursk Region Governor Alexander Khinshtein said earlier that the town of Rylsk, located some 120 kilometers west of Kursk, had come under Ukrainian fire

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TASS has gathered the main information about the incident

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Yemen’s Houthis announce hypersonic missile strike at military facility near Tel Aviv

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Assad allegedly hands list of military targets over to Israel before leaving Syria — media

According to the Turkish newspaper, the former Syrian president did it to ensure his own safety

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Russia-US dialogue on Ukraine can be conducted on different platforms — senior diplomat

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Scholz, German Interior Minister booed during visit to terrorist attack site — newspaper

A protest broke out during the chancellor's and minister's visit, with demonstrators whistling and shouting "Get out!"

Syria's new authorities appoint Asaad Hassan al-Shibani as foreign minister

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Ukrainian shelling of Russia’s Rylsk damages 12 buildings — governor

Three of them are not subject to restoration, Alexander Khinshtein said

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Putin challenges West to try to intercept Oreshnik missile in Kiev

"Let them choose a target, say, in Kiev, and amass their air and missile defense systems there, while we will launch an Oreshnik missile at the target," the Russian leader said

Kremlin spokesman clarifies Putin’s statement about Oreshnik 'duel'

"It is very important to talk about these statements by the president in the context of the question he was asked," Dmitry Peskov pointed out

Russia’s international reserves up by $3.8 bln to $618.2 bln over week — Central Bank

Russia’s international reserves are highly liquid foreign assets available with the Bank of Russia and the Russian government

Mother of missing US reporter thanks Putin for promising help in locating her son

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Mourhaf Abu Qasra becomes top Syrian defense official in transitional government — TV

According to Al Watan newspaper, Abu Qasra was the commander of the military wing of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham movement

Artyom military plant reportedly on fire after explosions in Kiev

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Ukraine loses over 300 troops, two Bradley vehicles in Kursk Region in past day

Eight motor vehicles and two electronic warfare stations were also destroyed? the ministy added

Perm sub with Tsirkon hypersonic missiles to enter service with Russian Navy in 2026

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Magnitude 5.3 earthquake rocks South Africa

No injuries or damage were reported

Biden signs bill to fund US government until March 14, 2025

The US Senate and House of Representatives approved the bill a day before

Magdeburg attacker may be charged with murder of 5, attempted murder of 205 — prosecutor

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Arkhangelsk nuclear submarine ready to join Russian Navy — Sevmash Shipyard CEO

Project 885M nuclear-powered submarines carry Oniks and Kalibr-PL cruise missiles as their basic strike weapons

Airborne troops from Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr wipe out enemy position in Kherson region

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Hungarian PM highlights need to lift sanctions on Russia once Ukraine conflict is resolved

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An-2 plane missing in Kamchatka located, survivors found — regional emergencies ministry

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Eight people killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza Strip — TV

According to Al Jazeera, Israeli forces shelled a residential building in Deir al-Balah and a downtown Khan Yunis

Putin responds to question about Russia's weakness by quoting Mark Twain

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Oreshnik test launch forces London to take a step back — Russian ambassador

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Three of eight drones that attacked Kazan targeted defense industry facilities — head

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Response to Ukrainian attack on Russia’s Rylsk to come shortly — Russia’s UN envoy

Vasily Nebenzya warned as he denounced the attack as yet another unambiguous step by the Kiev regime toward escalation

German chancellor exasperated by idea of spending frozen Russian assets to help Kiev

According to the Financial Times, the idea was promoted by the US and UK but resisted by Germany, France and Italy

NATO spies study damage from Oreshnik at Yuzhmash — expert

Alexander Stepanov emphasized that both Kiev and its Western allies are closely scrutinizing the consequences of the strike on the plant

Strike on SBU control center response to Russian general’s assassination, expert says

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Putin suggests Zelensky may flee abroad, says Russia would take him in

"But he will be taken care of by those people whose interests he is serving now," the Russian leader said

West should consider Putin's words on Oreshnik missile duel — diplomat

Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova emphasized that the rhetoric about "inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia" is firmly rooted in the mentality of the NATO regimes not at all as hypothetical assumptions

Zelensky actually flips the bird to Trump by insulting Putin, Medvedev says

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Russia to invite World War II allies to next year’s Victory Day parade

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova made the comment following a statement on the subject by Vladimir Putin

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Russia’s first two helicopter carriers to be laid down in Crimea in spring 2020 — sources

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