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US-Israeli strikes on Iran

US needs to take part in choosing Iran’s leader not to start new war — Trump

The US president says "We don’t want to come back every five years or every 10 years and do this"

© Majid Saeedi/ Getty Images

WASHINGTON, March 8. /TASS/. The United States should be involved in the process of choosing the new Iranian leaders so that not to begin a new military campaign in five years, President Donald Trump said.

"We don’t want to come back every five years or every 10 years and do this," Trump told reporters. "We want to pick a president [of Iran] that’s not going to be leading their country into a war," he added.

US-Israeli strikes on Iran

Ex-UN headquarters in Sulaymaniyah attacked twice by drones — news portal

The second attack was made in 40 minutes after the first strike

Russia, US discussing possible easing of sanctions on Russian oil — presidential envoy

Kirill Dmitriev emphasized that Western sanctions have proven detrimental to the world economy

President of Cyprus suggests British bases on island might be up for debate

Nikos Christodoulides stated that he was "not ruling anything out"

Orban says he received Zelensky's message, advises him to refrain from threats

The Hungarian prime minister warned that Ukraine cannot achieve anything through blackmail against his country

Ukrainian Security Service cooperates with US, UK intelligence services — newspaper

The Washington Post pointed out that since 2015, "the CIA has spent provided Ukraine with advanced surveillance systems, trained recruits at sites in Ukraine"

SPIEF plenary session with Putin's participation lasts record four hours

This year, the Russian president's speech lasted 55 minutes, placing it among the top five longest speeches in terms of duration

Spain evacuates staff of its embassy in Iran — Foreign Minister

Jose Manuel Albares says that the hotlines of other embassies in the region and the crisis center are operating day and night

Iran strikes Israel’s Ben Gurion airport, airbase — IRGC

The Khorramshahr 4 heavy missiles of the IRGC Aerospace Force, with a 1-ton warhead, were launched at dawn today

UAE is in state of war — President

Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan thanked the armed forces for an outstanding role in time of combat actions

US representatives visited Ukraine to discuss ways to combat Iranian drones — newspaper

Politico cited an assessment that Iran's use of "cheap, easily produced drones has exposed a vulnerability for the US and its regional allies"

Sibur, Sinopec to revise Amur GCC project strategy, construction underway

In general, the project was ready by 37.8% as of the end of March, and on certain units - by 43%, Sibur press service said

Aeroflot to resume flights to Iran from April 2 — company

Flights to be made twice per week

US may ease sanctions on Russian oil — Treasury secretary

Scott Bessent noted that the US gave India permission to accept the Russian oil

Finland to ruin international security architecture by hosting nuclear weapons — expert

Alexander Stepanov also noted that the steps toward deploying nuclear weapons in Finland have been evident for some time

Displaced persons in Lebanon exceed 450,000 in five days of conflict — minister

Social Affairs Minister Haneen Sayed says that 514 refugee reception centers are open, but many people remain without shelter

Russian companies to redirect LNG supplies in part to Asia-Pacific markets

According to Alexander Novak, Russian companies are considering opportunities, without waiting for the next restrictions from Europe, to make new long-term contracts with a number of Asian countries

Russia refutes Pentagon's statement about strike on Syrian opposition

The Pentagon said earlier, military of the Syrian Democratic Forces, supported by the U.S. and its allies, were injured in a Russian air strike

Russia supplied 100,000 tons of oil to Cuba on February 19 — deputy PM

Dmitry Chernyshenko said that Russia will continue providing Cuba with economic support and humanitarian aid along bilateral channels

At least ten people wounded in Ukrainian attack against residential building

Zaporozhye Region Governor Evgeny Balitsky says there were fatalities

Unity is key foundation of Russia’s success, says Putin

According to Putin, both center and periphery, all the regions - "they all form our huge country of Russia"

China to carry out resolute strikes against separatists in Taiwan — report

According to the report, the People's Republic of China will promote peaceful development across the Taiwan Strait

Russian troops liberate nine communities in Ukraine operation over week — top brass

Battlegroup West units liberated the settlements of Drobyshevo, Yarovaya and Sosnovoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic

Iran permitted two ships of friendly countries to pass through Strait of Hormuz

Iran hit more than ten ships, including tankers, in the Strait of Hormuz since the moment when the US and Israel attacked it on February 28

China increased oil, LNG import from Russia in 2024 — customs statistics

According to the statistics, the oil import from Russia in 2024 amounted to $62.42 billion, a 2.8% increase compared to the previous year

Second group of Russian prisoners of war lands in Moscow Region

On March 6, 300 Russian servicemen were returned from the territory controlled by the Kiev regime

Putin congratulates Russian women on March 8

The president says that the country celebrates the holiday with "the most uplifting and warm feelings"

Russian air defenses down 124 Ukrainian drones overnight

29 of them were destroyed over the Bryansk Region, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported

Biden boasts forgetting more about Putin, Xi Jinping than most people know

The former US president said that he knows more heads of state in person than any other president in US history

Iran has no plans to acquire nuclear weapons — ambassador to Russia

Tehran strictly adheres to international nuclear standards remains unchanged, Kazem Jalali said

Para alpine skier Voronchikhina wins Russia's first medal at Paralympics

The Russian athlete finished with a time of one minute 24.47 seconds

Iran ready for normal talks, rejects current US posture — ambassador to Russia

The current US position makes dialogue impossible, Kazem Jalali said

Russia opens helicopter repair center in Peru

The specialists of Russian Helicopters Group will be carrying out major repairs of Mi-17 helicopters operational in the Peruvian Air Force

Iran warns European countries against supporting US, Israeli operation — diplomat

"Any country join the US and Israeli aggression against Iran, it will inevitably become a legitimate target for retaliation," Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi said

Russia can suspend participation in grain deal — Putin

The variant of "extension first and fulfillment of promises after that" is not suitable for Russia anymore, the president stressed

Medvedev calls US military bases in Persian Gulf countries ‘threat, not protection’

The Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman highlighted that the US used the bases "while protecting only one country"

Press review: NATO unlikely to join Iran strikes as EU moves to sever Russia ties

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, March 6th

Two statues of Lenin toppled in north-eastern Ukraine

"A war against monuments" began across Ukraine after a coup in the country in February 2014

Air defenses destroy 37 UAVs over Russian Regions in seven hours

The Defense Ministry said that 20 of them were destroyed over the Belgorod Region

Russian Pacific Fleet corvette sails together with Chinese naval ships in joint patrol

The Russian-Chinese joint naval group is set to conduct anti-submarine and air defense drills and practice search and rescue measures at sea during their joint patrol, the Fleet’s press office specified

Russia - Islamic World strategic vision group to have conference in Grozny

The sides will pay special attention to the prospects for economic cooperation between Russia and Moslem nations

Russia’s T-72B3M tank has enormous upgrade potential — Rostec

The state corporation noted that the T-72B3M remains a modular tank that can be quickly "reconfigured" to meet specific threats and challenges

China attaches great significance to nuclear safety in Ukraine — Foreign Ministry

Lin Jian also emphasized that "only by contributing to the de-escalation of the situation and the early conclusion of peace is it possible to address security risks at a fundamental level"

Israeli Air Force hit fuel storages in Tehran — IDF

The authority says the fuel depots were used by the Armed Forces of Iran

Russian youth, junior handball teams to be allowed to use national flag, anthem

Russian national teams and clubs have not participated in international competitions since 2022

Russian Defense Ministry says NATO expansion hurt European security

The collapse of Yugoslavia led to another round of NATO expansion as it accepted Albania, Croatia, Montenegro and North Macedonia, Alexander Fomin said

Trump calls question about Russia allegedly sharing intelligence with Iran 'stupid'

Earlier, The Washington Post published an article suggesting that Russia was allegedly providing Iran with intelligence to help adjust its strikes

Mideast to see no calm as long as US bases remain — Iranian parliamentary speaker

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf says that Iranian statesmen and the people are united in this awareness

US Army plans to attack Iran’s previously untargeted areas — president

Donald Trump says that "Iran will be hit very hard" on March 7

Drivers prevented more serious damage when train caught fire on Crimean Bridge — railway

The train’s drivers promptly unhooked the burning cars and drove the undamaged train to the Kerch station

Kremlin cautions against 'Pandora’s box' with restrictions for Russians who left country

"Enemies are enemies, we have to fight them but the rest are our citizens and they should remain our citizens," Dmitry Peskov said

Trump discussed security guarantees for Ukraine with EU leaders — broadcaster

According to CNN, such guarantees, modeled on Article 5, could be offered with the support of the US and the EU if a peace agreement is reached

Gas explosion occurs at Admiralty Shipyards

Two individuals were hospitalized following the gas explosion, the press service of the city ambulance told TASS

More than 70 Ukrainian militants sentenced to life imprisonment for killing civilians

The judicial authorities of Donbass have issued sentences against 1,084 militants, said head of the Russian Investigative Committee Alexander Bastrykin

Leaders of unregistered opposition party press for liberal wing’s unity

Over 280 cases against migration officials sent to court in 2025 — Investigative Committee

Head of the authority Alexander Bastrykin separately said that 2,490 criminal cases involving offenses committed by migrants were sent to courts over the period

US soon to launch largest bombing of Iran — Treasury chief

Scott Bessent stressed that it will do the most damage to the Iranian missile launchers and the factories that build the missiles

US needs to take part in choosing Iran’s leader not to start new war — Trump

The US president says "We don’t want to come back every five years or every 10 years and do this"

India, China may be first buyers of Russia’s latest S-500 air defense system

Director of Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation Dmitry Shugayev stressed that Russia would start the exports of the S-500 surface-to-air missile system only after the required amounts of this weapon were delivered to the Russian troops

Hungary to investigate why Ukrainians brought millions in cash into the country — Orban

The prime minister says he has "certain suspicions" on the matter

Ukrainian army loses up to 405 troops in responsibility area of Battlegroup Center

Alexander Savchuk said that battlegroup Center continues carrying out military tasks in the area of the special military operation

Iran strikes US military base in UAE — army press service

It is the Al Dhafra air base

US has no problems with Russia and China stemming from Iran war, says Pentagon chief

According to Pete Hegseth, he has no message for Russia and China on this issue

Allegations that Chinese in Russia must serve in Russian army are false — MFA

The Ministry clarified that claims asserting foreign students are legally required to undertake military service in Russia due to their studies are entirely false

Third US Navy aircraft carrier prepares to deploy to Middle East — TV channel

The US Navy aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln is already in the area of the US-Israeli military operation against Iran, the second aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, is currently in the Red Sea

Russian, Iranian president agree to continue contacts via various channels — Kremlin

This is the first public announcement about contacts of such a level after the US-Israel attack on Iran

New round of Russia-Ukraine gas talks opens in Brussels

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said Russia is set to finally agree and sign all gas documents

US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln moved away from Iran after strike — IRGC

The US Central Command reported that the carrier came under fire but was not hit

Southeast Asian countries take interest in Russian-Indian missile

The Philippines is the only country so far that purchased BrahMos missiles

FACTBOX: What we know about terror attack on senior Russian general in Moscow

A parked car exploded at 12, Yasenevaya Street at around 7:00 a.m. Moscow time

Russian instructors helped CAR strengthen defenses — President Touadera

However, the leader of the Central African Republic emphasized that the country’s situation remains delicate and that numerous challenges persist

Russia ready to contribute to resolving Middle East conflict, Kremlin says

Dmitry Peskov commented on a report stating that Israel had requested Russian mediation in its conflict with Lebanon’s Shia Hezbollah movement

UAE air defenses detect launch of 16 Iranian missiles — top brass

Thus, according to the ministry, since the beginning of the escalation, Iran has launched 221 ballistic missiles and over 1,300 drones toward the UAE

EC fails to back Hungary, Slovakia in dispute with Ukraine over Druzhba pipe — Szijjarto

The Hungarian foreign minister accused the EU of collusion with Croatia to prevent the two European nations from getting oil

Investigative Committee prosecuted over 1.5 million in 15 years — IC chief tells Putin

Damages totaling 561 billion rubles have been recovered for tax crimes during this period

Russia needs to mass implement AI in all areas this decade — Putin

The president noted that achievements in the artificial intelligence sphere would largely determine the place Russia will hold in the world in the future

Iran ready for possible US ground operation — Araghchi

Iranian Foreign Minister stressed that Tehran is confident it can withstand the American military

Fire outbreak occurs at oil depot in Krasnodar Region — emergency services

According to the latest data, nobody was injured

Russian Battlegroup East’s T-80BVM tank withstands 18 hits from Ukrainian drones

The tank commander with the battlegroup, call sign "Aza," added that the tank completed its assigned missions

Jordanian air defenses detect launch of 119 missiles

108 were intercepted and shot down

Ukraine's Vandals destroy 3 monuments to Soviet leader Lenin

Monument to Soviet warriors in Ukraine in 2014

Drone crashes at military airbase in Kaluga Region causing no casualties — governor

It is reported that neither infrastructure nor equipment were damaged

Iran strikes another oil tanker in Persian Gulf — state TV

It may have been a US asset

US is reshaping energy landscape to suit its own needs — Russian MFA

The United States of America is essentially bankrupt, Maria Zakharova said

Citizens of 41 countries evacuated from Iran via Armenia — MFA

Armenian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Ani Badalyan did not specify how many people crossed the border

Israeli army claims to have attacked IRGC Air Force command center in Tehran

In addition, "the Israeli Air Force struck air defense systems, command centers, and logistics depots" in the area, the IDF added

Russia tests transactions with Mir payment cards in UAE

The Network International group of companies, which provides services in the e-commerce market in the Middle East and Africa, acts as the local partner of Mir in the UAE, the press service of the payment system told TASS

Russia’s sole manufacturer of armored vehicles may grind to a halt over debts

Kurganmashzavod produces seven modifications of infantry fighting vehicles purchased by three dozens of countries and standardized chassis for various armament systems

CAR wants to develop strategic resources together with Russia — President Touadera

Russia has all the necessary capabilities for this, the CAR president said

Iraqi Kurds not attacking Iran fearing lack of support from US — news outlet

According to Axios, Iraqi Kurds consider the US administration's intentions regarding a change of power in Iran to be unclear, fearing an expansion of the conflict

FACTBOX: International Women’s Day

The date of the holiday emerged in 1914 amid women-led rallies of protest and solidarity. Today, men give flowers and small gifts to women in their lives

Russia's security guarantees proposals to US, NATO no longer valid, says diplomat

On December 17, 2021, the Russian Foreign Ministry published Russia’s two draft agreements on security guarantees, which Moscow expected from Washington and NATO

Russia keeping close eye on situation in US economy — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov noted that inflation expectations continue staying at a rather high level

Russia terminates agreement with UN on creation of sustainable development center

The agreement was signed in Paris on September 5, 2008

CAR president calls for end to Middle East conflict

This is a very complex conflict, Faustin-Archange Touadera stated

In 2025, Investigative Committee received approval to prosecute 23 judges

IC chief Alexander Bastrykin also noted that criminal cases against 12 judges have already been submitted to courts

Press review: Iran derails US‑Israeli plans while Middle East conflict boosts oil and gold

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, March 2nd

Kremlin does not rule out Russia’s disconnection from Western payment systems

In one form or another, restrictions against Russia are used by a number of states that pursue the goal of containing Russia, the Kremlin spokesman noted

Iran not stopping Indian ships in Strait of Hormuz — Deputy Foreign Minister

Saeed Khatibzadeh urged New Delhi to ask Washington, why they attack Iranian ships in the Indian Ocean

Ukraine losing race for Patriot missiles to Middle East — Russian diplomat

Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador-at-Large Rodion Miroshnik noted that since the beginning of the crisis in the Middle East, Vladimir Zelensky has been calling Arab leaders, "trying to stay on the agenda"

Russian military expert describes Iran's response to US aggression effective

Andrey Kartapolov noted that the US is hesitant to launch a ground operation and is striking civilian targets such as hospitals and schools

Russia launches massive strike on energy sites used by Ukrainian military — top brass

Russian servicemen also destroyed a Ukrainian Air Force Mi-8 helicopter and struck Ukrainian transport infrastructure facilities