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US-Israeli strikes on Iran

Trump admits possibility of quick end to operation against Iran

The US president says that Washington is "very close" to meeting its goals in the Middle East

US President Donald Trump Alex Wong/ Getty Images

US President Donald Trump

© Alex Wong/ Getty Images

WASHINGTON, March 21. /TASS/. US President Donald Trump has admitted the possibility of a quick end to the military operation against Iran.

"We are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great military efforts in the Middle East with respect to <…> Iran," Trump wrote on his Truth Social page. He mentioned the destruction of the Islamic Republic’s missile capability, its defense industrial base, air force, navy, and air defense systems among the US’ goals. Furthermore, according to Trump, the US hopes to deprive Iran of the ability to acquire nuclear weapons, as well as provide protection "at the highest level" to its allies in the Middle East, including Bahrain, Israel, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia.

US-Israeli strikes on Iran

Iran warns of possible attack on Ras al-Khaimah if UAE attacks its islands

The General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces says that it "would attack the source of any aggression against the territory and national sovereignty of the Islamic Republic"

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According to the Mediterranean maritime prefecture, the operation was conducted jointly with France’s allies, including the United Kingdom, which took part in tracking the ship, in conformity with Article 110 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea

Trump, US feel EU betrayed them on Iran — Lukashenko

As the Belarusian president noted, the US helped the Europeans both with NATO and economically

Russian NPPs act as electricity price stabilizer — Rosatom CEO

Alexey Likhachev recalled that in the cost structure of a "nuclear" kilowatt-hour, the cost of uranium itself accounts for only about 5%

Rosatom uranium council to shape strategy for fourth-generation nuclear energy

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Conflict in Middle East halted supplies of feedstock for polymers — expert

"Further to termination of crude oil and gas supplies, the blockade stopped exports of processed products," Nikita Bredikhin said

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The Hungarian prime minister also warned that he would not support the European Commission's proposed EU budget for 2028-2034, as it includes excessively large allocations for aid to Ukraine

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A total of 22 Indian vessels carrying oil, LNG, chemicals, and petroleum products are stuck in the Strait of Hormuz

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The crash caused no fire on the ground

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Hezbollah fires ten missile at Karmiel in northern Israel

Another Hezbollah target was an Israeli army camp in the settlement of Rosh Pinna in Upper Galilee

Russia and Serbia preparing five-year economic cooperation program — ministry

The comprehensive document will cover all areas of interaction

EU leaders cancel press conference with Zelensky in Brussels

The decision was made after the EU summit failed to convince Hungary and Slovakia to lift their veto on allocating €90 billion in military financing to Ukraine

Press review: US weighs Iran assault as Middle East war disrupts Kiev air defenses

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90 billion euros for Kiev remain blocked, EU to somehow solve this — European Commission

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Among the targets were "several factories and sites used by the Iranian regime to produce weapons intended to harm the State of Israel and other countries" and sites holding components for long-range ballistic missiles

Russia’s Aerospace Forces down MiG-29 warplane in Ukraine operation - top brass

Fighter aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces shot down a MiG-29 near the settlement of Chapayevka in the Zaporozhye Region

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Thirteen administrations have been set up on the territories of the republic under its control, including the communities of Kremennaya, Rubezhnoye and Popasnaya, Leonid Pasechnik said

Kiev’s terrorism to inflict harm to energy security, global markets — Russian diplomat

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Guterres's remarks on Crimea and Donbass inappropriate — Medvedev and Medvedchuk

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Latest cruise missile corvette accepted for service in Russian Navy

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Vladimir Zelensky will not be a party to sign an act of surrender, Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said

Belarus ready to sell mine to the US for minimum $3 bln — president

Alexander Lukashenko said earlier that he had offered potash and oil to the US side

US, Israel threaten to drag Caspian nations into conflict around Iran — Russian diplomat

According to Maria Zakharova, Moscow is growing increasingly concerned over the expanding geography of the US and Israeli airstrikes in Iran

Russia lodges protest with Israel over bomb falling near RT journalists in Lebanon — MFA

Russian Foreign Ministry stressed the need for a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the incident and for preventing such incidents in the future

Iranian forces hit US Al Dhafra base in UAE — state broadcaster

The servicemen used the Khorramshar, Qadr, and Emad missiles for the attacks

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The Federal Air Transport Agency classified the event as a disaster, and the Interstate Aviation Committee, in coordination with the Central Federal Aviation Administration, will look into its causes

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Battlegroup North units took control of the settlement of Sopych in the Sumy Region and units of Battlegroups West, South and Center liberated the settlements of Aleksandrovka, Kaleniki, Fyodorovka Vtoraya and Pavlovka in the DPR

Most UN member states can be considered self-proclaimed — Medvedev and Medvedchuk

They emerged through the exercise of their inherent right to self-determination, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev and Viktor Medvedchuk, former leader of the Opposition Platform - For Life party, said

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Apart from that, the battlegroup’s quadcopter dropped munition on Ukrainian positions near the village of Otradnoye

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According to Vladimir Zelensky, the upcoming bilateral meeting will discuss the PURL initiative that enables NATO allies to purchase US weapons for Kiev, as well as Ukraine-US relations and an agreement on the joint production of unmanned aerial vehicles

Netanyahu promised to stop attacks on oil and gas facilities in Iran — Trump

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Indian court shuts down hungry husband seeking to divorce wife who doesn't cook for him

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Elvira Nabiullina noted that weather conditions had influenced construction dynamics

UN chief's Crimea stance driven by 'burning desire' to please US — Medvedev, Medvedchuk

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The Lukoil International Group represents a discontinued operation as it is a separate major line of business

Putin explained everything about Oreshnik missiles six months ago in Belarus — Kremlin

"There was a joint press conference of the two leaders in Minsk, where the topic was discussed," Dmitry Peskov emphasized

Bank of Russia cuts key rate by 0.5 p.p. to 15% second time this year

According to the regulator, the Russian economy is approaching a balanced growth path

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Babis convened a meeting of the State Security Council on the evening of March 20 in connection with a suspected terrorist attack in the industrial zone of the city of Pardubice, where, among other tenants, the Czech arms company LPP Holding is located

Czech State Security Council convenes over suspected terrorist attack — portal

According to Czech Interior Minister Lubomir Metnar, the fire at a plant in the city of Pardubice, where drone production was planned, is being investigated as a possible terrorist attack

Hungary sticks to its guns on oil, Ukraine at EU summit — Orban

If there is no oil for Hungary, there will be no money for Ukraine, the Hungarian prime minister said

Von der Leyen rules out purchases of Russian gas even in event of power outages in EU

The EU will continue the transition to green, European-produced energy, the European Commission president says

Lukashenko says Melania Trump asked him to appeal to Putin about Ukrainian children

The Belarusian president said that Vladimir Zelenshy didn not care about these kids

Trump admits possibility of quick end to operation against Iran

The US president says that Washington is "very close" to meeting its goals in the Middle East

Lukashenko promises not to supply missiles to Iran during conflict

The Belarusian leader noted that Tehran had never never asked Minsk for missiles

Russia Northern Fleet’s Admiral Golovko frigate performs torpedo firing in Barents Sea

The Russian Northern Fleet’s press service reported that the exercise was conducted to test the ship's anti-submarine crew cohesion

IN BRIEF: What is known about Israeli strikes on Iran

The IDF have carried out airstrikes on Iranian missile manufacturing facilities and surface-to-air missile arrays

American sailors set fire to USS Gerald R. Ford to avoid fighting — Iranian army

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Russia begins mass production of Vorobey-15 bomber drone

The Spektr Design Bureau noted the drone’s excellent maintainability

Russia starts flight tests of new helicopter for Special Operations Forces

As its main specific feature, a Mi-8AMTSh-VN helicopter employs two side-mounted 12.7mm forward-firing machine-guns

Rostec delivers batch of Pantsir-S air defense systems to troops

The press service said the combat vehicles passed the required trials and were accepted by the military

Russian T-72B3 tanks significantly outmatch foreign counterparts — gunner

According to the serviceman, the Russian tank is much more reliable and its powerful 125mm gun is more accurate compared to its foreign counterparts

Fragment of Iranian missile fell in Old City of Jerusalem, causing damage — Israeli MFA

According to the press service of the Israeli Foreign Ministry, the projectile fell "literally a few hundred meters from the Al-Aqsa Mosque"

Precious metals futures prices rise by 2.74-3.21%

April 2026 gold on the Comex exchange stood at $4,732 per troy ounce

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Russia thwarted new Kiev’s attacks against Black Sea gas pipelines

Attempts of drone strikes against three compressor stations were recorded

Dmitriev calls strike on Iran’s South Pars gas field tipping point

According to US President Donald Trump, only a small portion of the field’s facilities were damaged

Iran has enough missiles, drones for at least 2-3 months — Chinese expert

According to Hu Bo, Iran’s stock of ballistic missiles has likely fallen to below 1,000 units, based on open-source intelligence

Russia has never acted as colonizer, unlike West — Putin

The Russian leader noted that African countries remembered Russia's assistance in their struggle for independence

Moldovan parliament approves in 1st reading withdrawal from agreement on establishing CIS

It that was signed in Minsk on December 8, 1991

Russia's defense ministry publishes map of Russian patrol zone in Syria

The patrolling will be carried out on the Syrian territories 10 kilometers away from the Turkish border

Russian MFA highlights Iran's right to self-defense

Maria Zakharova stressed that it was crucial for all parties involved in the current conflict in the Middle East to exercise common sense and restraint

EU has no Plan B to provide 90 billion euro loan to Kiev — Polish PM

Donald Tusk attributed Budapest’s position to the upcoming parliamentary elections, set for April 12

US sells Asia three-year record volume of oil amid Iran conflict — Bloomberg

Asian countries have increased purchases of US oil for April delivery to around 60 mln barrels

Russian tank crews destroy at least two enemy targets per mission — serviceman

The commander of a tank crew the separate Novorossiysk Airborne Division noted that drones greatly assist tanks during combat operations

Air defenses down another drone heading towards Moscow

Emergency personnel are working at the site where debris fell, Sergey Sobyanin said

NATO evacuates its mission from Iraq to Europe

General Alexus Grynkewich, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, added that NATO Mission Iraq, a non-combat advisory and capability-building mission to assist Iraq in building its own army, will continue from Joint Force Command Naples

Attack against Iran’s Bandar-e Anzali affected Russian economic interests

The Iranian port of Anzali on the Caspian Sea was bombed on March 18

Iran’s late supreme leader repeatedly warned against nuke development — president

Ali Khamenei emphasized that nuclear weapons were prohibited for religious reasons

Russian stock market closed mixed on Friday

The MOEX Russia Index dropped by 0.14% to 2,864.89 points, while the RTS Index gained 0.86% to 1,074.43 points

Trump tells people to stay tuned on Cuba — TV

The US President refused to disclose his future plans on Cuba

Monetary policy softening needs for return to growth — Russian Economy Ministry

According to the ministry, the consistent, the seventh key rate reduction in a row is a positive signal

Iran warns of possible attack on Ras al-Khaimah if UAE attacks its islands

The General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces says that it "would attack the source of any aggression against the territory and national sovereignty of the Islamic Republic"

Moscow keeping close eye on NATO drills in Baltics

The Saber Strike maneuvers are an annual event and have been held under the command of the US Army in Europe involving land and air forces

Atomflot inks contract to build fifth, sixth Project 22220 icebreakers

Nuclear-powered icebreakers of Project 22220 will facilitate the year-round navigation in the Northern Sea Route's eastern sector

Press review: US tries to assemble Hormuz tanker coalition as Russia eyes new fuel markets

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, March 16th

Vanino-Kholmsk ferry service resumes work after 2-day break

All the ferries took shelter from the storm in the bays near the mainland coast

Belarusian leader says working on 'major agreement' with US

Alexander Lukashenko added that the agenda of talks with the US also covered the potential resumption of the US embassy’s operations in Minsk and the issue of nuclear materials

Press review: US, Russia may agree on Crimea as US, Israel differ on Iran war

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, March 18th