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US-Israeli strikes on Iran

Iranian authorities reject Trump’s statements about negotiating with Tehran

Head of Iran's government information council Elias Hazrati stated that the US had failed to achieve anything, failed to give answers to the global public

TEHRAN, March 25. /TASS/. US President Donald Trump’s statements about talks with Tehran are false, Elias Hazrati, head of Iran's government information council, said.

"The enemy failed to achieve anything, failed to give answers to the global public. He says he is concluding a peace, holding talks. I was given such an opportunity yesterday. This does not correspond to reality at all. <...> Trump is lying. He started a war in the midst of a negotiation process, and this time he will not succeed," he said on air of Iran’s state broadcaster.

On March 23, Trump wrote on his Truth Social page that the US and Iran had held constructive talks regarding the cessation of hostilities in the Middle East over the past two days. He also said that he had ordered the Pentagon to postpone strikes on the Iranian energy infrastructure for five days. In turn, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei told the IRNA news agency that Tehran had not held any talks with Washington but had outlined its position to mediators.

US-Israeli strikes on Iran

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Near-record levels were recorded in the diesel market as well as for several other products

Iran suspects trick in US offer for talks — Axios

Sources cited by the news portal say that the deployment of major troop reinforcements by the US has strengthened the suspicions in Tehran

Russia calls on Arab countries to show wisdom amid regional challenges — MFA

Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Alimov underscored Russia’s keen interest in bolstering the League’s role in resolving regional issues

Russia, Ukraine getting close to settlement deal, says Trump

These are people that they don't like each other very much, he added

Pro-Trump EU leaders not winning with voters at home — Politico

According to the report, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni lost handily in a high-stakes vote which Brussels says may be due to her special relationship with Washington and the electorate’s concerns about the economic fallout

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Japanese serviceman storms Chinese embassy in Tokyo, threatens diplomats — Chinese MFA

According to the embassy’s statement, the perpetrator, who claimed to be an officer of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces, climbed over the fence and forced his way onto the premises of the diplomatic mission

IN BRIEF: Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant comes under attack once again

According to preliminary reports, the facility was not damaged, there were no casualties among the personnel

Newest barrage ammunition Knyaz Vladimir Svyatoslavovich passes combat testing

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AI-based anti-drone systems reduce effectiveness of Kiev’s drone strikes — expert

Andrey Marochko said that problems within the Ukrainian army can also be attributed to the enemy’s high percentage of defective, cheap products and low-quality components for unmanned aerial vehicles

Ukraine’s military attacks Russia’s Belgorod Region with nearly 120 UAVs in past day

The regional crisis response center reported that two men were injured in an FPV drone attack in the village of Zamostye

Russia 'negative' on Iran conflict spilling over to Caspian Sea region — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on media reports alleging that Israel had carried out strikes on Russian ships in the Caspian Sea

Peskov calls decision to build Russian-designed nuclear plant in Vietnam breakthrough

The Kremlin spokesman noted that the Vietnamese prime minister had worked "very productively" during his visit to Russia, consolidating "multifaceted cooperation in various areas"

FACTBOX: What is known about EU's position on ban on oil imports from Russia

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NATO chief puts EU in ‘awkward position’ by backing US war in Iran — FT

Diplomats expressed concern that Mark Rutte’s statements often diverged from those of other EU leaders

Iran blocks container ship SELEN from passing through Strait of Hormuz — IRGC Navy

IRGC Navy Commander Ali Reza Tangsiri stressed that the passing of any vessel through this waterway required thorough coordination with Iranian authorities

No talks between Iran and Washington during US aggression — Iran’s ambassador to Russia

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Press review: Trump searches for Iran offramp as one Gulf state weighs joining war

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Iran claims US spy plane sustained $2.5-million-damage — agency

No information was provided regarding the circumstances of the reported incident

Russia does not see implementation of US plan on Gaza — permanent representative to UN

Vasily Nebenzya says that the lack of progress on the issue "could lead to another round of armed conflict"

Possible text on Ukrainian settlement and next round of talks — Ushakov’s statements

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

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Iran in talks with friendly countries, neighbors over mediation in conflict with US — MFA

According to Esmail Baghaei, "there have been many countries in the region and outside that have reached out to Iran to mediate between Iran and the United States"

Russian troops liberate Nikiforovka community in Donetsk region over past day — top brass

The Ukrainian army lost roughly 1,360 troops in battles with Russian forces in all the frontline areas over the past 24 hours

America’s Maven AI system fails to deliver in Iran — expert

Alexander Stepanov said that strikes were not always carried out on the correct targets, and the process of delivering precision strikes did not have a high degree of AI autonomy

London expands cooperation with Kiev to destabilize Europe — Russian diplomat

Maria Zakharova called Kiev’s promise to provide support to London in case the UK is attacked a "theatre of the absurd"

Iran says Strait of Hormuz closed only to ships of hostile countries

The Islamic republic noted that the full restoration of security and sustainable stability in the Strait is contingent upon the cessation of military aggression and threats

Tehran receives Washington’s 15-point ceasefire proposal — agency

According to the sources, the plan touches on sanctions relief, civilian nuclear cooperation, a rollback of Iran’s nuclear program

Escalation of conflict with Iran could be very costly for US — expert

Daniel Davis, retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel, also noted that the United States desperately needs negotiations

Belarusian leader arrives in Pyongyang for talks with North Korea’s Kim

The visit will center on talks between the two leaders who are planning to discuss the entire range of spheres of bilateral relations and outline the key fields of mutual interest

North Atlantic at risk as Ireland, UK align against Moscow — Russian envoy

Yury Filatov said that it will be taken into account in Russia's military planning

Death toll from Colombian Air Force plane crash rises to 69

57 people were injured

Russia takes Kiev’s hits because it is winning on the battlefield — US expert

According to Scott Ritter, Russia could respond accordingly, but this could push the international community to think about supporting Ukraine

At least 12 people killed in attack on Iranian city near Tehran

28 people were injured during the attack

Russian troops liberate Peschanoye community in Kharkov Region over past day — top brass

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicted more than 235 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed four enemy armored combat vehicles in its areas of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Britain works with partners to open Strait of Hormuz — Starmer

The UK prime minister expressed "unwavering support" for Saudi Arabia

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Putin meets Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Kremlin

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Andrey Pirozhkov said the components for making such devices typically arrive from Europe via third countries

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Iran halts gas supplies to Turkey after Israeli strike — Bloomberg

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Calls for talks on Iran could be smokescreen for regrouping of forces — Russian MFA

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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

EC postpones publication of ban on Russian oil imports for EU countries

Initially, April 15 was discussed, but the ban clause has now disappeared from the European Commission's agenda

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

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Russia ready to help resolve Middle East conflict — Nebenzya

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Over 18,000 Gortenziya FPV drones deployed to special military op zone since 2022

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Britain pushes Ukraine to escalate conflict — ambassador Kelin

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IN BRIEF: Russian regions face most massive drone attack as air defenses down 389 UAVs

Several residential buildings and cars were damaged in a drone attack on Kronstadt, a suburb of St. Petersburg

Iran’s foreign minister appreciates German president's statement on US-Israeli attacks

Abbas Araghchi says Frank-Walter Steinmeier "should be given credit" for condemning the violations against Iranians

Pentagon orders deployment of 2,000 paratroopers to Middle East, NYT says

Soldiers of the "Immediate Response Force" of the elite 82nd Airborne Division were sent to the region

Today's global conflicts make it look like WWIII has started already: Lavrov’s remarks

According to the Russian top diplomat, developments in Latin America and the Middle East are a direct result of the West’s attempts to preserve the remnants of its dominance

Russia reconsidering energy supply chains — energy minister

Sergey Tsivilyov said the conflict in the Middle East prompts all sober-minded people to reconsider approaches in the supplies sphere

FIFA cancels over 2,000 hotel room reservations in US ahead of 2026 World Cup

The global football organization did not provide reasons for such decision

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Russia sends 300 metric tons of medicines to Iran — Tehran official

Pirhossein Kolivand added that Tajikistan delivered 2,600 tons of humanitarian goods

Ukraine damages Belgorod energy facilities seriously — governor

According to preliminary information, there are no casualties

Kiev intensifies drone attacks on Moscow, St. Petersburg as it knows it’s losing — Ritter

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Trump supports Orban ahead of Hungarian parliamentary elections

The ballot is slated for April 12

Zelensky can undermine TurkStream to attract attention — State Duma deputy

Alexander Borodai says that Zelensky has "absolutely nothing to lose" and needs escalation by any means

Hungary suspends gas supplies to Ukraine — Orban

The Hungarian prime minister said the country will protect it’s energy security, maintain fixed gasoline prices and reduced gas tariffs

Israel’s army strikes two missile production sites in Tehran

According to the IDF, the two Iranian plants operated under the command of Iran’s Ministry of Defense

Depleted gas reserves to force Europe to compete with Asia for supplies — Bloomberg

Gas reserves in underground storage facilities in the Netherlands have reached a historic low, falling to about 6%

Qatar Energy declares force majeure on LNG supply Contracts to four countries

The company noted that specialists are currently assessing the damage and the timeframe for repairs to facilities, as well as the impact of the damage on its operations

US leader’s approval rating drops to 36%, lowest since his inauguration — poll

According to the provided data, 35% of respondents positively assessed the US strikes on Iran, while 61% viewed them negatively

Bosnian Serb leader calls NATO bombings with uranium criminal

Milorad Dodik pointed to the devastating health consequences, noting that many individuals suffer from malignant diseases as a direct result

Trump trapped in Iranian crisis, with no good options to get out — TV

Presidents often are faced with crises with no good solution, but few find themselves in a dead-end situation that Trump has driven himself into, the TV channel noted

‘No justification’ for continued armed conflict in Middle East — Russian Foreign Ministry

According to the statement, Russia "firmly supports the UAE in defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity, condemns targeted attacks on civilians as well as on civilian infrastructure"

Israel strikes Iran’s largest explosives production facility in Isfahan

Besides, the Israeli Air Force attacked "dozens" of Iranian facilities during the day, including ballistic missile launching sites, weapons production sites, and air defense systems

FACTBOX: Hungary suspends gas supplies to Ukraine

Hungary intends to increase its gas reserves using the volumes that will no longer be supplied in transit to Ukraine, seeking to force the country to end the oil blockade, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said

Iran demands closure of US military bases in Gulf region — newspaper

According to The Wall Street Journal, other demands include a new order for the Strait of Hormuz that would allow Iran to collect fees from ships that transit the waterway

Iran's Supreme Leader is feeling well, the state is functioning effectively — MFA

Iranians remain united in the face of this barbaric act of aggression, Esmail Baghaei emphasized

Iran calls for creation of regional military alliance without United States

Iran’s General Staff says that the countries of the region "will never need a state located thousands of kilometers away to guarantee their security"

Russia informs US it finds sharing intelligence with Ukraine unacceptable — MFA

Maria Zakharova noted that the American side usually responds with vague statements or even silence