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Middle East conflict

Iran delivers strike on oil refinery in Israel’s Haifa — agency

According to NourNews, one of the fuel storage tanks went ablaze

TEHRAN, March 30. /TASS/. The Iranian military delivered a strike on an oil refinery in the Israeli city of Haifa, Iran’s news agency NourNews reported on Monday.

According to the agency, one of the fuel storage tanks went ablaze after the strike.

The SNN TV channel reported earlier that Iran attacked the industrial area of Haifa jointly with the forces of the Lebanese Hezbollah movement. SNN added that the Port of Haifa also came under the attack.

The United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran on February 28. Major Iranian cities, including Tehran, were struck. The White House justified the attack by citing alleged missile and nuclear threats from Iran.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced a retaliatory operation, targeting sites in Israel. US military bases in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE were also hit. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and some other key Iranian leaders were killed in the joint US-Israeli attack.

US-Israeli strikes on Iran

Zelensky seeks to fleece Middle Eastern countries — Iranian Foreign Ministry

According to Esmaeil Baghaei, "linking the conflict in Ukraine with the aggression of the Zionist regime and the US against Iran is a catastrophic mistake"

Lebanon’s death toll from Israeli strikes reaches 1,238 — Health Ministry

Over 3,500 people have been injured

Iran-US talks may take place in Islamabad in coming days — Pakistani foreign minister

Pakistan is very happy that both Iran and the US have expressed their confidence in Pakistan to facilitate the talks, Dar added

Russia to respond immediately if London escalates situation — ministry

Earlier, the Russian Federal Security Service uncovered evidence of intelligence and sabotage activities by the British diplomat

Press review: US nears Iran ground invasion as Ukraine hits Russia with Flamingo missiles

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, March 30th

Iranian energy facilities come under attack — energy minister

Meanwhile, the Fars news agency said that electricity supplies to Tehran and Karaj had been restored

Russia to continue work on energy supplies to Cuba — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov said the desperate situation in which Cubans now find themselves cannot leave Moscow indifferent

US, Iran can no longer convince world of their victory through rhetoric alone — expert

According to Garland Nixon, President Donald Trump has repeatedly declared victory, trying to create the impression that the US is fully in control and has achieved definitive success

Drone attack leaves two civilians injured in Zaporozhye Region

Two civilians suffered injuries and were taken to the hospital for medical treatment, the statement reads

Number of injured in Ukrainian attack on Russia’s Taganrog rises to eight

Eight more Taganrog residents sought medical assistance

Serbian president plans to discuss extension of gas agreement on Monday

Earlier, Aleksandar Vucic announced his intentions to get in touch with Russian President Vladimir Putin "in the coming days" to discuss the extension of the gas contract

US could quickly shut down any move to charge fees in Strait of Hormuz — Trump

Donald Trump said that Washington "could close that up in two minutes"

US, Israel discuss next steps against Iran’s military-industrial enterprises — CNN

According to the TV channel’s sources, the meeting focused on the war against Iran and efforts to halt Iranian weapons production

Trump says he looks forward to seeing Belarusian president at next Board of Peace meeting

Donald Trump also thanked his Belarusian counterpart for ordering the release of 250 prisoners

Pace of recovery in Russia-US relations depends on Washington — Kremlin

Spokesman Dmitry Peskov says that Moscow is ready to develop the contacts "to the same extent and at the same pace" as the US

Iran to hit more targets if US attacks Kharg Island — ambassador

Tehran’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe Amir Hossein Hosseini also expressed hope that the conflict would be resolved diplomatically

Aid to Cuba from Russia: arrival of Russian oil tanker, energy crisis in region

The Russian tanker Anatoly Kolodkin transported 100,000 tons of crude oil

Russian MP convinced Zelensky's requests to West may lead to world war

Leonid Slutsky says Zelensky is a master of "repeating his mistakes" and "crossing red lines"

Number of US troops in Middle East surpasses 50,000 — newspaper

The current number of US troops in the Middle East is roughly 10,000 above the usual

Russia’s Rostec develops new jamming module for mobile electronic warfare systems

The system features separate functional units and can be installed on various platforms

Conflict around Iran threatens to trigger severe crisis in fertilizer market — media

The military operation halted shipments of urea, ammonia, and sulfur

G7 unlikely to find solution to energy crisis at online meeting on April 30 — Politico

The newspaper emphasized that the meeting could end without adopting a final statement

Air defenses downed 13 guided bombs, 345 drones — Russian Defense Ministry

Russian troops also engaged the storage site of Ukraine’s Flamingo long-range missiles, it added

Staying in place suicidal for Patriot air defense crews in Middle East — US expert

Scott Ritter says that there is no defense against Iran's attacks

US president says he would like to take control of Iranian oil

On March 26, Donald Trump also said at a Cabinet meeting that he considers taking control of Iranian oil to be one of the possible scenarios

Russia seeks to boost cooperation with Gulf countries — Kremlin spokesman

They are among the countries we would like to develop bilateral cooperation with, Peskov added

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

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, March 25th

Russia lodges formal protest with UK over diplomat’s actions — Foreign Ministry

Russian diplomats urged that a strong recommendation be conveyed to London, advising British nationals — especially embassy staff — to "provide only accurate information about their past" when submitting visa applications

Russia urges the United States to influence Kiev — Kremlin aide

Washington is able to do that, presidential aide Yury Ushakov said

Russian troops liberate Kovsharovka settlement

The Ukrainian armed forces lost about 1,275 troops over the day in the zone of the Special Military Operation

Russian Battlegroup North destroyed 142 Ukrainian drones

Four ammunition depots and ten materials storages were also destroyed, Battlegroup spokesman Vasily Mezhevykh said

Middle East conflict risks leading to another round of nuclear arms race — agency

According to the media outlet, governments "from the North Atlantic to the West Pacific" are debating whether they, too, should seek nuclear weapons

FACTBOX: What to know on expulsion of British diplomat from Russia over spying allegations

The FSB cautioned Russian citizens to refrain from holding unsanctioned meetings with British diplomats, including within the premises of the British diplomatic mission

Arina Sobolenko wins WTA tournament in Miami for second time in a row

The Belarusian player defeated American Coco Gauff

UAVs from Iraq attack Qasrak military base in northwestern Syria — army

No casualties or damage have been reported

NORAD F-16 fighter jets intercept aircraft near residence of US president

The North American Aerospace Defense Command said it used dispensed flares to draw the pilot’s attention during the interception

Russia revokes accreditation of British diplomat — FSB

The second secretary of the British embassy in Moscow was ordered to leave Russia within two weeks

Iran shows itself 'military adept' in conflict with US, Israel — expert

American political scientist Garland Nixon opined that Iran has shown "to be quite good at military strategy"

Ukrainian attack leaves host city of Zaporozhye NPP without power — mayor

The attack is not over yet, so it’s hard to assess the scale of damage

Russian tanker carrying 100,000 tons of oil as humanitarian aid arrives in Cuba

The ship is currently awaiting unloading at the port of Mansas

Israeli PM orders expansion of security zone in southern Lebanon

I have just issued orders to further expand the existing security zone in order to ultimately thwart the threat of invasion and prevent missile attacks on our border areas, he said in a video address

Putin to deliver comprehensive address at SPIEF-2026 — Kremlin

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that everyone looks forward to the president’s address

British MFA condemns Israel’s plans to expand security zone in Lebanon

Hamish Falconer stated that Israel must avoid further exacerbation of the conflict

Court in New York concludes second hearing in Maduro case

The central topic of the hearing was the issue of the US authorities’ obstruction of payment for Maduro’s and his wife Cilia Flores’ legal services by the Venezuelan government

One person killed in drone attack on southern Russian city of Taganrog

According to the Governor Yury Slyusar, local residents have been evacuated from the area where drone debris came down

Russia wishes the US good luck in settlement with Iran — Kremlin aide

The continuation of bombing is just terrific, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said

Pamfilova becomes first in Russian history to be re-elected as CEC chair for third term

Ella Pamfilova has headed the CEC since 2016

Ukraine loses up to 8,900 troops, mercenaries in special op zone over week — expert

According to Andrey Marochko, the Russian troops destroyed five tanks, nearly 700 various combat vehicles and 51 electronic warfare and counter-battery stations over the past week

Trump says Iran ready to accept many US demands

The US President stated that he "do see a deal in Iran"

Russia ready to offer all exploration stages to foreign countries — official

The Russian geological sector is at the world level absolutely, head of the Russian Federal Agency for Subsoil Use Oleg Kazanov said

Kiev working hard to maintain control of Nikolayevka near DPR's Konstantinovka — expert

Andrey Marochko says that Ukrainian forces have strong fortifications in the city

US-Israeli strikes hit Iran’s Isfahan University of Technology

According to the media outlet, some of the university’s buildings were damaged and at least four employees suffered injuries

Passage through Strait of Hormuz to become tolled after Iran adopts new law — MP

Security and services for ships will be ensured through fees, Alaeddin Boroujerdi said

Trumps speaks rudely about Saudi Arabia’s crown prince — newspaper

According to Trump, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud perceived him as "another American president that was a loser" with his country going downhill

Iran delivers strike on oil refinery in Israel’s Haifa — agency

According to NourNews, one of the fuel storage tanks went ablaze

Russian women detained in California in January remain in custody — ICE

Natalya Dudina and Kristina Malyshko were arrested in California on January 17 and have been in custody for about two and a half months

Top diplomats of Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey meet in Islamabad

According to a Pakistani Foreign Ministry source, the parties are discussing communication between Washington and Tehran

US-Israeli strike targets petrochemical facility in Iran’s Tabriz — CEO

No release of toxic or hazardous substances has been detected

Iran may withdraw from NPT, says diplomat

The Islamic Republic of Iran has never sought and does not seek to develop nuclear weapons, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said

Trump says Iran must comply with all US demands or face severe consequences

The US leader stressed that Iran has to "give up nuclear weapons"

Russian army adopts new Knyaz Vandal FPV drone modification — general designer

The new modification of the KVN is capable of reaching targets at a range of 30 kilometers

Nearly 150 Ukrainian UAVs attack Belgorod region over past day

Eleven munitions were fired in three shelling attacks and 32 drones struck the Graivoronsky district

Iranian army to prevent repetition of US, Israeli aggression — acting top defense official

Iran will continue with all its might to punish the aggressors, Seyyed Majid Ibn Reza said

Russian air defense units distinguish Ukrainian decoys — soldier

The Russian serviceman noted that the Ukrainian armed forces were attempting to launch massive strikes using various types of drones

Eliminating of Middle East crisis consequences to take months — Novak

The crisis is indeed such that nobody could have imagined it, Russian Deputy Prime Minister said

US proposals on Ukraine interesting, not materializing yet — Kremlin aide

The proposals made by Washington are useful, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov noted

Fico threatens to veto new EU anti-Russian sanctions over Druzhba blocking

The European Commission has not done anything to force Zelensky to restore oil pumping, the Slovak prime minister says

Trump cannot declare victory if Iran continues launching missiles at Israel — US expert

Ritter also noted that declarations of victory would look questionable if the Strait of Hormuz remained blocked

Ukraine planted explosives in Seversky Donets — Donbass Canal

Earlier reports said that the distance from the outermost position of Russian troops to the canal, the main water artery in the region, declined significantly

Ammunition depots attacked at US military bases — Iran’s IRGC

They are located in Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, the IRGC press service said

US air forces expose F-35 jets to enemy fire by coming closer to Iran — analyst

According to Scott Ritter, the US has been "very successful in blowing up points on the ground" but it has not degraded the Iranian defense industry, which was relocated and hidden

Iran wipes out anti-drone warehouse in Dubai with over 20 Ukrainian experts — commander

The Iranian broadcaster never mentioned the severity of wounds sustained by Ukrainian servicemen

Belarus develops trilateral cooperation with Russia, North Korea, top diplomat says

Maxim Ryzhenkov noted that Belarus is "actively working on options for the development of trilateral cooperation"

Iran receives second humanitarian aid shipment from Russia

The operation was carried out under the instructions of Russian President Vladimir Putin

Iran to let 20 oil tankers through Strait of Hormuz, Trump says

Donald Trump told this to reporters aboard his plane on route from West Palm Beach, Florida, to Washington

Peacemakers will win, Dmitriev says

The Russian special presidential envoy for foreign investment and economic cooperation responded to the post by Anna Paulina Luna about criticism from other Congress members in respect of peace talks.

US holds both direct, indirect talks with Iran, Trump says

The US leader added that "emissaries" are involved in the talks, but did not provide any details

Board of Peace appears less current amid US aggression in Iran — Peskov

Russia has not yet decided whether to enter the Board of Peace or not, the Kremlin spokesman said

Iran says opponents begging it to negotiate over Strait of Hormuz

Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref emphasized that the country's armed forces were among the world’s mightiest

Iranian parliament calls for withdrawal from NPT in response to US, Israeli aggression

"Iran not seeking to build a nuclear bomb, but one cannot simultaneously play by the rules and be subjected to bombing," Alaeddin Boroujerdi said

Hezbollah aims to kill as many Israeli troops as possible — expert

As Hezbollah is well-versed in the terrain, it has the upper hand in carrying out ambush attacks, Lebanese General Hassan Juni noted

Western Europe to be first victim falling to Zelensky's nuclear blackmail — Zakharova

He will not just be demanding money and weapons, he will be requesting from them conditions to uphold his regime, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman added

Trump says Cuba to face problems 'within short period of time'

On March 27, the US leader said that Cuba would be the next US target, without specifying Washington’s plans regarding the country

Russia achieves success in degrading weapons provided to Ukraine by West — analyst

Meanwhile, the US "has not had any success at all" in the Middle East, Ritter noted

US to allow Russian oil tanker to reach Cuba — NYT

According to the newspaper, the arrival of the Russian ship carrying energy supplies will help Cuba avoid running out of fuel for several weeks

Israel, US attack amusement park in central Iran

No information on casualties or damage has been reported yet

Russia’s MiG-31 fighter scrambled to intercept Norwegian spy plane over Barents Sea

The Russian fighter’s crew identified the air target as a Norwegian Air Force Falcon 20 radio-technical reconnaissance and electronic warfare aircraft

About 21,000 Iranian civilians suffer injuries in US-Israeli strikes — Red Crescent

The attacks have killed 214 children and 244 women, the Red Crescent stressed

Eurasian security architecture should build on existing blocs — Russian diplomat

Mikhail Galuzin favors the system which would allow all states to be confident in their security

Two drones fall in southeastern Finland

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said that the drones were likely Ukrainian

Strikes target Mehrabad Airport, branch of Iran’s Central Bank in Tehran — TV

A cardboard factory in the south of the city and the Qasr-e Firouzeh residential complex also came under attack

China ready to defend global energy security amid crisis — MFA

The global energy and commodity markets are facing a supply shortage due to the situation in the Middle East, Mao Ning said

US does not oppose humanitarian oil supplies to Cuba, including from Russia — Trump

According to Donald Trump, these deliveries will not "have an impact" on efforts to overcome the energy crisis on the island

One person killed, 11 others injured: aftermath of Kiev’s night attack on Russia’s south

Overnight, air defenses shot down Ukrainian drones over the Belgorod, Kursk, Voronezh, Rostov, Volgograd, Penza, Ulyanovsk, Samara and Krasnodar Regions, the Azov Sea and Crimea

Press review: Washington plans Iran ground move as oil surge adds $41.5B to Russia

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, March 23rd

Russia ready to host Olympic Games in the future — Putin

The president congratulated the Russian Olympic Committee on its 115th anniversary

UK charge d’affaires summoned to Russian MFA leaves ministry without comment

The diplomat remained at the ministry for about 15 minutes

Zelensky may be killed for negotiating with Russia as he does not head Ukraine — expert

US political analyst Garland Nixon stressed that Zelensky was simply an operative for Western imperialism

Japanese PM Takaichi preserves anti-Russian policy — senior Moscow diplomat

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko says that the bilateral relations "continue to decline"

Kremlin describes Russian MPs' visit to US as very helpful

Spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented on the meetings of the Russian delegation in the US

Russia’s Skat-350M recon drone equipped with anti-jamming system — Kalashnikov

Thanks to its specialized optical navigation system, the drone continues to perform its mission using previously loaded maps even when a false GPS signal is transmitted from the ground