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US-Israeli strikes on Iran

Iran urges Caspian nations to take clear stance on Israeli attacks on coastal areas

The Iranian Foreign Ministry issued the statement following Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s phone call with his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov

TEHRAN, March 31. /TASS/. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has called on the Caspian nations to take a firm stand on Israeli strikes on Iranian targets in coastal areas of the Caspian Sea.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry issued a statement following Araghchi’s phone call with his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov, in which the Iranian top diplomat "spoke about the ongoing atrocities by the aggressors, particularly the Zionist regime, aimed at increasing the scale of the war, and called on the Caspian countries to take a clear and firm stance on the recent attacks on some coastal areas of the Caspian Sea."

On March 30, the Israeli army said in a statement that the Israeli Air Force had carried out strikes on Iranian air defenses stationed near the Caspian Sea coast. On March 18, the Israeli military hit an Iranian naval base in the city of Bandar Anzali, the country’s largest Caspian Sea port.

Middle East conflict

Russia ready to facilitate resolution of Middle East conflict — ambassador to Iran

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US-Iran talks continue, going well — White House

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt noted that the US military continues to carry out strikes against Iran

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According to FSB regional branch spokeswoman Arina Klepanova, the Ukrainian side is using bacteriological and chemical weapons to poison Russian population

Strikes on Iran may lead to nuclear arms race in Middle East, Russian senator warns

Deputy chair of the Russian Federation Council Natalya Nikonorova noted that the US and Israel are pushing Iran towards pulling out of the NPT, "after which the country will be able to develop its nuclear program without control from the IAEA"

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Kyrgyz citizens staying in Iran were strongly recommended to exercise increased vigilance

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Missile strikes also targeted an Israeli naval base in Haifa Bay

Washington hopes to reach deal with Tehran by April 6 — White House

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Iran calls on Saudi Arabia to ‘eject’ US troops from region

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Trump does not link end of war with Iran with opening of Hormuz — WSJ

The American authorities believe that restoring navigation through the Strait of Hormuz will mean a six-week operation against Iran, the newspaper said

G7 countries powerless in Iran crisis — newspaper

The publication notes that on Monday, the heads of finance and energy ministries and central banks of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States, and the United Kingdom held an "unprecedented joint meeting" to coordinate their response

North Korea committed to strategic partnership agreement with Russia — Jo Yong-won

Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly stressed that the Workers' Party of Korea and the government of the DPRK will remain faithful to the spirit and obligations under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement with Russia

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The department added that one of the injured is in critical condition, 16 are in serious condition

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Iran considers Ukraine party to war against it — envoy to UN

Amir Saeid Iravani noted that sending "hundreds of specialists" to the region "indicates active participation and facilitation of the unlawful use of force against a sovereign state"

Tanker hit by shell, burning off UAE coast — UKMTO

The crew are accounted for and safe

Russia’s 2025 budget deficit at 2.6% of GDP — Finance Ministry

The ministry said that last year's budget met the targets - primary structural deficit, adjusted for the balance of budget and interstate loans

PM Fico rejects EC demand to end fuel premium for foreign drivers at Slovak stations

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US troop buildup near Iran not sign of any new decisions — White House

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According to the Japanese Defense Ministry, the country has deployed Type 12 land-based cruise missiles with a range of over 1,000 kilometers at two bases of its Ground Self-Defense Force

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

Almost all oil and gas fields with reserves transferred to companies — agency

"What we're licensing now are mainly the subsurface areas with predicted resources," head of the Federal Agency for Mineral Resources Oleg Kazanov said

Slovak PM accuses EU authorities of conspiring with Zelensky to stop oil supplies

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Putin to meet with election commission head soon — Kremlin

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Viktor Koronelli said the tanker delivered 100,000 tons of oil

Russia mulls abolition of declarative principle for oil and gas licenses

Head of the Federal Agency for Mineral Resources Oleg Kazanov said that "some work is being done in this direction"

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Gulf states urge US to continue war with Iran, AP says

According to the news agency, UAE, Saudi Arabian, Kuwaiti and Bahraini officials said that they would like to continue the American-Israeli military operation until radical changes take place in the leadership of the Islamic Republic

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US interested in calling on Arab nations to help pay for cost of Iran operation — official

The United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran on February 28

Russia, China, other BRICS, SCO members facing aggressive opposition — Lavrov

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Russian lawmakers tell US colleagues Ukraine fears 'Witkoff plan'

The Ukrainian side is reluctant to accept the terms of the plan, as they are perceived as a defeat, Svetlana Zhurova, first deputy chair of the State Duma international committee, said

Strait of Hormuz closure threatens to impact global fertilizer market — Rystad Energy

According to the report, about 15% of global ammonia sales and 21% of urea, the most concentrated nitrogen fertilizer, are tied to exporters potentially impacted by the closure

Iran to foil enemy attempts to pass through Strait of Hormuz — IRGC

Any slightest movements by enemies will be suppressed with missiles and drones

Iran strikes US, Israeli military positions in region — IRGC

According to the report, the targets were located in Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia

Russia open to dialogue with West but refuses to 'chase anyone' — top diplomat

As Sergey Lavrov stressed, "the door is open to those willing to set aside their whims and clearly state what they propose"

Venezuelan politician praises delivery of humanitarian aid from Russia to Cuba

Vice president of the We Can party Willian Rodríguez emphasized that "Russia is again giving the world a lesson in solidarity by risking sending a tanker with oil as humanitarian aid to Cuba during the blockade of the island"

Russia and North Korea lead fight for formation of multipolar world — TASS CEO

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FACTBOX: Three people injured as 92 drones attack Russian regions overnight

Damage was reported at the port of Ust-Luga while repelling the drone attack on the Leningrad Region

IRGC deputy commander blames US for blocking global access to Strait of Hormuz

General Ali Fadavi said that Washington miscalculated and set goals that were supposed to be achieved within three to five days, but it failed to achieve any of them

US believes Iran’s new supreme leader is alive but seriously injured — Trump

Nobody has heard from him, the US president said

King of Jordan refuses to meet with Netanyahu — media

The purpose of the meeting was to make it clear to the United States that Israel and Jordan are on good terms, especially after the ceasefire in Gaza

Russia responds to Western hostility in challenging circumstances — Patrushev

According to the Russian presidential aide, the aggressive actions of the United States seeking to maintain its dominance in strategically important areas of the World Ocean had a serious destabilizing effect on the global agenda

Europe misjudging upcoming energy crisis, as expected — Russia’s envoy

Kirill Dmitriev added that Europe does not try to mitigate future risks or correct mistakes

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

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

Russia to respond immediately if London escalates situation — ministry

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US-Israeli war against Iran could escalate into World War III — Jeffrey Sachs

The American economist said the fighting could spiral out of control, as the US and Israel "are dead set on hegemony in the Arab world and West Asia – one that combines Israeli territorial expansion with American-backed regime control across the region"

Four Seas Project could become basis for US plans in Persian Gulf — newspaper

The initiative envisages the development of infrastructure and transport corridors linking the Black, Marmara, Aegean and Mediterranean Seas

Russia needs lasting peace in Ukraine instead of ceasefire — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov also said that Vladimir Zelensky’s Easter ceasefire proposal did not actually represent a clear initiative

US-Israeli war on Iran on verge of spiraling out of control — Global Times

The US government, the newspaper notes, initially projected that the war against Iran would last "four to five weeks", and later repeatedly claimed it would "end soon", but the facts proved otherwise

Iranian military urges US to abandon plans to control Strait of Hormuz

This strategic mistake by the American and Zionist enemies of Islamic Iran has humiliated them and set them on a path to destruction, Ibrahim Zolfaghari, representative of the Iranian Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said

FACTBOX: What's the deal with Telegram in Russia

People in Russia are still complaining that the app doesn't work well

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Overnight, the Russia's air defenses downed 92 Ukrainian UAVs over 12 Russian regions

Arab countries’ losses from Middle East conflict may reach $200 bln — Bloomberg

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Iranian air defenses down US drone MQ-9 Reaper over Isfahan — IRGC

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US is beginning to understand that talking peace with Zelensky is useless — politician

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Iran significantly cuts discount on its oil amid conflict — Oil Minister

According to Mohsen Paknejad, the necessary measures have been taken to ensure fuel security, and citizens can rest assured

Sending North Korean troops to Kursk Region ideal strategic partnership — Foreign Minister

Choe Son Hui also expressed confidence that TASS's information activities would make "the most significant contribution to the strengthening of military brotherhood between the peoples of Russia and the DPRK"

Only Russia can make 'grand bargain' in Middle East — expert

A former US Marine Corps intelligence analyst and former United Nations arms inspector in Iraq Scott Ritter stressed that Russia is the one nation that can talk to all sides of the conflict

Old world order coming apart, ceasefire in Iran: Lavrov’s statements

Russia’s top diplomat stressed that Moscow calls for an immediate end to US and Israeli aggression against Iran, described the use of military force against civilians and civilian infrastructure as unacceptable

Russian troops liberate two communities in Ukraine operation over past day — top brass

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicted roughly 190 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed two enemy armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported