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US-Israeli strikes on Iran

Strikes on NPPs, surrounding areas unacceptable — IAEA on Bushehr NPP attack

The IAEA added that it had no information about any increase in radiation levels following the incident

VIENNA, April 4. /TASS/. Strikes on nuclear power plant (NPP) sites and adjacent areas are unacceptable as they may contain equipment critical to nuclear safety, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said, commenting on the latest attack on Iran’s Bushehr NPP.

"IAEA DG (Director General - TASS) Rafael Grossi expresses deep concern about the reported incident and says NPP sites or nearby areas must never be attacked, noting that auxiliary site buildings may contain vital safety equipment," the agency wrote on X. The IAEA added that it had no information about any increase in radiation levels following the incident.

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.

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US-Israeli strikes on Iran

Iran does not refuse talks with US in Pakistan — foreign minister

Tehran is concerned about the terms for ending the war, Abbas Araghchi said

Pezeshkian asks global community to judge which side, Iran or US, actually favors dialogue

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian invited the world to judge which side engages in terrorism

WHO chief confirms more than 20 attacks on medical facilities in Iran over month

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Ukraine must withdraw troops from Donbass to stop hot stage of special op — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov emphasized that there was no deadline for a Ukrainian troop withdrawal

FACTBOX: What we know about passenger train derailment in Russia’s Ulyanovsk Region

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French court approves Lithuania's request for extradition of ex-banker Antonov

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Johann Wadephul supportы a system of qualified majority voting in the EU

IN BRIEF: Attacks on TurkStream, Middle East: what Putin, Erdogan spoke about over phone

The presidents noted that the escalation surrounding Iran is leading to "serious negative consequences on both a regional and global scale

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Ralph Bosshard said there is "almost an awkward silence in Western media" regarding the incident

Russia could boost helium output amid Middle East crisis — expert

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The IRGC Navy also congratulated the air defense forces of the Islamic republic’s army on intercepting an US F-15E fighter jet and an A-10 attack aircraft in the skies over Iran

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Alexander Stepanov said the incident points to the lack of air supremacy, poor planning of aviation and precision weapons use

Iran threatens to throw US military back to period before Stone Age — TV

According to the report, the Iranian troops "after many years of intensive training are fully ready" to defend their country

Russia delivers 30 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Ukrainian residents from Belgorod region

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The French president said that the objective is not to be the vassals of two hegemonic powers

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No information on casualties is available so far

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The parties paid special attention to cooperation on technical and environmental issues

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Janus Putkonen noted that Ukraine has never been weaker in geopolitical terms than it is today

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UN says shelling wounds three peacekeepers in southern Lebanon

The command is investigating the details of the incident, in particular, from where the Blue Helmets post was hit

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General HQ of Iranian army warns of potentially larger strikes on Tel Aviv

The Iranian military also advised "host countries of US military bases to force the Americans to leave their territory, if they want to avoid damage"

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Moscow has issued very harsh warnings to these countries, the Federation Council Speaker emphasized

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Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that in modern conditions, a single country won’t be able to maintain its dominance

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Maria Zakharova pointed out that we are talking about a unique historical and architectural site, "a one-of-a-kind Orthodox church operated by the Russian Orthodox Church and included in the Iranian national cultural heritage list"

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Kirill Logvinov emphasized that in any conflict situation, the UN chief should hold an equidistant position, use neutral terminology, focus on mandatory or consensus decisions, and refrain from making legally void conclusions

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As a result of the air attack by the American and Israeli enemy on Mahshahr, the Fajr-1, Fajr-2, Redzhal, and Amir Kabir petrochemical companies were hit, the deputy governor of Khuzestan Province reported

Iran’s will power stronger than United States’, says Japanese expert

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Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk said the issue of creating a system of payments and settlements not depending on the banking service and currencies of Western countries is the critical area of Eurasian cooperation

Iran divides countries into three categories based on use of Strait of Hormuz — TV

According to the TV channel, all states are divided into three categories — "hostile," "neutral," and "friendly"

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The deputy head of the Russian Security Council that said until now the Russian rhetoric about EU membership had been restrained and calm in relation to all neighbors, even to Ukraine

Russia condemns attempts by some countries to use Taiwanese vote for pressuring China

Taiwan held presidential and parliamentary elections on Saturday

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The Iranian Armed Forces General Staff said earlier that a US F-35 fighter jet had been shot down on Friday morning over central territory of the Islamic Republic

More tension within NATO than ever before — Belgian defense minister

Theo Francken fears that even if the US does not leave the alliance, NATO’s defense capabilities could still suffer

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The military added that a facility storing ballistic missiles was also hit, along with several enterprises linked to the development and production of weapons

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Mehr reported that the main target of the strike is northern Israel

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The IAEA added that it had no information about any increase in radiation levels following the incident

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In addition to Kiev's position and Washington's stance, the initiative to send European troops is hampered by fierce opposition from Russia and logistical constraints, the sources said

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Russian Defense Ministry to continue production of Kinzhal missiles

Norwegian Foreign Ministry says it regrets behavior of consulate employee in Murmansk

Ministry is working on the incident via corresponding channels

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This information was confirmed to CBS News by sources among US officials

Accident at plant in Russia's Nizhnekamsk claims seven lives — company

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'Forgotten' Palestine, attempts to disrupt Middle East talks: Lavrov statements

The Russian foreign minister noted that Russia and Egypt are trying to achieve real results in crisis management, not just feigning diplomacy

US puts Cuba on backburner amid operation in Iran — Politico

Steps against Cuba also risk further upsetting already tenuous relations with Russia, the publication notes

Iran strikes US landing craft in Kuwait, radar station in Bahrain — army

According to the military, in a subsequent phase of the attack, the Iranian Armed Forces struck the Israeli Ramat David Air Base, home to squadrons of Israeli F-16 fighter jets

Trump often gives right assessments of conflict in Ukraine — Russian upper house speaker

Valentina Matviyenko said that Ukraine is fooling everyone

Russia downs 85 Ukrainian drones over nine regions, Crimea and Black Sea last night

Alert air defense capabilities intercepted and destroyed the unmanned aerial vehicles over the Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, Oryol, Rostov, Samara, Saratov, Tula, and Voronezh regions, Russia’s Defense Ministry siad

Upper house speaker slams US-Israeli operation against Iran as geopolitical mistake

Valentina Matviyenko emphasized that this intervention has destabilized the Middle East, triggering an energy crisis, yet it ultimately changes nothing

EU, NATO representative cannot be effective as UN chief — senior Russian diplomat

Kirill Logvinov said such a candidate "may continue attempts to turn the global organization into a kind of supranational structure"

US-Iran ceasefire talks at impasse now — media

According to The Wall Street Journal, Tehran has refused to meet with US officials in Islamabad and has called Washington’s demands unacceptable

Russia coordinates with China on support of candidates for UN chief — senior diplomat

Moscow and Beijing are explaining their rationale regarding candidates in detail to other countries, including CIS and BRICS members, Kirill Logvinov siad

Spain to refrain from seizing personal items of Russian arrivals in EU from outside Russia

Russian travelers may also import gold jewelry into the European Union if it is intended for personal use and not for sale

EU becomes 'bit player' in new multipolar world — Italian expert

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Russian Pacific Fleet reinforced with newest nuclear-powered submarine

The Vladimir Monomakh (project 955) sub has arrived at its permanent base Viliuchinsk in the Kamchakta Peninsula

Gazprom expects heating season in Europe to be extended due to severe cold snap

According to Gas Infrastructure Europe data as of April 1, the level of reserves in European underground gas storage facilities fell to 27.9%, and in the Netherlands, to 4.6%

FACTBOX: What we know about foiled bombing plot against senior security official in Moscow

The SBU planned to remotely trigger an explosion during the official’s visit to a business center

Japan companies can keep terms of their contracts as part of Sakhalin 2 project — Kyodo

It is reported that the Japanese authorities are determined to maintain participation in the Sakhalin-2 project

Second US jet crashes in Persian Gulf region in 24 hours — newspaper

The newspaper specified that it was an A-10 Warthog attack aircraft

Ukraine to supply naval drones to unnamed Persian Gulf country — Zelensky

According to Vladimir Zelensky, the agreement term is 10 years, but the specific company supplying the drones may change

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

Trump says US Air Force plane crash in Iran to have no effect on negotiations

The US leader declined to discuss the details of the ongoing search and rescue operation in Iran

US journalist Carlson calls Trump’s speech an announcement of the end of American empire

"There’s turbulence ahead, but long term it’s a huge win for the United States," Tucker Carlson said

Iran war puts Europe in difficult position amid rejection of Russian resources — media

With the escalation of tensions in the Middle East, European countries are seeing "a second important source of energy supplies dry up," the newspaper said

Crisis facing UN caused by West, senior Russian diplomat says

According to Kirill Logvinov, "work in the interests of all member countries based on the principle of sovereign equality was substituted with the promotion of approaches of the Western minority who usurped key posts at the UN and have been acting on instructions from their capitals"

Press review: Trump puts NATO at risk as Houthis threaten to block Bab el-Mandeb

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, April 3rd

UNSC draft resolution on Strait of Hormuz cannot be approved — Russian foreign minister

It does not contribute to a peaceful resolution of the conflict, Sergey Lavrov said

US military aircraft struck by Iran makes it to Kuwait — TV

Iran also fired at two US UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters conducting a search and rescue operation

Dubai calls incident with falling debris that affected Oracle office building ‘minor’

No injuries were reported, Dubai Media Office said

Iran rejects US proposal for 48-hour ceasefire — Fars

According to the news agency, the proposal followed the emergence of serious problems for the US Armed Forces due to a miscalculation of the military potential of the Islamic Republic of Iran

US would side with Russia if it understood Donbass conflict — Ritter

According to the former US Marine Corps intelligence analyst, there is an inherited policy in the United States that downplays Russia’s importance in the eyes of American politicians

Leaving with reservations: what we know about Moldova’s withdrawal from CIS

The CIS Executive Committee has not yet received a formal note on Moldova’s withdrawal

Most Americans expect their financial situation to worsen due to war in Iran — poll

Regarding the threat to the lives of US military personnel, public opinion was even more unequivocal

US rescue mission for pilot of shot down F-35 fighter jet fails — agency

According to the report, Black Hawk helicopters and a C-130 Hercules aircraft took part in the operation

Europe is forming decision-making center without US participation — Russian senator

Grigory Karasin observed that the trend of convening meetings without US involvement is becoming "not just indicative, but increasingly routine"