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Strait of Hormuz developments

Iran to pay women about $40,000 for capturing one US soldier, army says

Iran is prepared to consider payments to residents of other countries in the region for similar actions, General Mohammad Akraminia said

TEHRAN, September 29. /TASS/. Iran's army is prepared to pay Iranian women around $40,000 if they capture a US serviceman during a ground invasion, army spokesman General Mohammad Akraminia said.

"Any Iranian who hands over the body of a US soldier who has entered Iranian territory, or captures one, will receive 50 billion rials. If a woman does so, the reward will double to 100 billion rials," SNN television quoted him as saying. The sums are equivalent to about $20,000 and $40,000, respectively.

Akraminia said Iran is also prepared to consider payments to residents of other countries in the region for similar actions.

Anti-Russian sanctions

Trump backs plan to ease US sanctions on Russia — media

According to the report, the initiative remains in its early stages and had not been reported previously

Russian strikes hit Ukrainian data processing centers, energy facilities

The Russian Armed Forces also struck infrastructure and facilities at the Vasilkov military airfield in the Kiev Region

United Russia consolidates its leadership in parliamentary polls — Putin

The Russian president emphasized that the party now bears even greater responsibility for legislation and "overall outcome"

Agreement on basic principles of Russia-Burkina Faso relations submitted to State Duma

According to the accompanying documents, Russia and Burkina Faso will develop bilateral relations based on respect for and protection of their national interests

IN BRIEF: Locomotive depot, data centers in Kiev hit in Russian forces’ group strike

A dry-cargo ship carrying military cargo to the Odessa port was hit while at sea

Ukraine considers moving critical enterprises underground to metro stations

According to the Verkhovna Rada member, Russia essentially has complete control over the skies above Kiev

Russia faced external difficulties during legislative polls — Putin

The head of state said that the elections had taken place across all of Russia’s 89 constituent entities

Yak-130M aircraft could be vessel for loitering munitions — pilot

The aircraft could be used to deliver the munitions quickly to a specific target location

Russia on top in building nuclear power units overseas — Putin

The Russian president noted that Rosatom is one of the largest global holdings, which is functioning in the full-cycle mode in the sphere of national security provision and in the peaceful nuclear development sphere

Taiwan plans to quadruple ammunition stockpiles

According to a Taipei Times article, a six-year procurement program worth a total of about $868 mln has been developed for this purpose

Iran doubts ceasefire can be reached before US midterm elections

According to sources cited by Bloomberg, talks in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly last week failed to produce significant progress

Netanyahu accuses authors of report about Egypt’s Oct. 7 warnings of defamation

The Israeli prime minister's office says he "neither met nor spoke with Abbas Kamel, then head of Egypt’s General Intelligence Service" in the months preceding the Hamas attack

Foreign special services’ attempts to derail elections in Russia failed — Putin

The head of state stressed that Russia’s people had defended the sovereign right to decide about their own future

Russian interceptor UAVs effectiveness is close to 100% — officer

There are very few instances of accidental crashes or failures, Russian serviceman with the call sign Zolotoy said

Russian embassy warns UK that its plans to blockade Kaliningrad to have consequences

The diplomats emphasized that Russia had repeatedly made it clear "that it neither seeks confrontation with NATO and Europe nor intends to attack them"

European Commission asks United States not to ban diesel supplies to Europe

US President Donald Trump said earlier that he was very seriously considering imposing a ban on the export of diesel fuel due to rising prices in the country

Berlin issues Brussels ultimatum over EU budget — FT

Six EU countries led by Germany have threatened to reject the bloc’s new seven-year budget for 2028-2034 unless spending is cut by "hundreds of billions" of euros

Iranian Embassy in UK denies involvement in Fairford incident

According to the statement, the embassy strongly condemns the recent unfounded speculations

UK exploits Russian emigres, London activist’s case: FSB releases new data

Russia’s Federal Security Service opened a criminal case against former model Ksenia Maximova

Russian Deputy Defense Minister Osmakov arrives in Mongolia for visit

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Osmakov recalled that this year marks the 105th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and Mongolia

Russian Embassy in Australia accuses ABC of manipulating Ukrainian children issue

The diplomatic mission said that Kiev and Western media continue to spread what it described as fake reports about Ukrainian children allegedly "stolen" by Russia

US export ban would send European diesel prices to unprecedented levels

CNBC noted that most oil traders in Europe doubt Washington will take this step

Europe faces serious challenges — Rubio

The US secretary of state recalled the migration crisis in the Spanish exclave of Ceuta in late July

OpenAI scraps release of new AI model over safety concerns — WSJ

Saachi Jain, head of the company's safety systems unit, said the model frequently deceived users and was not always truthful about which actions it had and had not completed

Germany’s current leadership lacks sound judgment — Russian diplomat

According to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Dmitry Lyubinsky, the systemic problem facing modern Europe lies in the obvious degradation of its political class

Pope Leo XIV urges Russia, Ukraine to sit down at negotiating table

The Church has a responsibility to promote values that foster peace, he said

Russian embassy warns NATO of armed conflict risk in case of Kaliningrad’s blockade

Russia has necessary means to repel potential aggression and "stands ready to deploy its entire available arsenal of weapons," the diplomats said

Attempt to oust Magyar reveals state of modern governance system, expert says

Nikolay Mezhevich argued that the classical model of state governance and diplomacy had traditionally ruled out such precedents

Iran will soon clear Arabian Sea of enemy forces, Khamenei vows

Iran’s Supreme Leader noted that in recent years, two seas in the south of Iran "used to be a theater of operations for enemy forces"

Germany, EU play no role in negotiations on Ukraine — Russian envoy in Vienna

According to Mikhail Ulyanov, German foreign minister Johann Wadephul requested a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and only repeated standard Western narratives

Trump ready to ease Iranian sanctions if progress on nuclear dossier is reached — Axios

Correspondent Barak Ravid specified that the US might unfreeze Iran's immobilized assets

Europe aids Ukrainian armed forces due to current inability to fight Russia — expert

Alexey Chadayev noted that the EU is seeking to prolong the conflict in Ukraine

Lebanon expects concrete results from agreement with Israel — prime minister

Nawaf Salam believes that setting a clear timeline for the parties to fulfill their obligations would help speed up the reconstruction of damaged infrastructure and create conditions for displaced people to return home

Russia to present export version of Garpiya-A1 UAV in China, Vietnam for first time

The UAV is capable of carrying a warhead weighing more than 50 kg and operating at altitudes ranging from 50 to 2,500 meters

Hungarian parliament lifts immunity from Prime Minister Magyar

As many as 139 lawmakers voted in favor of this decision, no one voted against or abstained

Russia hopes Iran to remain in NPT — Kremlin

Moscow believes the NPT to be the cornerstone of the nuclear non-proliferation regime, Dmitry Peskov said

Rosatom’s revenues surge four times over decade in open part of sector — CEO

All the indicators of the company are higher as of the end of nine months of this year as compared to the like period of 2025, Alexey Likhachev said

Metro’s Russian assets placed under temporary management

Metro continues its operations in Russia without disruptions

Iran agrees to suspend enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief — TV

The Iranian authorities have not yet commented on these reports

Czech defense company makes record profit in 2025 thanks to Ukraine conflict — media

STV Group’s net profits in 2025 soared by nearly 40%, reaching about $350 million

UN Security Council reform to be discussed during December talks — senior Russian diplomat

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Alimov stressed that no models had yet emerged that would enjoy universal support from the international community

De Gaulle’s grandson wants to be Russian citizen, says decision rests with Putin

Pierre de Gaulle said he dreams of settling in Russia with his family and children and is working to strengthen ties between Paris and Moscow

Crewed Starliner flight planned by 2028 — NASA

Administrator Jared Isaacman says that NASA also plans to conduct an uncrewed Starliner flight to the ISS in 2027

Iran ready to say it will never develop nuclear weapons, Trump trumpets

The US president added that the Iranian authorities understand the impossibility of obtaining nuclear weapons

Press review: Europe seeks role in Ukraine talks as Vucic resigns before Serbia's election

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, September 28th

Russia’s Battlegroup North destroys over 80 concealed Ukrainian Starlink terminals

Commander of an unmanned systems platoon with the call sign Kuznets said that the targets were destroyed in the Kharkov Region

Trump says he did not offer Iran sanctions relief, unfreezing of assets

The US president urged Axios to immediately withdraw an article with the information

Polish air force to drop visual ID for alleged air targets from Russia

Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk clarified that these decisions will be based solely on radar data

Kremlin comments on Estonia’s accusations, need for continued special military op

Russia will continue its special military operation to fully ensure its national interests, Dmitry Peskov emphasized

Rosoboronexport to showcase Russia’s latest weapons at ADEX 2026 in Baku

Russia is a regular participant in the ADEX exhibition

Iranian army invites Americans to visit Iran and see everything for themselves

Hossein Mohabi also noted that the IRGC is "ready to correspond" with those who cannot to come

Ukraine supports terrorists seeking to harm Mali's integrity — president

Assimi Goita said that Ukraine is merely the visible tip of the iceberg in attempts to destabilize Mali

Kiev fears Russian army to 'wipe out' what remains of Ukraine’s energy sector this winter

Kiev must agree to a peace deal before winter sets in, Ukrainian lawmaker Dmitry Razumkov stated

North Korea accuses US of undermining global nuclear non-proliferation system

The United States is increasing the risks of a new arms race with its actions, North Korea's Foreign Ministry said

Lavrov’s meeting with Germany’s top diplomat at UNGA held at Wadephul’s request — MFA

Maria Zakharova commented on media allegations that Wadephul had effectively made a concession, agreeing to meet with Lavrov

Tourist flow from South Korea to Russia may grow exponentially — expert

About 19,000 tourists from the Republic of Korea arrived in Russia in 2025

Putin supports Volodin’s nomination for next Duma’s speaker

The Russian president noted that during his tenure as speaker of the eighth State Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin organized the house’s work effectively

Estonia launches reconnaissance drone over Baltic Sea

The drone, which took off from the island of Saaremaa, is flying at an altitude of just over 1.5 km outside routes designated for civilian aviation, a source in EU air traffic control services said

Putin sets personnel ceiling of Russian armed forces at over 2.44 million

The personnel ceiling of the Russian armed forces grew by 15,500 people compared to the previous decree

Starship explodes immediately after splashdown — TV

SpaceX told ABC that the explosion occurred because the spacecraft is not designed to land in cold water

If Iran cannot sell oil, whole region to be barred from selling — parliament speaker

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf emphasized that he could not ensure the security of any regional infrastructure unless Iran’s security was ensured

Russia’s Battlegroup North takes control of about 100 square km in Kharkov Region — expert

The Russian forces took control over 13 settlements last week

Yemeni government announces general mobilization to fight Houthis

The House of Representatives resolved to approve a request by the Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council Rashad al-Alimi

Russia, Europe on collision course — Ukrainian politician

Viktor Medvedchuk noted that the entire globalist clique in Europe is feeding on the war in Ukraine

Ukrainian army’s losses in DPR exceed 100,000 over four months — Zelensky's ex-spokeswoman

Yulia Mendel stressed that Ukraine is facing "humanitarian, political and financial crises"

Russia, China always supported Belarus — Lukashenko

The Belarusian leader stressed that the country would respond in kind to its Russian brothers, the Chinese people and others in the East

BRICS+ Fashion Summit opens in Moscow with participants from over 60 countries

One of the first day's central themes is fashion as a city's symbolic capital

Ukrainian army loses 118 heavy drones to Battlegroup West in past day

Battlegroup's press center chief Leonid Sharov said the forces also destroyed 49 drone control posts

Putin has made Russia’s position on Ukraine talks clear — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov stressed that Ukraine would have to "pay a price" for its actions in recent months

India copes with interruptions in oil, gas supplies — minister

Hardeep Singh Puri said there is no global shortage of energy resources as such

Almost 4,500 civilians evacuated from combat zone in DPR, senior Russian senator says

According to Natalya Nikonorova, temporary accommodation centers have been established across 17 municipalities in the republic

West’s lies about developments in Donbass ‘get out of control’ — US journalist

Sarah Bils stressed the importance to tell the truth about the events in Donbass at all costs

Major fire broke out at gas pipeline in eastern Syria

There have been no reports of casualties

Ukraine must pay reparations for destruction caused during conflict in Donbass — senator

Ukraine will have to pay more than 11.8 billion dollars, Alexander Voloshin said

Five die in fire at fireworks production site in Yaroslavl Region

The accident occurred in the village of Kubrinsk when two buildings in the territory of a fireworks production facility caught fire

Japan lifts sanctions on Syrian agencies, oil companies

The decision was made in light of developments surrounding Syria and taking into account bilateral relations between Japan and Syria, the Foreign Ministry said

Death toll from fire at fireworks production site in Yaroslavl Region up to 13

The firefighting effort involved more than 100 rescuers and 40 firefighting vehicles

Foreign actor involved in RAF Fairford incident — Rubio

The US secretary of state qualified the situation as "very serious"

Third Yak-130M aircraft prototype to take to skies in near future

Three prototypes are currently undergoing flight tests

Western assessments of Russian elections hold little importance for CEC — official

Ella Pamfilova stressed that during the election campaign, the Central Election Commission did its utmost to honor the basic principles of openness and transparency of the electoral system

Press review: EU fails to boost Ukraine aid as pro-Western politician takes Serbia's helm

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, September 29th

Ukrainian attacks kill 41, injure 274 civilians in Russia over past week — diplomat

According to Rodion Miroshnik, over the past seven days, the Ukrainian armed forces fired at least 8,033 rounds at civilian targets on Russian territory

Russian artillery destroys Ukrainian drone control posts, troops in Sumy Region

The task was fulfilled by the Battlegroup North

Russian Northern Fleet ships pass through Shokalsky Strait for 1st time in Navy history

The Northern Fleet’s press service reported that while passing through the strait, a training alert was issued on the ships to boost combat readiness for navigating the narrow passage

Russia-US contacts on 'irritants' to take place soon, timing being coordinated — Lavrov

The Russian Foreign Minister said the contact were agreed upon with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio

Gas reserves in European UGS facilities approaching 71%

EU storage facilities hold around 77.6 bln cubic meters of gas, which is 13 bln cubic meters lower than last year’s levels and the lowest volume since 2013

Almost half of Moldova’s lawmakers back Sandu’s impeachment

According to Ion Chicu, leader of the Party of Development and Consolidation of Moldova, the draft resolution has been registered with parliament and should be considered urgently

Russia does not rule out any actions by Germany regarding Russian House — Foreign Ministry

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Dmitry Lyubinsky said that further steps by Germany are to be expected

Russian Defense Ministry considering systematic, long-term cooperation with Mongolia

Deputy Minister Vasily Osmakov made a corresponding statement during a working visit to the country

EU sanctions Russian officials in connection with Yabloko ban

The sanctions include a ban on entry into the EU

IN BRIEF: Russia-Germany ties, anti-Russian policy, spying on embassy, 'creative people'

Germany’s authorities seek to ignore and erase from memory the topic of historic responsibility before the former Soviet Union, Dmitry Lyubinsky stated

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

Russia’s Battlegroup North is tightening the encirclement of Ukrainian troops in the northeast of the Kharkov Region

European Commission rejects Kiev’s request for 220 mln euros in farmer aid — Bloomberg

Agriculture and Food Policy Minister Taras Vysotsky told the news agency that the country will receive the necessary funds through a $250 mln concessional loan from the World Bank

Putin instructed government to buy grain from agricultural producers

The Russian president said he plans to meet supervising deputy prime minister Dmitry Patrushev soon to discuss the issue

Russia preparing document banning diesel exports for one month more

The document is undergoing the approval procedure now, the source said

UN secretary-general meets Iranian foreign minister

Antonio Guterres welcomed the diplomatic efforts undertaken during the High-level Week of the UN General Assembly aimed at bringing the conflict in the Middle East to an end

Russian stock indices decline as main trading session opens on Moscow Exchange

At the opening of the main session at 09:00 a.m. Moscow time, the MOEX and RTS indices both shed 0.43%

No substantive input from Germany at Lavrov's meeting with German counterpart — MFA

Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Dmitry Lyubinsky noted that the meeting between Sergey Lavrov and Johann Wadephul "came about literally at the last minute" at the German side's request

Putin thanks CEC chair for conducting elections at highest level

The Russian leader noted that, regrettably, the election campaign did not pass without casualties among election commission staff

Central Election Commission chairwoman thanks Putin for decisions ensuring safe voting

Ella Pamfilova said that decisions were made and relevant instructions were issued in a timely manner

FSB calls Russians abroad willing to side with Kiev Vlasovites 2.0

The term refers to members of the Russian Liberation Army, which fought on the side of Nazi Germany during World War II