🔍 US intel admits Iran's government is not collapsing — report

Despite nearly two weeks of relentless bombing and the killing of Supreme Leader Khamenei, US intelligence say the regime is "not in danger," sources told Reuters.

Israeli officials also acknowledged there's no certainty the war will bring down the clerical government.

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🚨 🇷🇺 US and other nations start to acknowledge Russia’s key role in global energy stability - Dmitriev

Russian special presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev visited the US, where he held a meeting with the leaders of the working group on economic cooperation between Russia and the US.

The parties discussed both promising projects that could contribute to the restoration of Russian-American relations and the current crisis situation in global energy markets.

💬 "Today, many countries, primarily the US, are beginning to better understand the key, foundational role of Russian oil and gas in ensuring the stability of the global economy, as well as the inefficiency and destructive nature of sanctions against Russia," he wrote on Telegram.

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🗣 Iran does not recognize Israel as a party to talks — Diplomat

Iran does not need mediators with Israel because it does not consider it a party to negotiations, Iranian Ambassador to Moscow Kazem Jalali told Sputnik.

"In the recent series of events, Iran has responded on the battlefield and is not seeking mediation," he added.

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🚨 UNSC resolution urges Iran to stop strikes on Gulf states as Russia calls document unbalanced

The resolution, passed by 13 votes with two abstentions from Russia and China, does not mention US and Israeli attacks on Iran, and instead demands the immediate cessation of all strikes by Tehran against Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Jordan.

📄 The document also condemns any actions or threats by Iran aimed at closing, obstructing, or interfering with international navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

🔊 Iran's Permanent Representative to the UN Amir Saeid Iravani criticized the resolution, noting that "some [UN Security] Council members are attempting to reverse the roles and positions of victim and aggressor." He added that Iran does not recognize the document.

Russian Envoy to the UN Vassily Nebenzia for his part slammed the resolution as a “highly unbalanced” document that “does not serve the aim to maintain international peace and order.”

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🇪🇺 📉 Europe’s ammunition stocks could run out in days – Rheinmetall CEO

💬 “The greatest need is for ammunition. Almost no one in Europe has enough ammunition. In a crisis, the stockpiles would be exhausted within a few days,” Rheinmetall chief executive Armin Papperger told Neue Zurcher Zeitung.

The CEO of Germany’s largest arms manufacturer warned that “if Germany were attacked tomorrow, we would probably end up like Ukraine.”

Papperger also pointed to Europe’s “high demand for armored vehicles,” arguing that “a potential NATO conflict with Russia would look very different” from the current conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

👉 Paranoia of a “Russian threat” shows no sign of abating in Western countries despite Russia repeatedly making it clear that it is not going to attack NATO. Vladimir Putin stressed that the West’s fearmongering about the supposed Russian threat aims to distract Western countries’ populations from the real problems they face at home.

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🇺🇸🇮🇱⚔️ 🇮🇷US–Israel war against Iran: Latest updates

🔸 The UN Security Council has passed an anti-Iran resolution.

🔸 Iran's Ambassador: Our response to the actions of the US and Israel is lawful and proportional.

🔸 The IRGC announced the 40th wave of Operation True Promise 4.

🔸 Trump believes the US has nearly destroyed Iran during the operation.

🔸 7 dead and 21 wounded in an attack on the White Sands area in Beirut, according to Lebanon's Ministry of Health.

🔸 Israel’s railway system has been crippled due to a cyberattack.

🔸 Russian Envoy to the UN Vassily Nebenzia called the UNSC vote on the Russian resolution for resolving the Middle East conflict a disgrace and a theater of absurdity.

🔸 A building in Kuwait, housing US military personnel, was attacked.

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🪖🇮🇷🇮🇱 Iran launches strikes on Israel's Palmachim and Uvda air force bases, Shin Bet security service HQ - Iranian military

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🚨 Ukraine attacked Russkaya compressor station at night - MoD

The facility is located in the Russian Krasnodar region, it ensures gas supplies via the TurkStream.

Ten Ukrainian aircraft-type strike drones were destroyed.

No damage was reported to the station, according to the Ministry of Defense.

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🚨 Ukraine’s attempt to hinder the peace process finds support in European countries – Kremlin

Other statements by Dmitry Peskov:

🟠 European capitals show no desire to facilitate the search for ways to peacefully resolve the conflict in Ukraine

🟠 Russia continues its special military operation and at the same time remains open to finding paths to a peaceful settlement in Ukraine

🟠 Ukraine’s attempts to attack the Russkaya compressor station are absolutely reckless

🟠 Kirill Dmitriev is returning to Russia today and will brief Putin on his negotiations in the US

🟠 It is too early to speak of effective cooperation between Russia and the US in the energy sector, but the topic is certainly being discussed

🟠 Interaction between Russia and the US, including in energy markets, could become an important factor in stabilizing the situation in these markets

🟠 Russia expects that the North-South transport corridor project will be implemented; a great deal has already been accomplished.

🟠 Russia, Iran, and a group of regional states are still interested in the North-South corridor project

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🚨🇮🇷 Newly-appointed Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei 'injured but fine'

💬 "I don't know when [Mojtaba Khamenei] will give his first speech. There were three or four names for the leadership, but the majority of the Assembly of Experts chose him, in accordance with the Constitution. This shows that our system isn't governed by one man," Iranian FM spokesman Esmail Baghaei told the Italian newspaper Corriere Della Serra.

Earlier, Iran’s Ambassador to Cyprus Alireza Salarian said Mojtaba Khamenei had been hurt in the February 28 strike, The Guardian reported.

The attack occurred on the first day of US-led airstrikes against Iran, when the sprawling presidential complex in Tehran was targeted.

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🚨🇷🇺💥 RUSSIAN MOD UPDATE: HUGE GAINS AND DEVASTATING UKRAINIAN LOSSES

🟠 Russian air and missile firepower obliterated energy infrastructure supporting the Kiev regime’s forces

🟠 Air defense superiority: 447 UAVs were shot down by Russian air defense systems over the past 24 hours

🟠 Ukrainian losses: around 1,325 troops killed or wounded

Read about the origins of Russia's special military op HERE

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🔥 🇷🇺 They launched drones. They don't anymore

Russia’s Geran teams eliminate Ukraine army’s UAV operator base and depot.

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🗣 🇮🇷 Iran’s Supreme Leader: ‘All US bases should be closed, we will continue to attack them’

Highlights of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei’s first message:

🟠 The lever of blocking the Strait of Hormuz must continue to be used

🟠 The Islamic Republic does not seek domination or colonial influence in the region. We remain fully prepared for unity and warm, mutual relations with all neighboring countries.

🟠 However, we will obtain compensation from the enemy by any means necessary. If they refuse, we will seize their assets to the extent we deem appropriate. Should that not be possible, we will destroy an equivalent amount of their property.

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🚨Hezbollah strikes back: Israel's Iron Dome overwhelmed

Hezbollah has delivered a powerful message with massive rocket barrages that reportedly penetrated Israel's vaunted Iron Dome defenses, with only about half of ~100 projectiles intercepted in a single day (per NY Post citing IDF sources).

Was it a one-off lapse, or the beginning of a new Hezbollah tactic?

📉 Why did the Iron Dome fail?

"Unlike in 2024—when Israel provided maximum dense coverage for the northern regions—now Israel has dispersed a significant portion of these anti-aircraft systems across various parts of the country to protect against Iranian drone attacks and the like. As a result, the defensive density in the north is generally weaker," Yury Lyamin, veteran Russian military observer tells Sputnik.

Much of Israel's air force is committed to operations on the Iranian front, leaving fewer resources for the Lebanese theater, he adds.

📊 Can IDF budget sustain current war?

Regarding the Tamir interceptor missiles, they are produced by Israel's Rafael in collaboration with the American corporation RTX, with much of the manufacturing based in the United States, explains Lyamin.

"At the end of last year, an additional new facility was opened in Arkansas for producing Tamir interceptors, and their production is largely funded through US military aid to Israel."

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🇵🇰🇸🇦🇮🇷 EXPLAINED: Pakistani backchannel diplomacy between Saudi Arabia and Iran

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is visiting Saudi Arabia amid the US-Iran war.

His visit is part of a larger mediation effort to prevent direct hostilities between Saudi Arabia and Iran, Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies director Abdullah Khan told Sputnik.

💬 "Through backchannel efforts, Islamabad is urging Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies not to fall into Israel's trap of joining a military campaign against Iran, while convincing Iran that expanding the conflict would be counterproductive for Tehran itself," Khan said.

Pakistani leaders including the prime minister and military chiefs have engaged in shuttle diplomacy, maintaining constant contact with Iran and Saudi Arabia to de-escalate tensions, he added.

Pakistan is also part of the behind-the-scenes efforts to broker a ceasefire between the US and Iran, the expert stresses.

Khan said other issues likely to be on the agenda:

🟠 Security: the Pakistani priority is to limit the conflict and urge Iran to show restraint. But if Saudi Arabia asks, Islamabad would back defensive operations from Saudi territory and airspace against Iranian aggression—providing whatever is needed including troops and equipment already deployed there. Pakistan would avoid using its own soil for attacks on Iran, maintaining a defensive posture rather than joining the offensive

🟠 Oil Supplies: With Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz, Pakistan—which imports over 80% of its oil—faces serious problems, including rising fuel costs and potential shortages. The visit prioritizes energy security, with discussions focused on securing stable supplies amid the crisis

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🚨 🇮🇹 Meloni on Iran: ‘Italy is not participating and doesn’t intend to participate in this conflict’

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🗣 🇷🇺 UN resolution on Iran 'unbalanced' and ignores US/Israeli strikes - Russian MFA spox

💬 “Its Bahraini authors refused to accept a single Russian or Chinese proposal to amend their unbalanced text," Zakharova added. 

The adopted resolution also failed to mention US and Israeli strikes and called for an immediate halt to all Iranian strikes on the Arab nations.

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