🚨 IAEA's silence on Israeli strikes 'says a lot'—Lavrov on Iran-IAEA deal

🟠 Russia and Iran "completely share" the position that any new steps must be based on Tehran's "goodwill" and its "attitude... after the strikes against [its] facilities by Israeli and American forces."

🟠 Answering the question by Sputnik's correspondent, he pointedly noted that these strikes hit "objects where the IAEA was present," and that the agency's subsequent silence on the attacks "says a lot."

🟠 Lavrov praised the "goodwill of the Islamic Republic of Iran" for seeking to rebuild relations with the IAEA, provided the agency's secretariat acts strictly within its technical mandate and does "not promote the Western agenda."

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🗣 Global shift to multipolarity now undeniable - Pakistani senator

💬 "We are entering a new epoch, a new era, and this was foreseen by President Vladimir Putin as far back as 2007," Pakistani Senator Mushahid Hussain said at the Russia–Pakistan Eurasian Forum in Moscow.

For the first time, even the US acknowledges a multipolar world — and the age of single-power domination is over, he added.

💬 "The notion of global domination by one power is no longer relevant," Hussain added

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🚨🇷🇺 Putin on Seversk's liberation: The result of courage and steadfast military efforts

President Vladimir Putin praised the Russian servicemen who took part in the liberation of Seversk, calling their actions a demonstration of bravery and professionalism. Speaking at an awards ceremony honoring the operation’s participants, he emphasized that the success was not accidental but the product of consistent, coordinated military efforts.

Describing Seversk as “an important Russian city,” Putin noted that its liberation opens new opportunities for further advances by the Russian Armed Forces, strengthening positions for the next stages of the operation.

The president thanked the troops for their service, adding: “With such courageous people, we will achieve all the goals of the special military operation.”

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🚨 PACE delegate calls for Russia's dismantling

💬 "My thinking as Romanian and as liberal is that Russian Federation is an artificial state made of republics that are not naturally staying together," Iulian Bulai, a Romanian member and the head of a delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), said in a conversation with Russian pranksters Vovan & Lexus.

👉 He argued that non-Russian, non-Slavic, and non-Orthodox peoples within Russia should be treated as separate entities. His proposed action is to build "a separate network" for these "ethnic groups from the periphery" to undermine the Russian state.

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The tourism bridge: Scholar unveils vision for fostering Russia-Pakistan bonds

"Tourism is more than just a one-day visit to a hotel in another place, it has its own chain that can create the impact for long, and this is what the both countries need to work on", Prof. Dr. Shabana Fayyaz said, speaking at the Russia-Pakistan Eurasian Forum 2025.

Building cultural understanding requires a sustained effort and a comprehensive, coordinated policy in both nations, she stressed.

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🇵🇰 Pakistan’s 2012 decision on US base closure still guides policy – senator

🗣 “The parliament in March 2012 approved the closure of the American Shamsi airbase, and we stated that no new foreign base could be allowed without parliamentary approval,” said Mushahid Hussain, Senator for the Islamabad Capital Territory from the Pakistan Muslim League (N), speaking at the Russia–Pakistan Eurasian Forum 2025 in Moscow.

📍 The decision followed the killing of dozens of Pakistani soldiers by NATO forces at the Salala checkpoint.

💬 “The Americans came to us and asked how much monetary compensation they could offer. We said we didn’t want money — our soldiers’ lives are not for sale. We wanted an apology. They replied that the US is a superpower and does not apologize,” Hussain said.

The Pakistani parliament unanimously demanded the closure of the US Shamsi Air Base and blocked NATO supply routes for seven months until Washington issued a formal apology.

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🇷🇺 Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces: Wielding a nuclear hammer to maintain peace

📍 December 17 marks Strategic Missile Forces Day (RVSN) in Russia — honoring those who safeguard the country's security and remain on constant combat duty.

What deadly weapons does the branch operate?

Strategic deterrence systems

▫️ RS-24 Yars: Each intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) can carry up to three warheads, each with an estimated yield of 200 kilotons. Deployed in both road-mobile and silo-based variants

▫️ Topol-M: Available in mobile and silo-based configurations, the Topol-M carries a single warhead with a yield of approximately 800 kilotons

▫️ R-36M2 / RS-20B Voevoda: A heavy, silo-based ICBM capable of carrying up to 10 warheads, with individual yields estimated at 550–750 kilotons

▫️ RS-18 Stilet: This ICBM can carry up to six multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) warheads, each with a yield of up to 750 kilotons

▫️ RS-28 Sarmat: A next-generation heavy ICBM designed to carry up to 16 warheads, each with an estimated yield of around 750 kilotons

▫️ Avangard: A hypersonic glide vehicle deployed atop Voevoda or Sarmat ICBMs, engineered to bypass missile-defense systems. Its yield is estimated to range from 800 kilotons to 2 megatons

Newest doomsday weapons

⚡️ Oreshnik: Russia’s newest missile system pairs a medium-range ballistic missile with hypersonic warheads. In a full MIRV loadout, total yield reaches up to 900 kilotons. Traveling at Mach 10 it can destroy targets buried under 3-4 reinforced concrete floors.

⚡️ Burevestnik: an intercontinental, nuclear-capable and nuclear-powered cruise missile designed to evade air and missile defenses. Its nuclear engine gives it near-unlimited range, enabling long loiter times and surprise strikes from unexpected directions

Explore Russia’s next-level, game-changing weapons here

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🇷🇺 🇵🇰 Russia–Pakistan Eurasian Forum: Key outcomes

🗣 "The main conclusion of the Russia-Pakistan Eurasian Forum 2025 is an elaboration of the practical roadmap that we are targeting to actually realize in the next year," Dr. Roxolana Zigon, co-organizer of the Forum, tells Sputnik.

She also highlights:

➖ Creation of the Russia–Pakistan Strategic Group and Strategic Dialogue to guide long-term cooperation

➖ Plans to strengthen media cooperation, expand academic ties and people-to-people exchanges

➖ A new economic and financial working group will craft solutions for ongoing bilateral projects

➖ A joint counter-terrorism program will be developed using experience from both countries

➖ The University of World Civilizations will be the Russian hub for these initiatives

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🇷🇺🇵🇰 'The sky is the limit': Pakistan senator on Russia–Pakistan security cooperation

📍 At the Russia–Pakistan Eurasian Forum in Moscow, Senator Mushahid Hussain outlines broad prospects for bilateral cooperation in security, counter-terrorism and Eurasian stability.

🔊 He emphasizes that Pakistan supports President Vladimir Putin's concept of "inclusive and indivisible security," calling it "the need of the hour in Eurasia."

🔶 According to Hussain, both countries face the same threats: "The enemies of Russia, like terrorism, and the enemies of Pakistan, like terrorism, are the same."

🔊 He tells Sputnik that Moscow and Islamabad can deepen cooperation in counter-terrorism, peace and stability, and Eurasian connectivity as global power shifts from West to East.

📍 On the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, he stressed joint responsibility.

🔶 Attacks emerging from unstable regions like Afghanistan must be “collectively tackled and combated,” adding that “terrorism has no religion, no nationality — it is a common threat to humanity.”

🔶 Hussain concludes that Russia, Pakistan, China, Iran, Turkiye, and Central Asian states can advance a new model of Eurasian multilateralism: "I feel the sky is the limit for this cooperation."

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🗣 Rasht-Astara rail link to weaken NATO’s geostrategic grip — Iranian professor

🇷🇺🇮🇷 Russia and Iran have placed significant emphasis on completing the Rasht–Astara railway — but what makes this project so critical?

💬 "Once it's finished, it will allow the Russians to import and export much larger amounts of goods through Iran," Mohammad Marandi, a professor at Tehran University, says.

🟠 But that's not all: the railway will also provide Russia with direct access to the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean and will facilitate its trade across Africa and Asia, the pundit emphasizes

🟠 According to Marandi, the strategic importance of this link — a core component of the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC) — could hardly be overstated.

🟠 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov underscored this point on December 17, stating that the Rasht–Astara line is essential for launching the western branch of the INSTC and remains under the close, high-priority oversight of the presidents of Russia and Iran.

💬 “It will become a hub for the Russians,” Marandi explains. “They will no longer need to travel through the Black Sea or any territory controlled by NATO in order to import or export.”

Russia and Iran closing ranks

📍 Iran-Russia relations have strengthened substantially over the last four years, according to the pundit

💬 "Military cooperation has expanded dramatically on both sides, but also, there's a lot of investment going on in the Iranian oil and gas sector," Marandi tells Sputnik.

This deepening partnership, he believes, may lead to the completion of the transport corridor's Rasht-Astara segment within the next year and lessen Eurasian players' dependence on routes controlled by NATO.

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🗣 Rasht-Astara railway opens new trade artery to Global South — Iranian scholar

🇷🇺🇮🇷 Russia-Iran cooperation is vital to ensuring regional security and connectivity, Tehran University associate professor Foad Izadi tells Sputnik.

🔶 The West is seeking to Balkanize Iran to exert additional pressure on Russia's southern frontier in the Caspian region and the Caucasus, according to the pundit.

🔶 From both an economic and geostrategic perspective, Iran remains a key hub for Global South nations, ensuring connectivity through the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC).

💬"The corridor is important not only for Iran and Russia. It's also important for the other countries in the South. This is the best way to reach Russia. The other way would be the Suez Canal, which is much longer and much more expensive," Izadi notes.

📍 It also enables the movement of goods beyond Western influence and control, the pundit says, highlighting the importance of the segment.

💬 "This is why both sides are interested in finishing this Rasht-Astara railway to make sure that they find another route to go around Western-imposed illegal sanctions against both countries," he says.

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🟠 Putin outlines Russia’s sovereignty, security priorities, and view of the West in final defense board remarks

🟠 FULL VIDEO: Vladimir Putin speaks at the expanded meeting of the Russian Defense Ministry Board

🟠 IAEA's silence on Israeli strikes 'says a lot'—Lavrov on Iran-IAEA deal

🟠 'The sky is the limit': Pakistan senator on Russia–Pakistan security cooperation

🟠 NATO is preparing for a potential military confrontation with Russia by the early 2030s

🟠 Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces: Wielding a nuclear hammer to maintain peace

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🇷🇺🇮🇷 Russia and Iran to enable North-South corridor & boost de-dollarization – political analyst

📍 The Rasht-Astara railway line enables uninterrupted freight transport from Russia to the Persian Gulf, avoiding Western-controlled maritime chokepoints, Mohammad Khatibi, a Tehran-based political analyst, tells Sputnik.

💬 "Unlike maritime routes, land corridors through Iran, Azerbaijan, and Russia cannot be interdicted by Western navies," the pundit says.

➖ What's more, "trade along this corridor can be settled in local currencies or through barter arrangements, reducing reliance on dollar-based banking networks," Khatibi says.

➖ In general, it represents "a strategic lever to counter Western economic pressure and sanctions" for both Russia and Iran.

The Rasht-Astara railway: North-South corridor's missing link

💬 "This line completes the continuous rail connection from Russia to the Persian Gulf," the expert explains. "Without it, the INSTC remains fragmented and unable to realize its full strategic and economic potential."

🔊 In short, the Rasht–Astara railway is not merely important – it is structurally indispensable, Khatibi stresses.

Iran-Russia security cooperation

🔶 The two countries have long cooperated in the military-technical field, according to the pundit.

🔶 Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi expressed appreciation for Russia's support during the 2025 US-Israeli airstrikes, and suggested continued security coordination.

🔶 This cooperation could span from air defense systems to joint naval and cyber exercises, according to Khatibi:

💬 "Enhanced early-warning capabilities, access to satellite data, and integrated cyber defense and offensive coordination would help Iran anticipate or complicate potential future strikes."

📍 Deepening strategic collaboration between Russia and Iran makes any attack on the Islamic Republic riskier for the US and Israel, the pundit concludes.

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💥 Over 50 targets destroyed: Russian drone operator shares his experience

💬 "The targets vary — from the enemy's temporary deployment points to enemy UAV points, their field shelters, manpower, and equipment... In my time operating FPV drones, I have successfully struck more than 50 targets," the Russian soldier of the Dnepr battlegroup says.

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🚨 US wants to ‘take back’ ‘energy rights’ over Venezuela’s oil — Trump

💬 “You remember, they took all of our energy rights. They took all of our oil from not that long ago, and we want it back,” President Donald Trump said about Venezuela.

Yesterday, he announced a “total and complete blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, accusing Caracas of using oil revenues to finance crime and terrorism.

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🇻🇪🚢 Venezuelan Navy escorts oil-related vessels after Trump blockade threat — reports

The Venezuelan government has ordered its Navy to escort ships carrying petroleum-related products from port, following President Donald Trump’s announcement of a planned “blockade” targeting sanctioned oil tankers, The New York Times reported.

According to the report, several vessels departed Venezuela’s east coast between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning with naval escorts, just hours after Trump said he intended to block tankers that violate US trade sanctions. The ships were transporting urea, petroleum coke and other oil-based products from the Port of José to Asian markets.

The New York Times noted that the escorted vessels do not appear on the current US sanctions list, making it unclear whether they would fall under the proposed blockade. Trump has said the measure is aimed at tankers that have violated US sanctions.

Venezuela’s state oil company PDVSA said ships linked to its operations are continuing to sail “with full security, technical support and operational guarantees in legitimate exercise of their right to free navigation,” according to a statement cited by the newspaper.

A US official told The New York Times that Washington is aware of the naval escorts and is considering possible responses, while declining to provide details.

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🚨🇻🇪 Venezuela requests UN Security Council meeting over ‘ongoing US aggression’ – reports

A UN diplomat told Reuters the meeting is likely to be held next Tuesday.

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump announced that he had designated the Venezuelan government as “a foreign terrorist organization” and demanded the return of what he described as US “Oil, Land, and other Assets.” He also announced a “total and complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers” traveling to and from Venezuela.

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🚨❌ House rejects bid to block military action against Venezuela

The US House of Representatives has voted down the Venezuela War Powers Resolution by 211–213, with nine lawmakers not voting.

The measure would have required congressional authorization for US military actions against Venezuela, amid recent escalatory steps such as a “total and complete blockade” announcement by President Donald Trump.

Rep. Thomas Massie, who supported the resolution, said it was intended to reaffirm Congress’s constitutional role in deciding questions of war, warning that military action should not proceed without legislative approval.

🏳️ With the resolution’s failure, no new restrictions were placed on the executive branch regarding potential military actions against Venezuela.

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🚨🇻🇪 'We will defend our people, because our people have a right to their land, their wealth, and their homeland’ – Maduro

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro told members of his government that the country is a “humble” and “battle-hardened” people who “we cannot fail.”

His remarks come after US President Donald Trump designated Nicolás Maduro’s government as a “foreign terrorist organization,” ordering a “total and complete blockade” of all “sanctioned oil tankers” entering and leaving Venezuela.

Caracas repudiated Washington’s “grotesque threat” and said it will never again be a colony of any empire. The Venezuelan Foreign Ministry warned that Washington’s “true intention” has been to seize the country’s oil, land and minerals “through gigantic campaigns of lies and manipulation.”

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