🗣 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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💣 US forces launch another strike on boat, killing four

The US Southern Command said it carried out a new strike on a vessel it described as "operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization" in international waters in the Eastern Pacific.

The command claimed the four men killed were involved in “narco-trafficking" and were "transiting along a known narco-trafficking route."

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🚨💰 Trump announces ‘warrior dividend’ payments for US service members

US President Donald Trump said more than 1.45 million active-duty military personnel will receive a one-time payment of $1,776 before Christmas.

Trump said the payment — which he described as a “warrior dividend” — was approved alongside what he called a recently passed major spending bill. He added that the amount was chosen in reference to the year 1776, marking the founding of the United States.

💬 “The checks are already on the way,” Trump said.

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🚨💵 'I've secured a record-breaking $18 trillion of investment into the United States' - Trump

Speaking during his address to the nation, President Donald Trump said the investments would translate into “jobs, wage increases, growth, factory openings, and far greater national security.” He attributed much of the inflow to his economic policies, including tariffs.

Trump also said that wages are now rising faster than inflation and that all jobs created since he took office have been in the private sector, contrasting the current situation with economic trends under the previous administration.

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📹 ‘I’ve settled 8 wars in 10 months’ – Trump

Speaking during his address to the nation, President Donald Trump said he “ended the war in Gaza,” which he described as “bringing for the first time in 3,000 years peace to the Middle East.”

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📹💰 Trump calls tariffs his 'favorite word'

US President Donald Trump said tariffs have played a key role in recent economic gains, describing them as his “favorite word.”

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💰 US State Department approves possible arms sales to Taiwan worth over $11B – DSCA

The combined estimated value of multiple US arms, equipment, and services packages cleared for possible sale to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO) totals about $11.1 billion, according to the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).

The packages include HIMARS systems ($4.05B), self-propelled howitzers ($4.03B), ALTIUS-700M/600 UAV systems ($1.1B), Javelin systems ($375M), TOW systems ($353M), support for Harpoon missiles ($91.4M), AH-1W helicopter parts ($96M), and Tactical Mission Network software/equipment/services ($1.01B).

⚠️ China has repeatedly stressed that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory and has consistently opposed US arms sales to the island, warning such actions violate the one-China principle and contribute to regional destabilization.

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🇻🇪🇺🇳 Maduro raises US 'direct threat' to Venezuela with UN chief

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has raised a “direct threat” from the United States in a conversation with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, following recent remarks by President Donald Trump in which he said Venezuela’s oil belonged to Washington.

According to a statement released by Venezuela’s Foreign Ministry, Maduro stressed that such comments “must be categorically rejected by the United Nations system, as they constitute a direct threat to sovereignty, international law and peace.”

Maduro also denounced political, economic and diplomatic pressure against Venezuela, and called the US seizure of a vessel carrying Venezuelan oil “a diplomacy of barbarism.”

Guterres, for his part, expressed solidarity with Venezuela and “highlighted the need to avoid any escalation or confrontation,” Caracas said. He also committed to follow the situation, which Venezuela said would be addressed at the UN Security Council with an emphasis on de-escalation and diplomacy.

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🔥FSB thwarts terrorist attack planned by Ukraine

The terror attack in Volgodonsk, in south Russia's Rostov Region, was foiled after security forces detained a female student suicide bomber half an hour before she was to hand over a backpack with a bomb to an official inside the city administration building, Russia’s FSB said.

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

🔸 House rejects bid to block military action against Venezuela

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

🔸 Venezuela requests UN Security Council meeting over ‘ongoing US aggression’ – reports

🔸 US State Department approves possible arms sales to Taiwan worth over $11B – DSCA

🔸 Venezuelan Navy escorts oil-related vessels after Trump blockade threat — reports

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

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