Russia, China, Iran hold joint naval drills in Gulf of Oman
The exercises, named Maritime Security Belt 2025, were held near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route through which a fifth of the world’s traded crude oil passes.
Iran
Russia, China, Iran to hold joint naval drills in Gulf of Oman
The exercises are aimed at deepening "the mutual trust and pragmatic cooperation between the participating countries' armies," the Chinese Defense Ministry said.
Russia agrees to help US in negotiations with Iran over nuclear program, Bloomberg reports
Donald Trump voiced his interest in negotiations with Iran to Vladimir Putin during their phone call in February.
Zelensky warns of Russia’s growing alliance with Iran, North Korea
In an interview with the Associated Press on Feb. 2, Zelensky added that while these countries had previously cooperated on weapons and technology, they are now openly engaged in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Trump needs to 'understand where the threat is,' UK lawmaker says
U.S. President Donald Trump needs to "understand where the threat is" and not "force Ukraine into a bad deal," U.K. lawmaker Iain Duncan Smith told the Kyiv Independent. In an interview in Kyiv alongside another U.K. lawmaker Layla Moran on Jan. 22, Duncan Smith urged Trump not
Syria bans goods from Russia, Iran, Israel
Syria's new administration has banned all Russian, Iranian, and Israeli goods from entering the country in a new decree issued by the country's Minister of Finance on Jan. 17.
Ukraine war latest: Russia, Iran sign strategic partnership deal; Ukraine strikes Russian S-400 radar equipment
Key developments on Jan. 17: * Putin, Pezeshkian sign strategic Russia-Iran partnership agreement in Moscow * Ukraine strikes Russian S-400 radar equipment in Belgorod Oblast, military claims * Biden administration secretly funded Ukraine's drone industry, NYT reports * US assured Putin no nuclear weapons in Ukraine, Biden says * There's no evidence that Australian fighter
Putin, Pezeshkian sign strategic Russia-Iran partnership agreement in Moscow
Iran has provided Russia with thousands of Shahed drones used in attacks against Ukrainian cities, as well as short-range ballistic missiles.
Partners, not allies: What to expect from Russia-Iran agreement set to be signed on Jan. 17
For Moscow, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's visit to Russia on Jan. 17 is a diplomatic victory. The trip's centerpiece will be the finalization of a long-heralded partnership deal between Russia and Iran, signed by Pezeshkian and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin. The agreement is the latest chapter in
Russia, Iran to sign strategic partnership agreement on Jan. 17
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, will sign a strategic partnership agreement during the latter's official visit to Russia on Jan. 17.
US sanctions Russian, Iranian groups for election disinformation campaigns
"The governments of Iran and Russia have targeted our election processes and institutions and sought to divide the American people through targeted disinformation campaigns," said the U.S. Treasury Department's acting undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence.
Iranian President Pezeshkian plans to visit Moscow in January
Masoud Pezeshkian is expected to sign an agreement on cooperation between Tehran and Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Jan. 17.
Deals over ideals — Anne Applebaum explains the playbook of autocracies in new book, and how to undermine them
Autocratic regimes like Russia are becoming increasingly bold in their efforts to undermine the principles and norms that came to define the democratic world order in the aftermath of World War II. A month after the start of the full-scale war against Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov even declared
Russian military suppliers exploit loophole to source US microchips
Russian distributors allegedly integrated Texas Instruments' online store into their trading platforms, enabling customers in Russia to access semiconductor inventories and prices, and place orders.
'A more dangerous Russia' — UK armed forces chief issues stark 'third nuclear age' warning
The world faces the dawn of a "third nuclear age," the head of the U.K.'s armed forces Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said on Dec. 4.
Fall of Aleppo deals blow to Russia's Middle East clout, may indirectly strengthen Ukraine's hand
The shock capture of Aleppo by Syrian forces opposed to Bashar al-Assad in recent days has dealt a humiliating blow to the regime and its backers, Russia and Iran, analysts have told the Kyiv Independent. The surprise offensive has also indirectly helped Ukraine, analysts say. "This is really quite the
Rutte tells Trump 'bad peace' in Ukraine could embolden US rivals
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has told U.S. President-elect Donald Trump that Washington would face a "dire threat" from China, Iran, and North Korea if Ukraine is forced to accept an unfavorable peace deal, the Financial Times reported on Dec. 2.
Opinion: Russia is leveraging gold and working with China to bypass Western sanctions
Since the West imposed unprecedented economic pressure on Russia following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the country’s trade practices have undergone a dramatic transformation, with Russian international trade increasingly occurring in the shadows. Access to the goods it needs now depends on constant scheming. Given that Russia operates under
Better late than never: Israeli companies finally reach out to Ukraine to help fight Iranian drones
Editor’s note: This article was originally published in the Israeli investigative outlet Shomrim. The Kyiv Independent is republishing it with permission. After Israeli officials earlier ignored Ukrainian warnings and offers to help counter the threat of Iranian drones, the tides appear to be turning as Israel faces increased drone
EU widens sanctions on Iran for supporting Russia's war
The expanded sanctions focus on vessels and ports involved in transporting Iranian-made unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), missiles, and related technologies and components.
Iran denies claims its UN envoy met with Elon Musk
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi on Nov. 16 dismissed reports about a meeting between Tehran's United Nations envoy and U.S. billionaire Elon Musk, who is also a close adviser to President-elect Donald Trump.
EU preparing additional sanctions against Iran over missile shipments to Russia
The European Union is preparing to implement additional sanctions against Iranian individuals and entities involved in propping up Russia's war machine, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reported on Nov. 15, citing a top EU official.
Chinese oil refinery buys West African crude instead of Russian, Iranian, Bloomberg reports
Private Chinese oil refinery Landbridge Petrochemical Co. has made a rare purchase of a shipment of West African oil instead of typical import from sanctioned Iran and Russia, Bloomberg reported on Nov. 14.
Ukraine breaks air service agreement with Iran
Since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine's airspace has been closed to all flights due to the risk of Russian attacks. Once air service is restored, flights with Iran will not be resumed.
Ukraine may have targeted Iranian weapon supply routes in Dagestan strike, media suggests
Although the precise consequences of the Ukrainian attack are difficult to establish, the recent strike is still "significant in several ways," the War Zone's experts said.
‘Trump wants to do everything he can to help Putin,’ McCain Institute head says
Evelyn Farkas, head of the McCain Institute — a U.S.-based think tank named after the late Republican Senator John McCain — fears the return of Donald Trump as president of the U.S. would be the worst-case scenario for Ukraine. The best-case scenario for Ukraine would be a full sweep
Russia to launch 2 Iranian satellites on Nov. 5, Iran's ambassador says
Russia will launch two Iranian satellites, Kowsar and Hodhod, into orbit on Nov. 5 using a Soyuz launcher, Iranian Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali said on Nov. 4.
Anti-money laundering watchdog refuses to blacklist Russia as Moscow cozies up to Iran, North Korea
After days of discussions, the world’s leading anti-money laundering watchdog, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), opted last week not to blacklist Russia despite efforts from Kyiv to sway members to do so over the Kremlin’s increasingly closer ties with blacklisted North Korea and Iran. The FATF, which
Russia’s war economy could be boosted by Middle East conflict, experts say
Saudi Arabia’s planned oil production hike may not break Russia’s petro-export-fueled economy, but escalations between Israel and Iran could be a gold rush for Moscow. Since late 2022, the OPEC oil cartel, of which Russia is a member, has withheld oil production and exports to prevent a surplus
North Korean soldiers are reportedly in Ukraine — here's what we know
Editor's note: This article has been updated to include President Volodymyr Zelensky's Oct. 14 statements regarding North Korea. President Volodymyr Zelensky on Oct. 14 said that Russia plans to involve North Korea directly in the full-scale war against Ukraine over the coming months. Russia's plans for the fall and winter
EU sanctions Iran over missile shipments to Russia
The EU's sanctions list newly includes individuals and entities responsible for the development and transfer of drones and missiles to Russia.
Iran delivers satellites to Russia for rocket launch, media reports
Iran has delivered two domestically manufactured satellites to Russia for an upcoming launch, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Oct. 12. This marks the latest instance of space collaboration between the two nations, both of which are under U.S. sanctions.
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