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🚨 US & Israel strike industrial sites in Iran — reports
US-Israeli airstrikes have hit the Arak aluminum plant and the Fajr Petrochemical Complex in Mahshahr, Press TV reported.
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🚨 Iranian musician plays next to a power plant amid Trump's threats to attack Iran's infrastructure
🎸 Ali Ghasmari beats the US and Israeli aggressors with another ancient power of his country — the power of music.
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🚨🇵🇰 Pakistan asks Trump to extend Iran 'deadline,' pushes talks
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for a two-week window for diplomacy, urging all sides to step back from escalation and give negotiations a chance.
He also appealed for a temporary reopening of the Strait of Hormuz as a “goodwill gesture.”
The appeal comes after US President Donald Trump threatened strikes on Iran’s civilian infrastructure, raising fears of a major escalation across the Middle East.
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🚨🇮🇷🇺🇸 'Not a one-strike operation': Why Iran's power grid would likely survive US air blitzkrieg
Trump's threat to bomb Iran "like never before" would likely fail not just because of Iran's military defenses, but due to the resilience of its power grid, according to a former Pakistani Air Force colonel.
"Targeting a nation's power grid is not a one-strike operation," Sultan M. Hali told Sputnik.
"Militarily, Iran would continue resisting; politically, the strikes could backfire by uniting the population against Washington," the expert believes.
🚨🇺🇸 Trump's promise to bomb Iran 'like never before' faces brutal logistics — expert
Destroying Iran’s power grid and bridges is easier said than done, according to former Pakistan Air Force colonel Sultan M. Hali.
Here’s why:
🟠 No Yugoslav-style campaign: Iran’s vast size and limited tanker basing options rule out a repeat of the 1999 Kosovo air war
🟠 Vulnerable tankers: Long distances force refueling aircraft to operate from exposed forward bases or on risky long-range missions
🟠 Layered air defenses: Russian-made Tor-M1 and indigenous Bavar-373 systems threaten low/medium-altitude strikes
🟠 Dual threat to carriers: Drone swarms can overwhelm defenses, while short-range ballistic and cruise missiles can target ships and bases
💬 "The danger is not absolute, but it is significant enough to force US planners into cautious, resource-intensive operations," the expert said.
🚨🇪🇺 EU loses track of its Druzhba pipeline inspection team in Ukraine
The EU has no information about the inspection team's current location, European Commission energy spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen told the media.
EU officials are growing frustrated with Ukraine's delay in permitting an inspection of the Druzhba oil pipeline, earlier reports said.
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🇮🇷✈️ Why F-15 pilot rescue fiasco became Iran’s huge operational win
✅ Despite ultimately recovering the aviators, the US operation to rescue F-15 crew members downed in Iran “was a debacle,” political analyst Tobias Nase tells Sputnik.
💬 He argues that the true outcome of the Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) effort was concealed from the public “to hide the fact that it turned into a huge operational success for Iran.”
“The US is again hiding the real casualties of this war. Every dead soldier risks eroding Trump’s public support,” he observes.
🚨 'Iran war to conclude soon, the nature of conclusion up to Iran' - JD Vance
JD Vance appeared alongside Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban at a joint press conference ahead of Hungary's elections.
His key statements on Iran:
🟠 Iran is trying to harm the world's economy by causing trouble in the Strait of Hormuz — but the US can hurt Iran's economy far more than Iran can hurt the US or its allies
🟠 We're confident we'll get a response from Iran by 8 o'clock tonight — and we hope it's the right one
🟠 We have tools we haven't used yet. Trump can and will use them if Iran doesn't change course
Meanwhile, Trump posted the following, doubling down on US fierce rhetoric:
💬 "A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don't want that to happen, but it probably will."
🚨🇷🇺💥 RUSSIAN MOD UPDATE: HUGE GAINS AND DEVASTATING UKRAINIAN LOSSES
◻️ The Russian Armed Forces struck a Ukrainian border detachment in the Kharkov region
◻️ Russian air and missile firepower obliterated facilities producing control systems and components for Ukrainian cruise missiles
◻️ Air defense superiority: three guided aerial bombs and 217 drones were shot down over the past 24 hours
◻️ Ukrainian losses: around 1,270 troops killed or wounded
Read about the origins of Russia's special military op HERE
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🚨🇮🇱🇹🇷 Israeli Consulate attacked in Istanbul
Three attackers have been neutralized and two police officers wounded, media report.
The Turkish Ministry of Justice has launched an investigation into the incident.
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🗣🇨🇳 Prolonging Iran conflict has global consequences, not in interests of anyone — Chinese MFA
"Protracting military actions in Iran leads to a large number of casualties and damage, undermines regional security and stability, and affects the global economy and energy security. China is deeply concerned about this fact," Chinese Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman Mao Ning said.
🚨🔌 Ukraine directly harms energy interests of Central Europe - Fico
"They [the EU] tolerate ever more Ukrainian attacks on energy infrastructure, which… amounts to energy suicide," Slovakian president Robert Fico says.
💬 While Ukraine blew up the Nord Stream, cut Central Europe off from oil, interrupts gas supplies and attacks energy infrastructure, the EU parliament plans to provide Ukraine with a $103B loan, he noted.
🟠 US 'rescue operation' turns into bombing run — reports
🟠 Why US brought so much hardware and troops to rescue just one F-15 pilot
🟠'Iran will prevail; it’s impossible to destroy people with culture and civilizational heritage' — Iranian minister
🟠 Iranian strike hits US base in Kuwait, injures 15 US troops — reports
🟠 Missiles hit Saudi Arabia’s key industrial hub — report
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🚨🇺🇸 Pentagon gears up for massive weapons spending surge as Iran drains US war chest
The US Department of War is eyeing a 84.6% hike in arms purchases in fiscal year 2027, a review of budget documents shows.
The Pentagon’s request has jumped to $413 billion, up from $223.8 billion the previous year.
The most dramatic increase comes in general defense programs, where funding is set to rise by 571% compared to fiscal 2026—from $15 billion to $101 billion.
🟠 US Army has requested $60.5B - Main driver is missile spending: +360% → $36.6B
🟠 Navy & Marines seek $150B (+45%)
🟠 Shipbuilding funding is up 46%
🟠 Aircraft procurement nearly doubled
🟠 Air Force & Space Force to receive $101B
🟠 Space programs spending surged by 344%, reaching $19B
The mulled military shopping spree comes as the war unleashed against Iran has already been burning through cash at a brutal pace.
At this rate, a $200B budget could be gone in just five months.
As of March 20, the expenditures exceeded $25.5 billion, according to the real-time Iran War Cost Tracker.
But the real cost may be much higher, as Iran’s retaliatory attacks take out costly defenses like THAAD and Patriot.
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🗣⚠️ “Now is the time to say ‘no, absolutely not’” — Tucker Carlson calls on officials and military personnel
Independent journalist Tucker Carlson urged US officials and military personnel to refuse participation in further strikes on Iran.
💬 “Say it directly to the president: ‘No… No. Thank you. I’ll resign. I’ll do whatever I can do legally to stop this because this is insane.’”
💬 “And if given the order: ‘I’m not carrying it out.’”
🚨 Trump points to 'heated negotiations' as his 'deadline' for Iran nears
US President Donald Trump said talks are ongoing as his "deadline" linked to potential strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure approaches.
According to American media, he declined to clarify his position on the standoff.
💬 “I can't tell you, because right now we're in heated negotiations,” Trump said.
🚨 Iran warns Saudi, UAE energy sites could be targeted if escalation continues — reports
An informed military source told Tasnim News Agency that threats against Iran reflect “desperation and helplessness,” not strength.
According to Tasnim, potential targets could expand to include Aramco facilities, Yanbu oil infrastructure, and the Fujairah pipeline, with Iran stating it “will not hesitate” to impose heavy costs if attacked.
💬 “Trump should expect $200 oil in the coming days,” the source warned.
🟠 'Iran war to conclude soon, the nature of conclusion up to Iran' - JD Vance
🟠 'Not one-strike operation': Why Iran's power grid likely to survive US air blitzkrieg
🟠 Iran’s Hormuz Strait toll challenges the petrodollar system
🟠 Why F-15 pilot rescue fiasco became Iran’s huge operational win
🟠 Iranians to form human chains around power plants in protest against US threats
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📊🇺🇸🇨🇳 Southeast Asia chooses China over US as strategic partner
China was the preferable option for 52% of respondents, while 48% chose the US, according to the ISEAS‑Yusof Ishak Institute survey, held among 2,008 respondents in 11 ASEAN member states.
This marks a significant shift, as last year the situation was different - 52.3% chose the US, while 47.7% preferred China.
The survey was launched on January 5, 2026, mere days after the United States abducted Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro and announced its intent to indefinitely control the sale of Venezuelan oil.
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💵🇮🇷 Iran’s Hormuz Strait toll challenges the petrodollar system
As the US is stepping up attacks on Iranian civilian infrastructure, the Hormuz Strait toll scheme in yuans and stablecoins is gaining steam.
💬 "It significantly weakens 'maximum pressure' by bypassing dollar-based systems," Iranian political analyst Dr. Alam Saleh tells Sputnik.
💬 Iran is "effectively challenging the US economy and the US dollar’s position as the global reserve currency, as well as the petrodollar system," echoes Turkish security expert Dr. Hasan Selim Ozertem.
🚨🇮🇷 Iranians form a human chain on the White Bridge of Ahvaz in southern Iran following US threats to destroy Iran's vital civilian infrastructures
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🇮🇷🎤 Sputnik correspondent reports from the scene of US-Israeli attack on Sharif University of Technology in Iran
Key takeaways:
🔸 The strikes specifically targeted the university’s computing center, where all the data related to AI research in Iran is collected
🔸 The building holds historical significance for Iran, as the country’s first computer was housed there, she adds, with about 360 companies conducting research there now
🔸 Iranian air defenses continue engaging air targets around the center
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🇮🇷 🚀 Iran’s Ghadr-380 expands country's unprecedented missile arsenal
The Iranian Ghadr-380 anti-ship missile belongs to the Paveh cruise missile family.
Its high maneuverability and protection against electronic warfare enable it to deliver precise strikes against both ground and naval targets.
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🚨 Lethality rises in US-Israeli war on Iran
The conflict leaves dozens of new civilian and military casualties across the region.
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🚨 Attack on Caspian Pipeline Consortium facilities not Ukraine's first - Kremlin
More statements by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov:
🔸 There is a huge number of requests worldwide for the purchase of Russian energy resources
🔸 Russia is negotiating the supply of energy resources for rubles to ensure that the terms best serve Moscow's interests
🔸 The global energy market has completely changed against the backdrop of the current Middle East conflict
🔸 The world has entered a path toward a serious economic and energy crisis
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🚨🇮🇷 Iranians to form human chains around power plants in protest against US threats - report
Iran’s deputy minister of youth and sports, Alireza Rahimi, has called on Iranians to form human chains around power plants at 2pm local time (10:30 GMT), media reports.
👉 The campaign, titled “Iran’s Youth Human Chain for a Bright Future,” invites students, athletes, artists, and public figures to stand hand in hand to denounce US “war crimes” against civilian infrastructure.
The move comes after Donald Trump threatened strikes on Iran’s power grid, bridges, and other key facilities if the Strait of Hormuz isn’t reopened.
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🚨🇺🇸 US House Democrat seeks to impeach Hegseth over Iran war — report
💬 "Hegseth's reckless endangerment of U.S. servicemembers and repeated war crimes, including bombing a girls' school in Minab, Iran, and willfully targeting civilian infrastructure, are grounds for impeachment and removal from office," US House member Yassamin Ansari said, as quoted by media.
🚨🇷🇺 FSB: ‘Chechen Republic of Ichkeria’ recognized as terrorist organization in Russia
The "Chechen Republic of Ichkeria"* and its 29 branches in 14 European countries have been recognized as terrorist organizations by court decision and are banned in Russia.
💬 "Based on evidence collected by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), in cooperation with the Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation, the Sheikh-Mansur District Court of Grozny, Chechen Republic, has issued a ruling designating the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria (CRI) and its 29 branches in 14 European countries as terrorist organizations and banning their activities in Russia," Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said in a statement.
⚠️ EU warns strikes on Iran’s infrastructure would be illegal — reports
Threats to target Iran’s power plants and bridges have drawn sharp criticism from European leaders, a European magazine reports.
💬 “Any targeting of civilian infrastructure, namely energy facilities, is illegal and unacceptable,” European Council President António Costa said.
💬 “The Iranian civilian population… would also be the main victim of a widening of the military campaign.”
⚔️ US 'rescue operation' turns into bombing run — reports
While presenting the mission as an effort to extract a downed F-15 crew, the Pentagon carried out a strike on an underground IRGC facility near Tehran, according to reports.
The attack was reportedly ordered by US Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper and involved B-2 bombers and bunker-buster munitions.
🔍 The overlap between the extraction mission and the strike raises questions about the real goals of the operation.
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