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Russia said on Friday that Israeli strikes on Iran were unprovoked and in breach of the United Nations charter, accusing Israel of wrecking diplomatic efforts to strike a deal to allay Western concerns about Tehran's nuclear programme. -snip- "Russia is concerned and condemns the sharp escalation in tensions between Israel and Iran," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state media. President Vladimir Putin was getting real-time reports on the situation from Russia's SVR foreign intelligence service and the foreign and defence ministries, Peskov said. In a detailed statement drawn up at Putin's behest, the Foreign Ministry fiercely condemned Israel and blamed...

An ally of Russian president Vladimir Putin has said that "a full-scale war" in the Middle East is possible following Israel's airstrikes on Iran. -snip- Konstantin Kosachev, vice-speaker of Russia's upper house of parliament, made clear that Russia would stand by its ally, Iran. "Israel's actions cannot be justified from a legal, political, military or moral point of view. The only hope, albeit illusory, of avoiding a full-scale war is a consolidated condemnation of this operation by the international community," he said, according to Russia's official TASS news agency. "We can and must hope for another demonstration of restraint from...

President Trump on Friday called on Iran to go back to the negotiating table and cut a nuclear deal "before there is nothing left" after Israel attacked its nuclear sites. -snip- The Trump administration wants to use the war Israel started to get the Iranians back to the nuclear talks when they are in a weaker position. A U.S. official said White House envoy Steve Witkoff still wants to meet Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday for the planned sixth round of the nuclear talks. But the Iranians said they are not going to participate. -snip- "I gave Iran...

The Trump administration confirms that US special envoy to the Mideast Steve Witkoff will travel to Muscat on Sunday for the sixth round of nuclear talks with Iran. Talks will be both direct and indirect, as in previous rounds, says a statement to reporters attributed to a source familiar.

Iran on Thursday repudiated a declaration from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that it's not complying with its nuclear obligations, and said it would enhance aspects of its nuclear program in response. -snip- The IAEA board of governors approved a resolution proposed by the U.S., U.K., France and Germany to condemn Iran for not providing clarity about its undeclared nuclear sites and material. 19 countries on the 35-member voted in favor. Russia, China and Burkina Faso opposed the resolution, and the others abstained or didn't vote. -snip- The Iranians announced that in response, they would launch a new Uranium...

Iran will rebuild its nuclear facilities if they are destroyed, the country’s President Masoud Pezeshkian says, according to state media. “It is not the case that if they destroy our facilities with bombs, everything will be lost — these capabilities exist in our minds, and therefore, whatever they do, we will rebuild again,” Pezeshkian says.

Responding to reports that the sixth round of nuclear talks between the US and Iran will likely be postponed, a source familiar with the matter tells The Times of Israel that the timing of the meeting was never confirmed and that remains the case.

Hostages expected to be released in the first phase are those who fall under the humanitarian category, such as women, children, elderly or wounded. Hamas confirmed on Sunday that 28-year-old Emily Damari, 23-year-old Romi Gonen, and 31-year-old Doron Steinbrecher would be released on the first day of phase one of the hostage-ceasefire deal. The deal will see 33 hostages released in the first phase in exchange for the release of security prisoners, humanitarian aid, and an IDF withdrawal from some areas in Gaza. Israel will release 30 Palestinian detainees for every civilian hostage and 50 Palestinian detainees for every Israeli...

Russia and Iran have signed a partnership treaty involving closer military cooperation, three days before the return of US President-elect Donald Trump to the White House. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian met in Moscow on Friday to sign the deal, which covers everything from trade to science. The two countries, both of which are targeted by ongoing Western sanctions, have grown closer in recent years. Russia is accused by Kyiv and the West of using Iranian-made drones in its war with Ukraine, which Moscow and Tehran have denied. Putin hailed the “comprehensive strategic partnership treaty”...

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will hold talks in Russia on Jan. 17 after which they will sign a long-awaited comprehensive strategic partnership pact, the Kremlin said on Monday. -snip- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in October that Moscow and Tehran intended to sign the strategic partnership pact which would include closer defense cooperation.

The world must return to a policy of "maximum pressure" against Iran to turn it into a more democratic country, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's incoming Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg told an Iranian opposition event in Paris on Saturday. Trump has vowed to return to the policy he pursued in his previous term that sought to wreck Iran's economy to force the country to negotiate a deal on its nuclear programme, ballistic missile programme and regional activities. "These pressures are not just kinetic, just not military force, but they must be economic and diplomatic as well", Retired Lieutenant-General Kellogg, who is...