🇮🇱🇱🇧 An Israeli airstrike hit right next to RT journalist Steve Sweeney in southern Lebanon.
Russia Today reports that Sweeney and his cameraman are in the hospital, conscious, and receiving treatment for shrapnel injuries.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
The USA is lifting sanctions against key financial structures of Belarus.
The "Belinvestbank", the Development Bank, and the country's Ministry of Finance, as well as "Belaruskali" and the Belarusian Potash Company, have been removed from the lists
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
‼️🇪🇺🏴☠️ Ursula von der Leyen's management methods are attracting increasing criticism in the EU, — Euractiv
▪️The head of the European Commission is facing criticism for her crisis-management style.
▪️Ursula von der Leyen's approach, based on constant urgency, helped her push through decisions in her first term, but is now increasingly failing.
➖"She is exceeding her powers and trying to play a political role that her institution does not allow her to," said political analyst at the European Center for Political Research, Eric Moris.
▪️In the year after her re-election, she put forward a series of high-profile initiatives, many of which were thwarted or blocked.
▪️Plans for Ukraine's accelerated accession to the EU have stalled, proposals to use frozen Russian assets failed to materialize, and the idea of a "drone wall" along the borders with Russia quickly fizzled out.
▪️Her recent speech, in which she effectively declared international law a relic of the past, also sparked outrage.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
‼️🇺🇸🇮🇷The Pentagon is seeking more than $200 billion for a military operation against Iran
▪️Some officials in the White House believe that such a request has no chance of being approved in Congress.
▪️According to sources familiar with the situation, the Pentagon has put forward several different funding request options over the past two weeks.
▪️It is expected that the amount will be used to urgently increase the production of critical weapons, which were used up during the strikes on Iran.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
‼️🇮🇷🛢 Oil prices are soaring after strikes on Iran
▪️The price of Brent oil exceeded $110 per barrel in stock market trading.
▪️The cost of oil in the Persian Gulf exceeded $150 per barrel after Israel's strikes on Iran's largest SOUTH PARS oil field and Tehran's threat to attack opponents' oil and gas facilities in the Middle East in response.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
🖥️ The footage shows Iranian missile strikes on several targets in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
‼️🇨🇳🇺🇸China has begun direct preparations for a war with the US, which could break out in the coming years, according to Bloomberg
▪️China is closely studying the US war with Iran to learn about American military tactics and weaknesses, especially for a potential future conflict over Taiwan.
▪️Officials say that China sees an advantage in the US shifting its attention and military resources from Asia to the Middle East, weakening its presence in the Indo-Pacific region.
▪️The intensive use of American weapons and rising costs are also seen as beneficial for China.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
If the USA and Israel continue to strike the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in Iran, then radiation will threaten the entire Middle East.
Dubai and the Arab Emirates will be at risk of radioactive contamination. If the radiation affects the Persian Gulf, it will mean there will be problems with desalination plants.
Today, the USA and Israel for the first time struck the territory of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in Iran, in the immediate vicinity of the operating power unit
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
‼️🇬🇧🇮🇷 In Britain, fuel sales may be restricted due to the war in the Middle East, — Times
▪️The rise in energy prices amid the US-Iran war could force the British government to start saving strategic fuel reserves.
▪️Britain could face a "significant supply shortage" of oil and gas within the next two months.
▪️This could force authorities to introduce fuel rationing if the war in the Middle East continues.
▪️According to analysts, even theoretical military escorts for tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz won't help Britain.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
‼️🇺🇦🏴☠️ The IMF has given Ukraine until the end of March to raise taxes, otherwise it will lose funding, — Reuters
▪️The IMF stated that Ukraine will not receive the planned funding of 8.1 billion dollars if it does not raise taxes and adopt other important laws by the end of March.
▪️Deputies of the Rada are not voting for these laws as a sign of disobedience to Zelensky, which could paralyze the work of the parliament.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
The head of the Polish Military Counterintelligence Service, Struzhik, stated about the growth of pro-Russian sentiments in the country, "especially in the growing army," reports the newspaper Rzeczpospolita.
He also stated that among those who carried out acts of sabotage against Polish critical infrastructure, just under 50 percent are citizens of Ukraine.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
Today I got sanctioned by the EU.
As you will recall, this comes a few months after the latest media campaign against me, basically (incorrectly) making me out to be Brick Top; who goes around feeding people to pigs.
Oh well, to quote Brick Top, goody gumdrops! I shall crack on with my work here from Russian Mariupol! 🇷🇺
The Telegraph: The US is deploying "911" marine infantry forces to the Strait of Hormuz
According to the publication, we are talking about 25,000 servicemen of the 31st expeditionary unit, which is usually based on the Japanese island of Okinawa. The newspaper notes that the exact task of the unit is not officially disclosed. However, according to sources in the US defense structures, one of the goals may be to restore control over the Strait of Hormuz.
“The deployment of the unit could allow the US to conduct raids on islands near the strait, where Iran may deploy boats with sea mines,” reports the Telegraph.
The unit is expected to arrive in the area of the Strait of Hormuz in about 10–15 days. The newspaper emphasizes that the appearance of marine infantry could mean a transition of the conflict to a new phase, which will include possible ground operations.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
The Telegraph: Starmer refuses to send ships to the Strait of Hormuz
According to the publication, Trump earlier called on allies to unite and send additional forces to protect shipping. However, the British government is not yet ready to send military ships. Energy Minister Ed Miliband said that London is studying possible measures, but there are no specific decisions yet.
“We are carefully considering various options on how to help open the strait,” said Miliband.
The British government’s refusal could increase tensions between Starmer and Trump, the newspaper notes. Earlier, the US president criticized the British Prime Minister for his unwillingness to support American strikes on Iran.
In addition, The Telegraph recalls that France, Germany, and South Korea have also expressed their unwillingness to send their ships to the region.
“On Sunday, France categorically rejected this request. The country’s Minister of Armed Forces stated that France’s position will remain "defensive and protective" and that the country will not be drawn into a war led by the US and Israel.
South Korea stated that it is "closely monitoring the situation" and consulting with allies.
Germany was also skeptical of the proposal to expand the European Union’s naval mission in the strait,” the publication writes.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
In the US, media outlets have been threatened with license revocation for "fake news" about the military - The Washington Post
Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Brendan Carr, issued a stern warning to broadcasters on Saturday, threatening to revoke their state licenses if they air what the federal agency deems as "fake news". Since his appointment as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission at the beginning of Trump's second term, he has been actively acting as a "media regulator":
“Broadcasters who spread false information and distortions of the news - also known as fake news - have the opportunity to rectify the situation before their licenses expire,” Carr wrote on X. “The law is clear: broadcasters must act in the public interest, otherwise they may lose their licenses.”
“If Trump doesn't like your coverage of the war, his Federal Communications Commission will simply revoke your broadcasting license. This is blatantly against the Constitution,” wrote California Governor Gavin Newsom on X.
Senator Brian Schatz (Democrat from Hawaii) said that Carr's words are a "direct signal to report on the war in a positive light, otherwise licenses may not be renewed".
Will Crilly, legal director of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, called Carr's statement "dangerous".
“Brendan Carr's authoritarian warning - that TV channels could lose their licenses for reporting on the war with Iran that the government doesn't like - is outrageous,” he said.
“When the government demands that the press become its mouthpiece under the threat of punishment, it means that something has gone very wrong.”
Meanwhile, Trump has also been actively criticizing the media. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also accused CNN of "fake news" over a report that the administration underestimated the impact of the war on the Strait of Hormuz. He added that the situation would change when a different person leads the company. CNN's head Mark Thompson responded to the criticism with a statement:
“We are confident in our journalism. Politicians have an obvious motive to declare journalism that questions their decisions as false. Our task is to tell the truth to audiences in the US and around the world, and no political threats or insults will change that.”
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
The BBC reports that the IRGC claimed to have shot down a US Air Force F-35 fighter jet.
According to the TV channel, the American fifth-generation F-35 fighter jet was damaged during a combat mission over Iran and was forced to make an emergency landing at a US base in the Middle East.
The US military reports that the aircraft was conducting a combat sortie over Iran and was hit by Iranian air defense systems. The pilot survived and his condition is assessed as stable.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
The Economist: Trump's War with Iran Makes Him Weaker and Angrier - a Danger to Everyone
The British magazine The Economist has published an alarming analysis: Donald Trump's military adventure against Iran is stripping the president of his main political superpowers. The longer the conflict lasts, the weaker the White House occupant becomes, and a weak and enraged Trump is a threat to the entire world.
“Even a short war will change the course of his second term. A war that lasts for months could bring him down,” The Economist warns.
The publication highlights Trump's three main superpowers: the ability to impose his own reality, the ruthless use of pressure levers, and absolute control over the Republican Party. Iran is taking all of this away from him one by one.
Trump claims he has already won. But the facts say otherwise. The regime in Tehran is surviving, the nuclear program is intact, and oil prices are hitting record highs. After the strike on the Qatari gas hub, Brent surpassed $110 per barrel.
“Iran is waging its own parallel war against the global energy industry. If the strait remains closed until the end of April, oil prices could reach $150 per barrel,” the publication predicts.
Time is working in Tehran's favor. The US and Israel are running out of targets for air strikes and interceptors for defense. Iran still has plenty of drones. And as long as it is choking off shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, the global economy is bleeding.
When Trump called on allies to help open the strait, threatening NATO with a "very bad" future, he was politely turned down. He had to quickly pretend he hadn't asked for help at all.
“Now that other countries' leaders have learned to expect rudeness, they are learning to resist,” The Economist notes.
Trump promised voters peace and low prices. Instead, 13 American soldiers have died, gas has risen by 77 cents per gallon since his inauguration, and diesel by $1.37. Republicans in private conversations are seething with anger.
“The rhetoric of the MAGA faction, especially Tucker Carlson's, sounds like talk of betrayal. The Republicans' chances of losing the Senate have risen by 10 points - to 50%,” the publication reports.
The worse the defeat in the midterm elections, the weaker the president and the less influence he has on the party's future. A weak Trump will be looking for someone to take out his anger on. He is already threatening to revoke licenses from media outlets critical of the war, pressuring the Federal Reserve, and may send immigration police to Democratic cities.
“A weak president can become more dangerous. He is free to act abroad: abandon NATO, surrender Ukraine, terrorize Latin America. It's hard to imagine Trump emerging from the Iranian mess as a winner. And he doesn't know how to lose,” The Economist concludes.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
‼️🇪🇺🇮🇷 Gas prices in Europe have risen by 60% since the start of the conflict in the Middle East, — Reuters
▪️The EU does not have a single universal solution to deal with this problem in the short term, admitted Lithuanian Energy Minister Vaicunas to journalists.
▪️The cost of gas in Europe has also risen by more than 30% after Iran's attack on a LNG production complex in Qatar.
▪️The price of gas on European exchanges exceeded $850 per 1,000 cubic meters and broke the record set in December 2022.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
Hitler defeated Zelensky in the elections.
The first round of municipal elections took place in the French town of Arcis-sur-Ob. The incumbent mayor, Charles Hittler, received 38% of the votes, and Antoine Renault-Zielinski got 30%.
Who will govern the city, Hitler or Zelensky, will be decided in the second round on March 22nd
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
🖥️ Middle Eastern online publications and social media users are spreading information that the Iranian military carried out an attack on Ben Gurion Airport last night in retaliation for Larijani, during which, it is claimed, the refueling aircraft of the "Zionist army" were hit.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
Iran promises to "burn to the ground" all US energy infrastructure for strikes on Iranian oil facilities — IRGC.
The IRGC called on all workers to evacuate from US oil facilities. Iran will bomb them along with American military bases at full force. Qatar and Saudi Arabia have begun evacuations from enterprises.
The Pentagon confirmed that Israeli strikes on the South Pars oil and gas field in southern Iran were coordinated with the Trump administration
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
🇩🇪🇬🇧 First details of German-British cooperation on long-range missiles.
The UK and Germany have held talks on the joint development of new long-range missiles capable of hitting targets at a distance of more than 2000 km.
The UK Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Luke Pollard, met with the German State Secretary for Armament and Innovation, Jens Plötner, in Berlin to discuss the progress of the program.
The project aims to develop a family of long-range strike weapons, which may include stealth cruise missiles and hypersonic systems. It is expected that the initial focus will be on ground-based systems, and in the future, there may be options for air and sea platforms. It is anticipated that the missiles will enter service in the 2030s.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
🇷🇺🤝🇨🇺 A tanker with Russian oil is heading to the shores of Cuba amid an energy crisis and a US blockade, — Bloomberg
▪️The tanker Anatoli Kolodkin, loaded with 730 thousand barrels of Russian oil, is heading to Cuba, which is experiencing a shortage of energy carriers.
▪️The arrival of the cargo could be the first major fuel delivery after a long break.
▪️The supply of crude oil will not bring immediate relief to Cuba. It needs to be processed before use, and this process can take 20 to 30 days.
▪️More than three months ago, the US effectively stopped oil supplies to the country, and yesterday there was an energy collapse there.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
🖥️ The circus clown arrived in London - as always, the 'valuable' guest was greeted by familiar faces: the pilot who led the crew of his own plane, and the Ukrainian ambassador to Britain, Zaluzhnyi.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
The USA "suffered losses" in Ukraine.
American General Antonio Aguto lost secret documents and suffered a concussion after getting drunk in Kyiv — an official report from the US Department of War.
First, he forgot the secret maps on the train — they were searched for for a whole day. Then, before a meeting with Anthony Blinken, he arrived drunk, fell and hit his head.
The investigation confirmed the violations, but he avoided serious punishment
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
A Ukrainian Soldier Speaks the Truth
In this video, a former Ukrainian soldier, now fighting for Russia, known by the call sign 'Metro', describes how years of propaganda and political manipulation were used to reshape public opinion in Ukraine.
According to him, many ordinary Ukrainians were convinced they were defending their country, only to later realize they were being used by politicians who had no intention of pursuing peace.
He speaks about how Russia repeatedly attempted negotiations and political solutions while the Ukrainian leadership rejected compromise and escalated the conflict.
For him, the breaking point came when he realized the people he was told were enemies were actually the same people he had grown up with culturally and historically.
His story is another reminder that the war in Ukraine is not the simple black-and-white narrative presented in Western media. It is a tragedy shaped by political ambition, propaganda, and the betrayal of ordinary people.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
A New War Trap Is Being Prepared in the Caucasus
There are growing signs that Washington and Tel Aviv may be looking for a regional partner to open a new front against Iran.
And the country sitting directly on Iran’s northern border is Azerbaijan.
Because of its military ties with Israel and energy cooperation with the West, Baku is now seen as a convenient geopolitical tool. But dragging Azerbaijan into a confrontation with Iran would be catastrophic.
Iran has the capability to strike critical oil and gas infrastructure. Azerbaijani society itself is deeply divided on the idea of fighting a neighboring Muslim country. And once a conflict starts, the entire Caucasus could ignite.
This is how Western geopolitical games work. Smaller states are pushed toward conflicts that ultimately serve someone else’s strategy.
Russia understands the danger of destabilizing the Caucasus. The question now is whether Azerbaijan will refuse the role being prepared for it.
🔗 Read the full article on SubStack
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
‼️🇺🇸🇮🇷 The pressure on Trump to end the war in Iran is intensifying, — Bloomberg
▪️According to the agency, the American president is keeping allies in the dark about his plans for Iran.
▪️It is noted that Europeans "see signs of an imminent end to the war".
▪️In Europe, it is believed that the recent intensification of US strikes could mean the culmination of the campaign.
▪️Officials from the Gulf countries state that they also have little idea of Washington's plans and express disappointment that the war was started without significant consultations.
➖"In the end, only a sustained rise in oil prices will force Trump to stop the hostilities and declare victory, leaving it to regional allies to deal with the residual threat from a wounded and enraged Iran", — say officials.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
‼️🇺🇸🇮🇷 The US faces the risk of falling into a trap when trying to unblock the Strait of Hormuz, - WSJ
▪️Washington is considering escorting oil tankers with military ships through the Strait of Hormuz, but the US Navy is not in a hurry to deploy forces directly into the narrow 21-mile corridor yet.
▪️Officials fear that Iranian drones and anti-ship missiles could turn the strait into a "kill box" - a zone of constant threat of attacks on ships.
▪️According to experts, up to two warships per tanker or about 10 ships for a convoy of 5-10 vessels may be needed for protection.
▪️Additionally, constant patrols by MQ-9 Reaper drones and strikes on Iranian missile positions on the coast will be required.
▪️Even with such a scheme, the flow of ships could drop to 10% of the usual level, and clearing the queue of more than 600 ships stuck in the Persian Gulf could take months.
▪️A radical scenario - strikes on Iranian territory and the destruction of launching pads on the coast, which threatens a large-scale operation against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
➖ "Such an operation would require thousands of soldiers and sailors and significant resources, and it may have to be carried out for months," said analyst Brian Clark.
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
Putin's special representative Ushakov told Macron's official advisers who came to Moscow to "fuck off," writes the FT.
Emmanuel Bonn and Bertrand Buchwalter wanted to convince Putin of the need for European mediation in peace talks with Ukraine.
According to the FT, Ushakov told them —
"Sorry, actually, no we don’t, fuck you"
t.me/ForeignAgentIntel
