By Matthew Blackburn 

Long-range strikes won’t deter Putin

Ukraine’s quest for permission to launch long-range strikes on Russian territory seemed to have been resolved in October when, after hearing Zelensky’s “Victory Plan,” the Biden administration decided not to give the green light. Now, with the dust settled on Trump’s resounding presidential victory, Biden’s reversal of this position last Sunday was an unexpected escalation. It moved reporting from how the new administration would approach peace talks to sensational images of rockets and more war. To mark the one-thousandth day of the war, Ukraine fired Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMs) into the Bryansk Oblast. Russia has responded by officially promulgating its new nuclear doctrine, underlining starkly its willingness to go “all the way” if necessary. Now, it is unclear if we stand on the brink of World War III or if, once again, it is all just another flash in the pan of informational warfare.

By Mehdi Soltani

Will Russia distance from Iran with the Trump win?

MOSCOW - Iranian political experts have quickly projected that a Trump victory in the presidential elections could lead to renewed U.S.-Russia relations due to Trump and Putin's reportedly friendly ties. Some in Iran worry that this shift might undermine the strategic partnership between Iran and Russia, which has been strengthened over the past three years.

Putin congratulates Trump, says 'ready' to engage in dialogue

Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Donald Trump on his election victory, saying he is ready to engage with the incoming U.S. president, according to npr.org.

Putin endorses proposal for signing strategic partnership with Iran

TEHRAN- President Vladimir Putin of Russia has approved a proposal from the Iranian Foreign Ministry to establish a strategic partnership agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Putin meets Iran’s security chief in St. Petersburg

TEHRAN – Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks on Thursday with Iran’s Supreme National Security Council secretary Ali Akbar Ahmadian in St. Petersburg, the venue of the meeting of BRICS’s top security officials.

America was the real loser in the presidential debate

Democrats are panicking over President Joe Biden's debate performance against Donald Trump on Thursday evening. And there’s no doubt that he showed signs of senility at times during the verbal joust. But that doesn’t mean he ceded all prospects of defeating Trump come November. Perhaps the panic isn’t altogether justified by what happened on that debate stage.

‘Old friend’ Putin and China’s Xi strengthen strategic ties at summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, have signed a joint statement on deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership between their two nations at a summit that framed their relationship as a stabilizing force in a chaotic world.

Raisi sends message of condolence to Putin over deadly terrorist attack near Moscow

TEHRAN – Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Saturday sent a message of condolence to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin denouncing a deadly terrorist attack on a concert hall outside Moscow on Friday night, which has left at least 133 dead and more than 100 injured.

Ukraine map shows French troop locations in potential intervention: Newsweek

French President Emmanuel Macron's push to deploy troops to Ukraine could yet prove the first domino of an official NATO military presence in the war-torn country, even while Russia's grinding frontline assaults and nationwide bombing campaign continue.

Putin and Raisi to sign new interstate treaty soon: Russia

MOSCOW - Russia's foreign ministry said on Wednesday that it expected President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart to soon sign a new interstate treaty between the two countries which was in the final stages of being agreed, Reuters reported.

Raisi arrives in Moscow for talks with Putin  

TEHRAN - Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi arrived in Moscow on Thursday for an official meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Putin, Raisi discuss cooperation on regional and international affairs

TEHRAN – President Vladimir Putin of Russia and President Ebrahim Raisi of Iran have discussed cooperation on regional and international affairs in a phone call, the Kremlin press service said in a statement on Thursday.

By Ali Karbalaei

BRICS on standby for new world order

TEHRAN - The new emerging global markets are to kick off their annual summit, and many countries are keen to join.

By Martin Love

Ruminations about the changes underway…

Any American voice may not count for much in most of Asia and especially in West Asia and that is quite understandable. Anyone in Iran or now in Iran’s neighboring Arab countries have an unquestionable right to question Americans and the government in Washington for countless misdeeds over the last 30 years around divide and conquer policies and actions that have created rampant chaos and misery that never, ever should have been meted out by Washington and its allies wherever.

Damascus wants Iran to be involved in political initiatives in Syria

TEHRAN – Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad said on Sunday that it is necessary that Iran play a role in “any political initiative” in his country as he lauded Tehran’s constructive role in fighting terrorism in Syria and helping settle the crisis in the Arab country.

Putin envoy says Moscow ready to mediate between Iran, S. Arabia

TEHRAN – Russian Vladimir Putin Special Envoy for the Middle East and North Africa has said Moscow is ready to mediate between Iran and Saudi Arabia to resolve their disputes, IRNA reported on Tuesday.

Putin says work on major new Russia-Iran strategic treaty is nearly completed

Co-op among US-sanctioned states make them stronger, Raisi tells Putin

TEHRAN – Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Thursday told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that the cooperation among countries sanctioned by the United States will make them “stronger”.

Russian leader says happy Iran joining SCO

Putin meets Raisi, say ‘our positions are close’ 

TEHRAN - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday met his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, and expressed his happiness about Tehran joining the eight-member bloc.

Sanctions have made Iran and Russia allies: commentary

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has turned the country into a heavily-ostracized state and opened new opportunities for Iran to build closer relations with the major global power.

Western parties have asked Iran to play role in Ukraine crisis: FM

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian has said that some Western parties have reached out to Iran asking it to play an active role in the Ukraine war.

‘Ceasefire in Yemen actually owes a lot to the Iranian-Saudi dialogue’

Not all Arabs want to line up against Iran: Johns Hopkins University professor

TEHRAN - A professor of Johns Hopkins University says all Arab states don’t like to align against Iran as the U.S. wishes.

Syrian FM on way to Tehran as Iran is set to host summit on Syria: report

TEHRAN – Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad to visit Iran on Tuesday as Tehran is set to host a conference Syria on the same day with the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan within the Astana format, the Russian news agency Sputnik reported.

Russia’s Putin to meet Ayatollah Khamenei in Tehran: ambassador

TEHRAN - Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet with Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, Leader of the Islamic Revolution, during his visit to Tehran later this week, the Russian ambassador to Iran has said.