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Ukraine to push for resumption of US military, intelligence support at Saudi talks: FT

By
IFP Media Wire
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Russia Ukraine War

Ukrainian and U.S. delegations are set to meet in Jeddah on March 11 to discuss a potential peace agreement with Russia and negotiations on a critical minerals deal.

As part of its strategy, Kyiv is reportedly prepared to propose a partial ceasefire covering long-range drone and missile strikes, as well as hostilities in the Black Sea, in hopes that progress in talks will prompt Washington to lift its freeze on military and intelligence support.

Following President Volodymyr Zelensky’s heated meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Feb. 28, Washington suspended all military aid to Ukraine, worth billions.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe has confirmed that the U.S. had also halted intelligence sharing, potentially limiting Ukraine’s ability to detect Russian missile strikes and carry out long-range attacks.

Two European officials told the FT that Ukraine views making progress in ceasefire talks as a necessary step to regaining U.S. support.

A U.S. official told Reuters that the Jeddah meeting will serve as a test of Ukraine’s willingness to make concessions to Russia in pursuit of a peace accord.

Trump has told reporters that he expects Ukraine to sign the critical minerals deal with the U.S. but also wants to see signals that Kyiv is prepared for peace.

Zelensky and European leaders have repeatedly emphasized that security guarantees, including long-term U.S. support, must accompany any ceasefire agreement. Washington has not offered such assurances.

Following his Oval Office meeting with Trump, Zelensky struck a conciliatory tone, reaffirming Ukraine’s commitment to working with the U.S. toward a peace agreement.

Trump has privately made it clear to his aides that he will not resume providing military aid and intelligence to Ukraine even if Kyiv and Washington sign a minerals deal, NBC News has reported, citing an unnamed Trump administration official and another American official.

Trump wants to see a change in Zelensky’s stance toward peace talks with Russia and a willingness to make concessions such as giving up occupied territories to Russia, the sources told NBC News.

The U.S. president also reportedly wants Zelensky to make some steps toward elections in Ukraine and possibly step down.

It comes as Politico reported that Trump’s team has been leading secret talks with former Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko and another opposition leader, Yuliia Tymoshenko. The two opposition leaders reportedly tried to position themselves as more flexible partners for the U.S. than Zelensky.

Interior ministry outlines regulations for Afghan nationals staying in Iran

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Afghanistan refugees in Iran

Nader Yarahmad told ISNA that the first group includes individuals where one spouse holds a temporaey passport while the other has a census registration document.

The second category consists of families where one spouse has a temporary passport while the partner and children possess census registration documents.

The official added that the third group comprises individuals with expired passports and visas. These individuals must pay a fine to law enforcement authorities and obtain a short-term exit visa before reapplying for legal re-entry into Iran.

Yarahmad said: “The fourth category includes those who have a valid job identification card or work permit. These individuals must secure legal residency within a designated period to continue working in Iran.”

The official added that the fifth group consists of former government officials, military personnel, or civil servants from the previous Afghan administration.

He said: “The sixth category includes Afghan nationals holding census registration documents. They must leave Iran, obtain a valid passport, and return legally to regulate their stay.”

He also stressed that from April 2025, unauthorized foreign nationals will no longer be eligible for healthcare, real estate transactions, or other essential services in Iran.

Elon Musk says Ukrainian front line ‘would collapse’ if Starlink is turned off

By
IFP Media Wire
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Starlink internet terminals have played a crucial role in securing communications in the war in Ukraine. Last year, Ukraine said that approximately 42,000 terminals were in operation across the military, hospitals, businesses, and aid organizations.

The U.S. has threatened to cut off Ukraine’s access to Starlink if Kyiv doesn’t agree to a critical minerals deal, Reuters wrote in late February, citing sources. Musk denied these reports back then.

The planned signing of the agreement was disrupted after a clash between U.S. President Donald Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office. In early March, Washington halted U.S. military aid and intelligence sharing for Ukraine in an attempt to push Kyiv to peace talks with Moscow.

In a post on X, Musk, a close ally of Trump, proposed to impose sanctions “on the top 10 Ukrainian oligarchs, especially the ones with mansions in Monaco.” This was in reaction to a post by Republican Senator Mike Lee, who called for cutting funding for Ukraine.

One social media user wrote that Musk ignores the fact that Russia is an aggressor and Ukraine is a victim in the all-out war.

“I literally challenged (Russian President Vladimir) Putin to one on one physical combat over Ukraine, and my Starlink system is the backbone of the Ukrainian army. Their entire front line would collapse if I turned it off,” Musk replied.

Musk described Russia’s full-scale war as “years of slaughter in a stalemate,” adding that Ukraine would “inevitably lose.”

“Anyone who really cares, really thinks, and really understands, wants the meat grinder to stop. Peace now!” he wrote.

As concerns about Starlink’s availability escalated, Ukrainian officials said the country was working on alternatives to the U.S. service. French satellite operator Eutelsat Communications is in talks with the European Union to possibly replace Starlink in Ukraine.

Musk, who Trump has tasked with eliminating “fraud” and “waste” from the government budget, has called for shutting down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), an organization that provides vital humanitarian aid to Ukraine. He has also amplified Russian disinformation and mocked Zelensky for calling Ukraine an independent country.

2 Gazans killed, several injured by Israeli military fire despite ceasefire

By
IFP Media Wire
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Gaza War

Eyewitnesses said Israeli forces stationed along Gaza’s eastern border fired a shell at a Palestinian crowd in the Sujaiya neighborhood in Gaza City.

Two people were killed and several others injured in the attack, a medical source stated.

Israeli troops also opened fire in the Al-Sanati area, east of Abasan al-Kabira in the southern city of Khan Younis, witnesses said.

No information was yet available about injuries.

The attacks were the latest Israeli violations of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement that took hold in Gaza on Jan. 19, halting Israel’s brutal war, which has killed over 48,400 Palestinians, most of them women and children, and left the enclave in ruins.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its military campaign.

Tehran-Van passenger train resumes operation after five-year hiatus

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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The train, initially launched in July 2019 as part of a bilateral effort to boost regional cooperation and tourism, was halted shortly after its inauguration. Following recent agreements between Iran and Turkey, the service has now been restored, with the first train departing on Sunday.

According to Nasser Bakhtiari, CEO of Iran’s Raja Rail Transportation Company, the Tehran-Van train will operate twice a week, departing Tehran on Sundays and Wednesdays and returning from Van on Mondays and Thursdays.

The journey, which includes customs clearance at Razi (Iran) and Kapiköy (Turkey) border stations, takes approximately 22 hours each way.

The four-star “Sareer” train used for this route has a four-bed compartment system and a passenger capacity of 280 people per trip.

Bakhtiari emphasized that passengers must adhere to the regulations of both countries, which have been previously announced, to avoid any issues during their journey.

Iran’s first air taxi becomes operational

By
IFP Media Wire
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In this flight, a small Piper aircraft belonging to the Iranian airline Atlas, transported passengers from Karaj to the city of Qazvin, located 140 kilometers from Tehran.

Air taxis are considered a system of air transportation that uses small aircraft and commercial jets to move passengers on short to medium routes, especially in metropolitan areas and congested regions.

In Iran, air taxi services were operational long ago, but due to a lack of infrastructure development, they gradually faded away.

The Iranian airline Atlas offers innovative services in Iran’s aviation industry with a fleet of 10 air taxis, accommodating between 2 to 35 passengers.

US vetoes G7 proposal to establish task force on Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’: Bloomberg

By
IFP Media Wire
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The move aligns with the Donald Trump administration’s efforts to soften its stance on Russia in international institutions as well as in joint statements.

Trump, who has called on both Russia and Ukraine to make concessions to end the war, has repeated Kremlin narratives ahead of formalized peace negotiations.

The shadow fleet refers to aging and largely uninsured oil tankers that Russia uses to transport oil above the $60 per barrel price cap that the EU, the U.S., and G7 countries imposed in December 2022 as part of the effort to cut Moscow’s fossil fuels revenue.

In recent months, shadow fleet vessels have been suspected of sabotage operations in the Baltic Sea, causing major damage to undersea cables.

In addition to vetoing the task force, the United States has sought to ease rhetoric used towards Russia, pushing, in a joint G7 draft statement, to remove the word “sanctions,” as well as citing Russia’s “ability to maintain its war” in Ukraine by replacing it with “earn revenue,” Bloomberg reported.

The final joint statement has not been finalized ahead of next week’s G7 meeting in Canada and is subject to change.

The wording in the G7 statement aligns with previous moves by the U.S. at international institutions. On Feb. 24, the day of the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the U.S. voted against a resolution at the UN General Assembly condemning Russia’s full-scale invasion, with 93 countries voting in favor and 18 against.

The General Assembly later passed a separate U.S. resolution marking the third anniversary of the invasion. That resolution also received 93 votes in favor but avoided directly calling Russia the aggressor.

A few days later, the United States abstained from signing a statement by members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) condemning Russian aggression on Feb. 26, breaking from its Western allies.

US ends Iraq’s waiver to buy Iranian electricity

By
IFP Media Wire
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Iraq Electricity

The decision to let Iraq’s waiver lapse upon its expiration “ensures we do not allow Iran any degree of economic or financial relief,” the spokesperson said, adding that Trump’s campaign on Iran aims “to end its nuclear threat, curtail its ballistic missile program and stop it from supporting terrorist groups.”

Trump restored “maximum pressure” on Iran in one of his first acts after returning to office in January. In his first term, he pulled the U.S. out of the Iran nuclear accord.

The U.S. government has announced it wants to isolate Iran from the global economy and eliminate its oil export revenues in order to slow Tehran’s development of a nuclear weapon.

Iran denies pursuing nuclear weapons and says its program is peaceful.

Washington has imposed a range of sanctions on Tehran over its nuclear program and support for militant organizations, effectively banning countries that do business with Iran from doing business with the U.S.

“President Trump has been clear that the Iranian Regime must cease its ambitions for a nuclear weapon or face Maximum Pressure,” stated National Security spokesperson James Hewitt.

“We hope the regime will put the interests of its people and the region ahead of its destabilizing policies.”

Trump initially granted waivers to several buyers to meet consumer energy needs when he reimposed sanctions on Iran’s energy exports in 2018, citing its nuclear program and what the U.S. calls its meddling in the Middle East.

His administration and that of Joe Biden repeatedly renewed Iraq’s waiver while urging Baghdad to reduce its dependence on Iranian electricity. The State Department spokesperson reiterated that call on Saturday.

“We urge the Iraqi government to eliminate its dependence on Iranian sources of energy as soon as possible,” the spokesperson said, adding, “Iran is an unreliable energy supplier.”

The U.S. has used the waiver review in part to increase pressure on Baghdad to allow Kurdish crude oil exports via Turkey, sources have told Reuters. The aim is to boost supply to the global market and keep prices in check, giving the U.S. more room to pursue efforts to choke off Iranian oil exports.

Iraq’s negotiations with the semi-autonomous Kurdish region over the oil export resumption have been fraught so far.

“Iraq’s energy transition provides opportunities for U.S. companies, which are world-leading experts in increasing the productivity of power plants, improving electricity grids, and developing electricity interconnections with reliable partners,” the State Department spokesperson said.

The spokesperson played down the impact of Iranian electricity imports on Iraq’s power grid, adding, “In 2023, electricity imports from Iran were only 4% of electricity consumption in Iraq.”

Iran’s Hosseini named in AFC Champions League Round of 16 Best XI

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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The announcement comes after his standout performance in a goalless draw against Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr last week at Tehran’s Azadi Stadium.

Hosseini played a pivotal role in securing the clean sheet, making several crucial saves to keep Esteghlal’s hopes alive ahead of the second leg.

His efforts have earned him recognition as one of the top performers in the first-leg matches of the tournament’s knockout stage.

Esteghlal will face Al-Nassr again on Monday in the second leg, aiming to advance to the quarterfinals.

The Iranian side will rely on Hosseini’s leadership and goalkeeping prowess as they seek to overcome their Saudi opponents and continue their journey in Asia’s premier club competition.

Israel, Hamas signal readiness for next ceasefire negotiations

By
IFP Media Wire
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Gaza War

Hamas announced there were “positive indicators” for the start of the ceasefire’s second-phase talks but did not elaborate.

Israel also said it was preparing for talks.

“Israel has accepted the invitation of the mediators backed by the U.S., and will send a delegation to Doha on Monday in an effort to advance the negotiations,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office noted.

A delegation from Hamas is engaging in ceasefire talks in Cairo with Egyptian mediators who have been helping facilitate the talks along with officials from Qatar. They aim to proceed to the next stage of the deal, which could open the way to ending the war.

“We affirm our readiness to engage in the second-phase negotiations in a way that meets the demands of our people, and we call for intensified efforts to aid the Gaza Strip and lift the blockade on our suffering people,” Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif Al-Qanoua stated in a statement.

In a later statement reporting its delegation’s meeting with the head of Egypt’s general intelligence agency, Hassan Mahmoud Rashad, Hamas affirmed the group’s approval of forming a committee of what it described as “national and independent” characters to run Gaza until elections.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi earlier said Cairo had worked in cooperation with Palestinians on creating an administrative committee of independent, professional Palestinian technocrats entrusted with the governance of the besieged enclave after the end of the war.

His remarks came during the Arab summit which adopted Egypt’s alternative reconstruction plan for Gaza, as opposed to U.S. President Donald Trump’s “Middle East Riviera” vision.

The Gaza ceasefire agreement that took effect in January calls for the remaining 59 hostages in Hamas captivity to be freed in a second phase, during which final plans would be negotiated for an end to the war.

The first phase of the ceasefire ended last week. Israel has since imposed a total blockade on all goods entering the enclave, demanding that Hamas free the remaining hostages without beginning the negotiations to end the Gaza war.

Fighting has been halted since January 19 and Hamas has released 33 Israeli hostages and five Thais for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. Israeli authorities believe fewer than half of the remaining 59 hostages are still alive.

Israel’s aggression on the enclave has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities. It has also internally displaced nearly Gaza’s entire population and led to accusations of genocide and war crimes that Israel denies.

The assault began after Hamas-led fighters raided southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

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