Author: staff

Putin’s friendship has limits — as Khamenei just found out – POLITICO

Politics

Iran, thus, became the latest country after Syria and Venezuela to feel firsthand what partnership with Russia does, and doesn’t, mean. Since launching its full-scale war in Ukraine four years ago, the Kremlin has flexed its rhetorical muscle as the flag bearer of a so-called multipolar world. But, at decisive moments, its response on the ground in allied nations has been conspicuously anemic as their leaders came under attack.  First, Syria’s Bashar-al-Assad learned in late 2024 that Russian backing did not guarantee the survival of his regime as rebel forces rampaged into Damascus. Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro, sitting in an American prison…

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EU scrambles for unity as Iran crisis exposes transatlantic rift – POLITICO

Politics

At the national level, however, Europe’s message was less unified. In a joint statement, France, Germany and the United Kingdom stressed they “did not participate in these strikes” by the U.S. and Israel, while condemning Iranian counterattacks and urging Tehran to seek to a “negotiated solution.” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer emulated that balancing act, saying the U.K. had “played no role” in the strikes while condemning Iran’s “abhorrent” regime and saying Washington’s “primary aim” was to prevent Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Starmer added that British planes were already in the air as part of coordinated regional defense operations.…

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Poland says it had advance knowledge of US-Israel strikes on Iran – POLITICO

Politics

Germany also said it had been informed in advance. Not so much Paris, however. French President Emmanuel Macron said the U.S. and Israel didn’t “inform or involve” France in the strikes. While several European governments emphasized restraint and de-escalation on Saturday, Sikorski adopted a sharply critical tone toward Tehran. Iran, he said, is “a country that for decades supported terrorism [and] organized terrorist attacks in Europe and on other continents, including against American targets.” He called the Iranian regime “an ideologized power” and “the last 20th-century utopia,” adding: “We had Nazism, we had communism, and now we have Iranian religious…

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Steht ein langer Krieg bevor? Mit Natalie Amiri – POLITICO

Politics

Mit den koordinierten Militäroperationen „Epische Wut“ und „Brüllender Löwe“ haben die USA und Israel massive Angriffe auf die politische und militärische Führungsriege des Iran gestartet. US-Präsident Donald Trump zielt dabei offen auf einen von außen unterstützten Regimewechsel von innen ab. Die Region steht vor einem beispiellosen Kriegsszenario, das die ohnehin angespannte Lage seit dem 7. Oktober 2023 weit in den Schatten stellt. In dieser Sonderfolge spricht Gordon Repinski mit der renommierten Iran-Expertin und ARD-Journalistin Natalie Amiri über die historische Dimension dieses Angriffes. Als frühere Leiterin des ARD-Studios in Teheran und profunde Kennerin der Region ordnet sie die aktuelle Gemengelage ein.…

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US and Israeli strikes on Iran: regional and international flights disrupted

World

By&nbspSertac Aktan&nbspwith&nbspAP Published on 28/02/2026 – 16:25 GMT+1•Updated 17:43 The US and Israel’s attack on Iran disrupted flights across the region and beyond on Saturday, leaving millions of air travellers across the region affected. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel closed their airspace, and Qatar Airways Group cancelled flights to and from Doha. While planes en route to Israel were rerouted to other airports, flights by carriers like Emirates and Etihad were also affected by the UAE airspace closure, as both airlines urged passengers to check their flight status online. The General Authority of Civil Aviation in the State…

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Iran launches counterattacks against US bases in the Gulf – POLITICO

Politics

A U.S. official told POLITICO that air defenses intercepted Iranian missiles aimed at American bases including Al Udeied in Qatar, the U.S. 5th Fleet in Bahrain, Ali Salem in Kuwait and Al Dhafra in the United Arab Emirates. Qatar and the United Arab Emirates said that they intercepted Iranian missiles. The UAE saw one casualty from fallen debris, its defense ministry said. Kuwait said its army repelled Iran’s attack and that it reserves the right to respond to Iran’s aggression in “a manner commensurate with the scale and nature of this violation and in accordance with international law.” European Parliament President Roberta Metsola…

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