Iran and beyond
(AFP/Al Arabiya) US President Donald Trump evoked Saturday the idea of sending ground troops into Iran to secure the country’s stockpiles of enriched uranium, as part of efforts to dismantle Tehran’s nuclear program. – Trump suggests US troops could be sent to secure Iran’s uranium
(Al Arabiya) Saudi Arabia thwarted an attempt to attack the Diplomatic Quarter area in the capital Riyadh, the defense ministry announced on Sunday. – Saudi Arabia thwarts attempt to attack Diplomatic Quarter area in Riyadh
(Reuters/Al Arabiya) At least four people were killed when an Israeli strike hit an apartment in the Ramada hotel building in central Beirut early on Sunday, with Israel saying it targeted Iranian commanders operating in the Lebanese capital. The attack marked the first Israeli strike to hit the heart of Beirut since Israel-Hezbollah hostilities resumed last week. – Four killed in Beirut hotel strike, Israel says it targeted Iranian commanders
(AFP/Al Arabiya) US President Donald Trump attended the return Saturday of the bodies of the first six US soldiers killed during the escalating war with Iran. Trump, wearing a white “USA” baseball cap, saluted as troops carried each flag-draped case from a military transport plane at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, where the remains of US troops killed overseas are returned to American soil. – Trump attends return of first US troops killed in Iran war
(AFP/Al Arabiya) President Donald Trump on Saturday blamed Iran for what the country’s authorities said was a deadly strike on a school in the southern county of Minab. – Trump says school strike ‘done by Iran’
(AFP/Al Arabiya) US President Donald Trump said Saturday that he did not want the Kurds to launch an offensive against Iran. – Trump says doesn’t want Kurds to launch offensive against Iran
(Imran Mulla – Middle East Eye) More than 50,000 protesters have marched on the US embassy in London demanding an end to US-Israeli strikes on Iran. The march was organised by a coalition of groups, including Hands off Iran, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Stop the War, the Muslim Association of Britain, the Palestinian Forum in Britain and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. Organisers said more than 50,000 demonstrators marched from Millbank to the US embassy in Vauxhall on Saturday afternoon. – More than 50,000 march in London against US-Israeli attack on Iran | Middle East Eye
(Sean Mathews – Middle East Eye) Gulf countries are shutting down oil and gas production as a result of the US-Israeli war on Iran, but it’s not just their energy infrastructure that is currently held hostage to Iran’s retaliatory missiles and drones: food and water are, too. Over 400 water desalination plants line the Persian Gulf. They are used to keep the industry running, keep golf courses green, and, most importantly, quench the thirst of the region’s residents. “It would be absolutely devastating if Iran started attacking those facilities. That infrastructure is a huge vulnerability spread out along the coast,” Mohammed Mahmoud, Middle East lead at the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health, told Middle East Eye. – Threats to water supply and food inflation stalk Gulf states | Middle East Eye
(RFE/RL) Iran could be moving closer to electing a new supreme leader even as some cracks appeared to be developing among the surviving rulers in Tehran, while the United States and Israel vowed to hit Iran harder than ever as the war passed the one-week mark. After Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian said he wanted to “personally apologize to neighboring countries” that had been hit by Iranian missiles and drones, powerful national security chief Ali Larijani and others on March 7 defiantly lashed out and Tehran struck again at US Arab allies in the region. Separately, Iranian state media late on March 7 quoted hard-line Ayatollah Hossein Mozafari, a member of the Assembly of Experts –– which will elect the country’s next ruler — as saying the body could meet in the next 24 hours to make a decision. – Cracks In Iranian Leadership? Apology, Then More Regional Attacks
(Sonya Bandouil – The Kyiv Independent) The U.S. is supplying Ukraine-tested anti-drone systems to partners in the Middle East, The Wall Street Journal reported on March 7, highlighting growing international demand for Kyiv’s battlefield-proven technology capable of countering Iranian drone attacks. The systems — tested extensively in Ukraine — are designed to intercept incoming drones and other aerial threats, drawing on Kyiv’s experience defending against Iranian-designed Shahed drones that Russia has used extensively against Ukraine since 2022. In that time, tens of thousands of such drones have been launched at Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. – US supplying Ukraine-tested anti-drone systems to Middle East partners, WSJ reports
(Global Times) Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a press conference on Sunday on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People’s Congress. At the press conference, Wang Yi briefed his take on how China views the current situation in Iran and the propositions for resolving the Iran issue as the US and Israel recently launched a military operation against Iran. Wang said that this is an issue of great concern to all parties and a focal point of the current international landscape. China has consistently upheld an objective and fair stance, repeatedly articulating its principled position, which can be summed up in one sentence: cease fire and halt hostilities. The Chinese foreign minister then quoted an ancient Chinese saying: “Wars are ominous instruments, not to be used without due cause.” – ‘Wars are ominous instruments, not to be used without due cause,’ Chinese Foreign Minister uses ancient Chinese saying to comment on US-Israel military operation against Iran – Global Times
(Barak Ravid, Marc Caputo – Axios) The U.S. and Israel have discussed sending special forces into Iran to secure its stockpile of highly enriched uranium at a later stage of the war, according to four sources with knowledge of the discussions. Preventing Iran from ever obtaining a nuclear weapon is one of President Trump’s stated war objectives. The regime’s 450 kilograms of 60%-enriched uranium — convertible to weapons grade within weeks — is one key to that goal. Any operation to seize the material would likely require U.S. or Israeli troops on Iranian soil, navigating heavily fortified underground facilities in the middle of a war. – U.S. weighs sending special forces to seize Iran’s nuclear stockpile
(Josephine Walker, Lauren Floyd – Axios) President Trump said Saturday “we’ve knocked out 42 navy ships” in three days, adding that the US is doing “very well” in Iran. Why it matters: Trump bragged about dominance in Iran and hinted at possible action in Cuba at the first Shield of the Americas Summit, which has outgoing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem at the helm. – Trump claims “we’ve knocked out” 42 naval ships, doing “very well” in Iran
China
(Global Times) China does not subscribe to the logic of “major-power co-governance,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a press conference on Sunday on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People’s Congress. He answered questions of journalists from home and abroad on China’s foreign policy and external relations, the Xinhua News Agency reported. An NBC reporter said at the press conference that Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said China-US relations are one of the most important bilateral ties in the world and the strategic choices of the two countries influence global historic trends. In response to the reporter’s inquiry whether China accepts the idea of “US-China co-governance” framework, proposed by people including US President Donald Trump, to share responsibility and deal with global challenges, and if not, what alternative China might offer to avoid confrontation with the US while assuring the world that a rising China does not intend to overturn the current international system, Wang said that China and the US of course have a significant impact on the world, but we should not forget that there are more than 190 countries on the planet, and world history has always been written collectively by all nations, while the future of humanity should be created jointly by the people of all countries. Diversity and coexistence are the true nature of human society, and multipolar coexistence is the proper form of the international landscape, Wang said. – China does not subscribe to the logic of ‘major-power co-governance,’ Chinese FM answers question on ‘China-US co-governance,’ stresses multipolar coexistence – Global Times
China – Europe
(Global Times) “We welcome our European friends to step out of the ‘attic’ of protectionism and step into the ‘gymnasium’ of the Chinese market, where they can strengthen themselves and enhance their competitiveness,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a press conference on Sunday on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People’s Congress. He answered questions from journalists from home and abroad on China’s foreign policy and external relations, the Xinhua News Agency reported. According to the livestream of the press conference, Wang made the remarks when responding to a question raised by a reporter from Spanish news agency Agencia EFE. The reporter noted that the return of US President Donald Trump has forced Europe to reassess its previously negative stance toward China. In recent months, several European leaders have visited China. The reporter asked what positive steps China believes the European side has taken in improving relations with China, which actions may have been mistaken, and whether China views the successive visits by European leaders as a sign of Europe strengthening its strategic autonomy. – We welcome European friends to step out of ‘attic’ of protectionism, into ‘gymnasium’ of Chinese market: FM – Global Times
China – Japan
(Global Times) A China that has grown strong and its 1.4 billion people will never allow anyone to justify colonialism or reverse the verdict on aggression ever again,Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a press conference on Sunday on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People’s Congress, responding a question regarding China’s relations with Japan. Future of China-Japan relations hinges on Japan’s choice, the Chinese Foreign Minister remarked when responding a question raised by a Japan’s Kyodo News Agency reporter on Sunday. The question mentioned that in last November, China had lodged a strong protest against Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan. At present, China-Japan relations face challenges, and cooperation in various areas has also been affected. The Kyodo reporter also claimed that since the Japanese government claimed that it always keeps the window for dialogue open since Takaichi won the election in February and then inquired what expectations the China has for the development of China-Japan relations. Future of China-Japan relations hinges on Japan’s choice, Wang said. – Chinese FM questions Japan: Taiwan affairs are China’s internal affairs, by what right does Japan interfere? – Global Times
China – Latin America
(Global Times) The path of Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries should be chosen by their people, and the choice of friends should be made by LAC countries themselves, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a press conference on Sunday on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People’s Congress. Wang made the remarks when he was asked to comment on how China would respond to US’ Latin America policy, as the US National Security Strategy report released last year indicates that a US priority is to exert pressure on Latin American countries and cut off economic and other ties between China and Latin America in order to interfere in China-Latin America relations. The reporter also noted some analyses point out that the US is secretly undermining China’s port operations and oil trade in the region. China also issued its Policy Paper on Latin America and the Caribbean last year, proposing to promote relations between China and LAC countries to a new level, while the above-mentioned US policies and actions clearly pose a challenge to this objective, said the reporter. – Chinese FM responds to analyses that US is secretly undermining China’s port operations and oil trade in Latin America – Global Times
China – Russia
(Global Times) China-Russia relations remain “as steady as rock” despite test of winds and rains, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a press conference on Sunday on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People’s Congress. He answered questions of journalists from home and abroad on China’s foreign policy and external relations, the Xinhua News Agency reported. According to the livestream of the press conference, Wang made the remarks when responding to a question raised by Russia’s Sputnik News Agency. The question noted that China has repeatedly stated its opposition to any deliberate infringement on the sovereignty and security of other countries. In the face of a complex international situation, how can China and Russia – two major powers – counter attempts to reshape international law and global trade rules, the reporter asked. – China-Russia relations remain ‘as steady as rock’ despite test of winds, rains: Chinese FM – Global Times
China – US
(Global Times) China and the US are both major countries. Neither can change the other, but they can change the way they get along, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a press conference on Sunday on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People’s Congress. He answered questions of journalists from home and abroad on China’s foreign policy and external relations, Xinhua News Agency reported. In response to a question regarding how US-Israel joint military strikes against Iran could impact Trump’s possible China visit, and China’s expectation for the visit and development of bilateral relations, Wang said that China and the US should uphold mutual respect, hold the bottom line of peaceful coexistence, and strive for the prospect of win-win cooperation, which serves the interests of the two peoples and meets the expectations of the international community. – Chinese FM responds to how US-Israel joint military strikes against Iran could impact Trump’s possible China visit – Global Times
Russia – Iran
(Lucy Pakhnyuk – The Kyiv Independent) President Volodymyr Zelensky said on March 7 that Russian components have been identified in Iranian-made drones used in attacks against U.S. forces and countries in the Middle East, pointing to broader cooperation between Moscow and Tehran. “There is evidence of Russian components in the Shahed drones used in the Middle East — against both Arab countries and Americans in the region,” Zelensky said in his nightly address. – Zelensky points to Russia-Iran coordination in Middle East drone strikes
Russia – Ukraine
(RFE/RL) At lease 10 people were killed when Russia struck a five-story residential building in the northeast Ukrainian city of Kharkiv with a ballistic missile, local officials said on March 8, prompting an angry call by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for action by Western partners. “Since nightfall, [rescue crews] have been dismantling the rubble of a residential building in Kharkiv after a Russian ballistic missile strike,” Zelenskyy said on Telegram. – Russian Strike On Kharkiv Residential Building Kills At Least 10, Ukraine Says
Russia – Ukraine – Hungary
(Lucy Pakhnyuk – The Kyiv Independent) A Russia-linked disinformation campaign has circulated artificial intelligence-generated images depicting the detention of Ukrainian bank employees by Hungarian authorities, according to fact-checking outlet Vastagbor. The Hungarian media outlet reported on March 7 that the AI-generated images appeared in an article published by Ripost, a tabloid controlled and funded by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s ruling Fidesz party. According to Vastagbor, the post quickly drew an unusually large number of reactions on Facebook. While Ripost articles typically receive between 10 and 200 reactions, the post containing the images garnered about 48,000. – Russia-linked disinformation campaign targets Ukraine amid tensions with Hungary
US
(Jason Lalljee – Axios) The United States has an extensive history of interventionism, but President Trump has grown especially frank about his intentions abroad in recent months. Trump told Axios this week that he must be involved in picking Iran’s next leader, which — alongside his recent moves in Cuba and Venezuela — demonstrate that aggressive military force has become part and parcel of his foreign policy. It wouldn’t be the first time, however, that the U.S. has pushed for specific leaders to fill the vacancies it helped create. – Times the U.S. has backed a foreign leader, as Trump hones in on Iran
