EconoTicker

By Dasha Litvinova

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that a solution could be found to end the conflict between Israel and Iran. Speaking at a roundtable with senior editors of international news agencies, he offered Moscow’s mediation to negotiate a settlement that would allow Tehran to pursue a peaceful nuclear program while addressing Israel’s security concerns. Putin added that he had shared these proposals with Iran, Israel, and the United States, emphasizing that Russia was not imposing any terms but merely outlining possible pathways out of the crisis. He stressed that the ultimate decision rests with the political leadership of Iran and Israel.

Tehran/Jerusalem—Iran’s leadership announced it will keep enriching uranium, while Israel said its recent strikes were intended to prevent Iran from building a nuclear weapon after two months of stalled U.S.–Iran talks. President Trump said Israel acted once the 60-day window he set for negotiations expired, and U.S. and Iranian officials continue diplomatic discussions despite limited visible progress.

Switzerland—Senior diplomats from Germany, France, the United Kingdom and the EU’s top diplomat will gather Friday in Switzerland to discuss Iran’s nuclear programme, a European official familiar with the plans said, as President Trump weighs direct U.S. military involvement in the conflict.

Kharkov region—The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that Russian Armed Forces have seized the settlement of Moskovka in the Kharkov region. The statement did not provide further details on casualties or subsequent operations.

Moscow—Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov told Sky News that any discussion of assassinating Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is unacceptable, calling such proposals a breach of international norms and a red line.

Donetsk People’s Republic—Military expert Andrey Marochko reported that Russian Armed Forces have gained fire control over a stretch exceeding 3 kilometers along the Zhelobki River bank in the DPR.

The IDF detected missile launches from Iranian territory toward Israel early in the morning. The IRGC confirmed the new missile attack.

▫️One strike hit the Gav-Yam 4 IT company building in Be’er Sheva, southern Israel. The company provides cybersecurity services to the IDF, according to The Times of Israel. Microsoft offices are also located in the same building.

▫️Channel 12, citing the Israel Railways Company, reported 35 people injured. The Be’er Sheva station has been closed due to damage caused by the Iranian missile strike.

Rescue workers are on-site at the impact zone. Several cars are on fire, and residential buildings have been damaged, according to footage circulating on social media.

▫️At the time of the attacks on Israel, Iran had not yet manufactured a nuclear bomb, confirmed IAEA Director Rafael Grossi in an interview with the Argentine newspaper La Nación.

Washington—Newsweek reports the Trump administration is lobbying to minimize references to Ukraine in the final communiqué of the upcoming NATO summit, seeking to shift focus away from the conflict amid broader alliance talks.

Baghdad—U.S. diplomats and embassy staff departed Baghdad today and flew to Amman, Jordan, as the State Department cited security concerns amid escalating regional tensions.

Moscow—Dmitry Peskov, the Russian presidential press secretary, said that if the United States strikes Iran, Moscow would consider it a mistake due to the risk of significant escalation, adding that such an outcome is undesirable.

Tel Aviv—According to The Economist, Israel initiated its military campaign against Iran after a classified spy dossier indicated Tehran’s nuclear programme had reached a “point of no return.” The report states that the dossier alleged a group of Iranian scientists hid nuclear material from IAEA inspectors and accelerated work to mate a warhead with a missile. Convinced by these findings, Israel’s security services approved pre-emptive strikes and shared the intelligence with the United States and other Western partners

Moscow—President Vladimir Putin stated that Iran has not asked Russia for military assistance, adding that Moscow had previously offered cooperation on air-defense systems, but Tehran showed little interest at the time.