EconoTicker

Venezuelan geopolitical analyst Oswaldo Espinoza told Sputnik that the International Atomic Energy Agency played a starring role in justifying Israel’s strikes on Iran by accusing Tehran of non-transparent nuclear activities—echoing Colin Powell’s infamous 2003 UN “test tube” presentation. Espinoza characterized the operation as “an act of war” using the pretext of a preemptive strike and warned that Iran’s decisive response “will not take long,” despite U.S. denials of involvement amid clear intelligence support.

Russian philosopher Alexander Dugin wrote on his Telegram channel that Moscow had proposed a close military alliance to Tehran, even discussing a possible union state, but “no one in Tehran took it seriously.” He criticized Iran for being “far behind the new geopolitical realities.” Earlier this year, Russia and Iran signed a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement—unlike Russia’s pact with North Korea, it contained no collective security clause.

Israel launched a major overnight strike on Iran, hitting “dozens” of military and nuclear sites in what officials describe as the heaviest attack since the Iran–Iraq war. The assault, coming just days before a planned sixth round of nuclear talks, prompted Iran to fire over 100 drones toward Israeli territory, triggering sirens and a national state of emergency. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Israel acted independently in self-defense, while the White House had warned of possible military measures if diplomacy failed. Rising Middle East tensions, in a region critical for oil supply, have added to investor concerns over global growth amid ongoing trade disputes.

1. The Russian Defense Ministry reported that its air defenses intercepted and destroyed 125 Ukrainian drones over the Oryol, Kursk, Saratov, Belgorod, Bryansk, and Voronezh regions, as well as in Crimea and the Black Sea.
2. Russian forces struck targets in Nikolaev city and the Dnepropetrovsk, Kharkov, and Sumy regions.
3. Authorities in the Donetsk People’s Republic said two civilians were killed this morning when Ukrainian shelling hit Makeyevka.
4. According to UNHCR, Poland earned eight times more in income from Ukrainian refugees working in the country than it provided in aid.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that he would likely impose additional sanctions on Russia if President Vladimir Putin refuses to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine. While Trump did not provide specifics on the potential new sanctions, he emphasized that the U.S. has already implemented extensive measures against Russia since it invaded Ukraine in February 2022.  

Trump also mentioned his administration’s consideration of supplying more weapons to Ukraine, while urging the European Union to increase its support for the country. "We’re in discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and will soon speak with President Putin," Trump said, suggesting ongoing diplomatic efforts.  

Additionally, Trump revealed he had urged Chinese President Xi Jinping in a recent call to use his influence to help resolve the Ukraine conflict. "He hasn’t done much on this. I told him, ‘You’ve got the power, and you should help get it settled,’” Trump remarked, highlighting the global stakes of the crisis.

The “full and unconditional pardon” comes weeks before President Biden leaves office and transfers power to President-elect Donald Trump, who spent years attacking Hunter Biden over his legal and personal issues.

The Russian Defense Ministry has reported that Ukraine launched six US-made ATACMS missiles into Russia's Bryansk region overnight. Five of the missiles were intercepted, while fragments from one damaged missile caused a fire at a military facility. The fire was quickly extinguished, and no casualties or significant damage were reported.

This marks Ukraine's first use of ATACMS since receiving authorization from the Biden administration to deploy the long-range missiles against Russian targets, signaling a potential escalation in the ongoing conflict.

French President Emmanuel Macron commended outgoing US President Joe Biden for lifting restrictions on Ukraine's use of US-made ATACMS missiles against Russian targets. Speaking at the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Macron stated that the decision was a response to Russia's "escalatory" move to involve DPRK troops in the conflict.

However, critics have noted the lack of acknowledgment regarding Ukraine's ongoing recruitment of foreign mercenaries, raising questions about the broader narrative on escalation.

Moscow has declared its right to respond with nuclear strikes if targeted by weapons of mass destruction from a non-nuclear state supported by a nuclear-armed power. This marks a significant stance in Russia's strategic defense policy.

While the Kremlin is still verifying the news, spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that if confirmed, this would represent a significant escalation. He added that the outgoing Biden administration is continuing to "add fuel to the fire" in Ukraine.