Section: Iran English Radio (Iran)
French president ‘to decide’ on Russia warships contract in weeks
French President Francois Hollande says he will make a decision “in the coming weeks” on the fate of a contract with Russia that promises the latter country two Mistral-class warships but that has been suspended. Apparently referring to talks with Moscow, Hollande said on Monday “We are in a discussion… which will require a decision that I...
Russia to boost navy in Black Sea, seeks presence in Atlantic
Moscow is planning to boost the strategic positions of its navy in the Black Sea in response to NATO’s “inadmissible” expansion towards Russian borders. According to a newly-revised version of the Russian Navy’s doctrine published Sunday on the country’s official navy website, “strategic Russian positions” near the Crimean...
Crimea’s integration into Russia lawful: Medvedev
Russia’s Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has defended the rejoining of the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea with the Russian Federation, describing the region’s decision to separate from Ukraine as legal under international rules. “The issue of Crimea is really closed and it was primarily closed by its residents who decided their future …...
Envoy: Many in EU want anti-Russian sanctions to go
There have been growing calls in the EU to end the mutually-damaging sanctions standoff with Russia, Russia’s EU Envoy Vladimir Chizhov said. “That the current freeze of various cooperation tracks is harming both sides is now obvious to all… Hence the ever-growing calls to turn this page and return to a normal life,” Chizhov...
Kiev, pro-Russians agree on heavy arms withdrawal: OSCE
The Ukrainian government and pro-Russia forces have reached an agreement on the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the frontline in crisis-hit eastern Ukraine, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) says. According to Press TV, OSCE Chairman Ivica Dacic said on Tuesday “The text has been coordinated, an agreement was reached...
Most Ukrainians seek political solution to Donbass crisis: Poll
Most people in Ukraine believe the best solution to the crisis in the eastern parts of the country will come through further negotiations on the basis of the Minsk II agreement. Interfax news agency reported on Tuesday that according to the study conducted by the Kiev International Institute of Sociology, 56.8 percent of the respondents said they...
EU eyes Iran amid Russian dairy ban
European companies are looking into Iran as a potential new market for their dairy products amid a Russian embargo, market intelligence firm Euromonitor International has said. According to Press TV, Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered an embargo on dairy imports from Europe in retaliation for Western sanctions on Moscow over the Ukraine...
US plans to punish Putin with more sanctions
US officials are considering new sanctions to further limit Moscow’s access to Western credit, alleging that Russia has failed to fulfill demands put forward by the Minsk agreement to resolve the Ukraine crisis. According to a report by the Times, Washington wants to punish Russian President Vladimir Putin for not putting an end to the...
Russia to form new military reserve force
Russia plans to form a new reserve armed force as part of steps to enhance its military readiness amid ongoing tensions with the West over the crisis in Ukraine. The new reserve force will come into existence following a decree by President Vladimir Putin on July 17, Russian media reported Saturday. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the...
Lavrov discusses Ukraine ‘demilitarization’ with counterparts
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has held separate phone calls with his Ukrainian, German, and American counterparts over the crisis in eastern Ukraine. During the Saturday calls with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin and Germany’s Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Lavrov called on the Ukrainian army “to begin the demilitarization” of...
