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“Biden’s remarks unforgivable”

It's Day 22 of the Russian military operation in Ukraine and its forces are stepping up their attacks on the capital, Kiev. Several residential buildings were damaged and two people were wounded earlier on Wednesday. Western media say Russia targeted a theater in the city of Mariupol, but Moscow denies the reports. Ukrainian sources say five people, including three children were killed when Russian forces shelled a residential building in the northern city of Chernihiv. Ukraine says it has secured the freedom of the mayor of Melitopol, swapping him with over nine captured Russian soldiers. About 700 people have reportedly been killed in the conflict, including scores of children. A chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court says the court will show zero tolerance for crimes committed in the conflict zone, including the killing of children. The International Court of Justice also calls on Russia to halt its offensive in Ukraine. And the UN refugee agency says it is preparing for many more people who are about to flee Ukraine.

UK Iran debt

Iran says there is no link between London paying its overdue debt to Tehran and the release of two British-Iranian nationals. The comments were made by Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Saeed Khatibzadeh. He said Iran and the UK signed an agreement last summer for the payment of London’s debt, but the British government failed to live up to it. Khatibzadeh said Iran released the two prisoners on the basis of Islamic leniency and humanitarian considerations. The official stressed that Iran has never backed down on its position on reclaiming the rights of its people. Khatibzadeh said after a delay of over 40 years, the British government recently paid its debt following lengthy talks with Iran. He noted that London used political issues as a pretext to avoid repaying its debt during all these years.

JCPOA revival talks

Iran’s foreign minister says his country is ready for a final agreement on the revival of the 2015 deal if Tehran’s red lines are observed. Hussein Amirabdollahian made the remarks during a phone call with his British counterpart, Liz Truss. Iran’s top diplomat said to reach a good and sustainable agreement the US needs to act in a realistic manner and does not raise new and unacceptable demands in the talks. Earlier, Amirabdollahian said two issues, considered by Iran as red lines, still remained unresolved, including the issue of economic guarantees. Iran and the remaining parties to the 2015 deal, known as the JCPOA have held eight rounds of talks in Austrian capital, Vienna to revive the accord. The talks are now on a pause. Amirabdollahian said the Iranian negotiating team will immediately return to Vienna to conclude the talks if the US shows its will to settle the outstanding issues.

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