Iran nuclear progress
Iran’s nuclear chief says the country acquired its nuclear knowledge despite numerous cases of industrial sabotage over the past 20 years. Mohammad Eslami said neither the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientists, nor sanctions and psychological operations managed to hinder the progress of Iran's nuclear knowledge. The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran also dismissed the saber-rattling of the country’s enemies. He said despite their threats to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities, the country’s nuclear energy has achieved a leading global status. Eslami noted that Iran’s enemies cannot tolerate such an achievement. Tehran blames Israel for the assassination of its nuclear scientists and acts of sabotage against its nuclear facilities over the past years.
Russia-Ukraine war
Russia has warned that the West’s approval of Ukraine’s attacks on Crimea could set the stage for a disastrous war between Moscow and Kiev’s Western allies. This, according to the deputy chairman of Russian Security Council. Dmitry Medvedev said any green light to Ukraine’s attacks on Crimea entitles Moscow to take action against "each and every NATO member". He added that such an approval would be considered direct legal evidence of the West’s complicity in the war against Russia. Medvedev’s comments came after a senior Ukrainian official said Washington supports strikes on Crimea if Kiev deems them necessary. A senior advisor to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has also said there is absolute consensus among Western countries that Kiev can destroy anything that belongs to Russia in territories taken by Moscow.
China-US tensions
China has warned that US moves to politicize trade issues would have disastrous consequences for the global economy. Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang made the remarks in a meeting with the visiting US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. Li said politicizing economic and trade issues will seriously affect bilateral relations and mutual trust. He added that such moves will also undermine the interests of the two countries’ enterprises and people. Raimondo, for her part, said the US is not seeking to decouple its economy from China's, while calling for strengthening cooperation between the two countries. Relations between Beijing and Washington have plummeted to their lowest levels in decades, with US trade curbs topping the list of disagreements. The US claims that the trade curbs are necessary for its national security, while China says they are meant to clip its economic rise.