US demands Iran accept defeat or be 'hit harder' than before

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US Demands Iran Accept Defeat or Be 'Hit Harder' Than Before

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A delegation of Russian officials has arrived in the United States for discussions with their American counterparts. The engagement commenced on Thursday, representing the first visit of its kind since tensions escalated over Moscow's military actions in Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov remarked, "We hope that these first tentative steps will contribute to the revival of our bilateral engagement." He indicated that President Vladimir Putin had outlined the "main directives" for the trip and would receive a comprehensive briefing on the outcomes of the discussions.

This delegation visit coincides with US-mediated discussions aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which seem to have reached an impasse. Despite several rounds of negotiations following US President Donald Trump's return to office last year, progress has been elusive, as the Kremlin has ruled out any concessions that could lead to a cessation of its prolonged military campaign.

Additionally, the ties between Russia and Iran have come under increased scrutiny, particularly as Western intelligence sources have identified Russia as a supporter of the Iranian government amid its confrontations with the US and Israel. A recent report published by the Financial Times indicated that Russia was nearing the completion of a significant drone shipment to Iran. Peskov dismissed this allegation, asserting, "There are so many lies being spread by the media... Do not pay attention to them."

In related developments, Russia has executed one of its most extensive aerial assaults since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict, deploying 948 drones within a 24-hour period. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged allies to provide air defense munitions, emphasizing that Ukraine, which relies on US systems for protecting against ballistic missiles, will encounter a shortfall while Washington becomes preoccupied with the situation involving the US and Iran.

To date, discussions between Ukraine and the US that commenced recently in Florida have not succeeded in delivering the security assurances Kyiv has persistently sought from Washington.