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Russia gas currency switch

Russian President, Vladimir Putin says his country will switch its gas sales to Russian currency for what he calls unfriendly countries. Putin said Russia will continue to supply natural gas in accordance with volumes and prices fixed in previously-concluded contracts. He added, the changes will only affect the currency of payment, which will be changed to Russian roubles. Putin said, the government and central bank have one week to come up with a solution on how to apply those changes. The announcement caused some European wholesale gas prices to increase up to 30 percent on Wednesday. Moscow has drawn up a list of what it calls unfriendly countries that include the US, UK, and EU nations. Other countries like Japan and Canada are included too. Russia is furious at them for imposing sanctions over the Ukraine conflict, and says they have destroyed Moscow’s trust.

“Israel will pay for its crimes”

Reactions pour in following Tuesday operation against Israel in the occupied territories with resistance groups vowing more operations in response to the regime’s crimes. Lebanon’s Hezbollah resistance movement has hailed the operation, saying it reflected the Palestinian people’s resistance and their rejection of occupiers. The movement added that resistance is the sole way to victory and full liberation of Palestine. The operation was also praised by Palestinian resistance groups. Hamas called it a heroic act illustrating the Palestinians’ resolve to continue resistance until the liberation of the occupied territories. The Islamic Jihad said the move was a natural response to Israeli crimes against Palestinians. A coalition of resistance groups in the occupied West Bank also warned Tel Aviv that it will pay for its crimes.

Iran Syria relations

Iran’s Foreign Minister says an agreement to revive the 2015 nuclear deal is closer than ever, if the US acts pragmatically. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said Iran is ready to have foreign ministers of countries belonging to the deal gather in Vienna to finalize the agreement. Iran and those countries have been engaged in talks for a year to revive the deal that ran into trouble because of the US withdrawal in 2018. The Iranian foreign minister made those comments in a press conference with his Syrian counterpart in Damascus. Amir-Abdollahian and Faisal al-Mekdad discussed ways to boost bilateral ties including on trade and economy.

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