Putin signals Iran pivot
Vladimir Putin has signaled a possible Iran‑Ukraine trade‑off as regional tensions spike — a development flagged on social channels today (x.com). Russia‑Israel ties look strained after a Lebanon strike, and Iran issued sharp warnings following missile activity near Diego Garcia — moves that could reshape regional alignments and energy flows (x.com) (x.com).
Politico reported that Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev told Trump administration envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Miami that Moscow would halt intelligence-sharing with Iran if Washington stopped providing intelligence to Ukraine, and U.S. officials rejected the proposal. (politico.eu)) Dmitriev publicly labeled the account “fake” on X, even as the allegation amplified concern inside European diplomatic circles that Moscow is trying to link the Middle East and Ukraine theatres. (politico.eu)) The Washington Post reported U.S. intelligence shows Russia has passed Tehran targeting data — including locations of U.S. warships and aircraft in the Middle East — since the Iran conflict began on Feb. 28. (washingtonpost.com)) Moscow summoned Israel’s ambassador Oded Joseph after an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon wounded RT correspondent Steve Sweeney and cameraman Ali Rida Sbeity; the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called the incident “deliberate and targeted.” (tass.com)) U.S. and British officials say Iran fired two intermediate‑range ballistic missiles toward the U.S.–U.K. base on Diego Garcia on March 21; one missile failed in flight and the other was intercepted by a U.S. warship, and Diego Garcia lies roughly 4,000 kilometres from southern Iran. (understandingwar.org)) The UK’s foreign office and defence sources condemned the strikes as “reckless” and warned they threatened British interests, while Tehran denied responsibility and the U.S. had not issued a full public accounting of the Diego Garcia intercept at the time of reporting. (khou.com))
