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US Targets Iran's 'Shadow Fleet' over Crackdown on Protesters

The Liberian-flagged tanker Ice Energy, chartered by the US government, takes Iranian oil from Iranian-flagged Lana (formerly Pegas) as part of a civil forfeiture action off the shore of Karystos, on the Island of Evia, Greece, May 26, 2022. REUTERS/Costas Baltas/File Photo
The Liberian-flagged tanker Ice Energy, chartered by the US government, takes Iranian oil from Iranian-flagged Lana (formerly Pegas) as part of a civil forfeiture action off the shore of Karystos, on the Island of Evia, Greece, May 26, 2022. REUTERS/Costas Baltas/File Photo
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US Targets Iran's 'Shadow Fleet' over Crackdown on Protesters

The Liberian-flagged tanker Ice Energy, chartered by the US government, takes Iranian oil from Iranian-flagged Lana (formerly Pegas) as part of a civil forfeiture action off the shore of Karystos, on the Island of Evia, Greece, May 26, 2022. REUTERS/Costas Baltas/File Photo
The Liberian-flagged tanker Ice Energy, chartered by the US government, takes Iranian oil from Iranian-flagged Lana (formerly Pegas) as part of a civil forfeiture action off the shore of Karystos, on the Island of Evia, Greece, May 26, 2022. REUTERS/Costas Baltas/File Photo

The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on nine vessels of what is ​known as the shadow fleet and eight related firms, the US Treasury Department said in a statement, as Washington sought to escalate pressure on Iran over the recent killing of protesters.

"Today’s sanctions target a critical component of how Iran generates the funds used to repress its own people. As previously outlined, ⁠Treasury will continue to track the tens of millions ‌of dollars that the regime ‍has stolen and ‍is desperately attempting to wire to banks ‍outside of Iran," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in the statement.

Rights groups say thousands of people, including bystanders, were killed during the unrest in Iran, ​which they describe as the biggest crackdown since clerics took power ⁠in the 1979 revolution.

Trump had repeatedly threatened to intervene against Iran over the recent killings of protesters there, but protests dwindled last week and President Donald Trump's rhetoric regarding Iran has eased.

The shadow fleet refers to ships that carry oil that is under sanctions. They are typically old, their ownership opaque and they sail without the top-tier insurance cover needed to meet ‌international standards for oil majors and many ports.

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World

Putin Calls for Immediate Halt to Iran Conflict

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with women representing various professional fields to congratulate them on the upcoming International Women's Day at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia March 5, 2026. (Sputnik/Valeriy Sharifulin/Pool via Reuters)
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with women representing various professional fields to congratulate them on the upcoming International Women's Day at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia March 5, 2026. (Sputnik/Valeriy Sharifulin/Pool via Reuters)
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Putin Calls for Immediate Halt to Iran Conflict

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with women representing various professional fields to congratulate them on the upcoming International Women's Day at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia March 5, 2026. (Sputnik/Valeriy Sharifulin/Pool via Reuters)
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with women representing various professional fields to congratulate them on the upcoming International Women's Day at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia March 5, 2026. (Sputnik/Valeriy Sharifulin/Pool via Reuters)

Russian ‌President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences to Iran's president over the numerous civilian casualties resulting from "the armed Israeli-American aggression against Iran" and called for an immediate halt to hostilities, the Kremlin said.

In a phone call late on Friday with Iranian President ‌Masoud Pezeshkian, Putin ‌expressed his deep condolences ‌over ⁠the killing of Iranian ⁠Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, members of Khamenei's family, Iranian political and military leaders and "numerous civilians".

"Vladimir Putin reaffirmed Russia's principled stance in favor of an ⁠immediate cessation of hostilities, ‌the rejection of ‌force as a method to solve ‌any issues surrounding Iran or arising ‌in the Middle East, and a swift return to the path of diplomatic resolution," the Kremlin said.

Putin ‌said he was in constant contact with the ⁠leaders ⁠of Gulf Cooperation Council member states.

"Masoud Pezeshkian expressed gratitude for Russia's solidarity with the Iranian people as they defend their sovereignty and the independence of their country. He also provided a detailed update on the developments during the latest active phase of the conflict," the Kremlin said.

World

Iran President Says Country Will Not Surrender to Israel, US

Smoke and fire rise from the site of airstrikes at Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran on March 7, 2026. (AFP)
Smoke and fire rise from the site of airstrikes at Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran on March 7, 2026. (AFP)
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Iran President Says Country Will Not Surrender to Israel, US

Smoke and fire rise from the site of airstrikes at Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran on March 7, 2026. (AFP)
Smoke and fire rise from the site of airstrikes at Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran on March 7, 2026. (AFP)

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Saturday that his country would never surrender to Israel and the United States, as Middle East war entered its second week.

Iran's enemies "must take their wish for the unconditional surrender of the Iranian people to their graves," Pezeshkian said, in a speech broadcast on state TV.

Israel and the United States launched strikes against Iran on February, 28 killing the country’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei and triggering a regional conflict.

Iran has since responded with missile and drone strikes on Israel and US interests in regional countries, mainly in the Gulf.

Pezeshkian is among three members of an interim leadership council that has been in charge of Iran since Khamenei's killing.

During the speech, Pezeshkian apologized to neighboring countries for Iran's attacks across the region, saying that they would not be targeted unless attacks originated from them.

"I must apologize on my own behalf and on behalf of Iran to the neighboring countries that were attacked by Iran," he said.

"The interim leadership council agreed yesterday that no more attacks will be made on neighboring countries and no missiles will be fired unless an attack on Iran originates from those countries."

World

US ‘Not Concerned’ by Reports Russia Aiding Iran’s Targeting

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during a press conference at CENTCOM headquarters at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, USA, 05 March 2026. (EPA)
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during a press conference at CENTCOM headquarters at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, USA, 05 March 2026. (EPA)
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US ‘Not Concerned’ by Reports Russia Aiding Iran’s Targeting

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during a press conference at CENTCOM headquarters at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, USA, 05 March 2026. (EPA)
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during a press conference at CENTCOM headquarters at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, USA, 05 March 2026. (EPA)

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Friday that the United States is "not concerned" about reports that Russia is providing intelligence to Iran on US troop positions and movements.

While declining to confirm the reports, Hegseth, in an interview with CBS's "60 Minutes," said: "We're tracking everything."

"Our commanders are aware of everything," he said. "We have the best intelligence in the world. We're aware of who's talking to who."

"We're not concerned about that," the defense secretary said. "We mitigate it as we need to."

Earlier Friday, the White House also downplayed a report that Russia is providing Iran with targeting information about US forces in the Middle East.

"It clearly is not making a difference with respect to the military operations in Iran because we are completely decimating them," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.

"We are achieving the military objectives of this operation and that is going to continue," Leavitt said.

The Washington Post, citing officials familiar with the intelligence, said Russia has provided Iran with the locations of US military assets, including ships and aircraft.

Six US service members were killed in a drone attack on a US base in Kuwait on Sunday.

The Post said China did not appear to be aiding Iran's defenses.

Russia and China have longstanding diplomatic and trade ties with Iran, while Russia has close military links to the country.

Both Moscow and Beijing have criticized the US-Israeli war against Iran.