France Says It Will Work with China on De-Escalating Iran War

14 February 2026, Bavaria, Munich: Jean-Noel Barrot, French Minister of Foreign Affairs, holds a press conference at the 62nd Munich Security Conference (MSC). (dpa)
14 February 2026, Bavaria, Munich: Jean-Noel Barrot, French Minister of Foreign Affairs, holds a press conference at the 62nd Munich Security Conference (MSC). (dpa)
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France Says It Will Work with China on De-Escalating Iran War

14 February 2026, Bavaria, Munich: Jean-Noel Barrot, French Minister of Foreign Affairs, holds a press conference at the 62nd Munich Security Conference (MSC). (dpa)
14 February 2026, Bavaria, Munich: Jean-Noel Barrot, French Minister of Foreign Affairs, holds a press conference at the 62nd Munich Security Conference (MSC). (dpa)

French ‌Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot held a call on Monday with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi to discuss the Iran war and both agreed to work on de-escalation, Barrot's office said in a statement.

Both ministers committed to seeking a political ‌solution that would ‌guarantee collective security and ‌take ⁠into account the aspirations ⁠of the Iranian people, the statement said.

Barrot "reiterated the Iranian regime's responsibility for the ongoing escalation, after it unjustifiably attacked several countries in the ⁠region," the statement said.

He also ‌criticized ‌the Iranian regime for refusing to respect ‌the resolutions from the ‌United Nations' Security Council on the nuclear programs, ballistic activities, support to non-state armed groups and rejecting good-faith ‌multilateral negotiations.

The French minister reiterated that France was not ⁠involved in ⁠the actions by the United States and Israel and had no prior knowledge of them. Countries "must give precedence to international institutions to solve disputes and, where needed, the use of force," he added.

The two ministers agreed to keep dialogue open on the issue.



South Korea 'Closely Monitoring' Trump Call to Send Warships to Hormuz

A tanker sails in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from northern Ras al-Khaimah, near the border with Oman’s Musandam governance, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in United Arab Emirates, March 11, 2026. (Reuters)
A tanker sails in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from northern Ras al-Khaimah, near the border with Oman’s Musandam governance, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in United Arab Emirates, March 11, 2026. (Reuters)
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South Korea 'Closely Monitoring' Trump Call to Send Warships to Hormuz

A tanker sails in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from northern Ras al-Khaimah, near the border with Oman’s Musandam governance, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in United Arab Emirates, March 11, 2026. (Reuters)
A tanker sails in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from northern Ras al-Khaimah, near the border with Oman’s Musandam governance, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in United Arab Emirates, March 11, 2026. (Reuters)

South Korea said on Sunday it was paying close attention to US President Donald Trump's call for Seoul and other countries to send warships to help protect oil supplies passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

"We are closely monitoring President Trump's remarks on social media and will carefully consider the matter in close consultation with the United States," a presidential official told AFP.


Drone Debris Sparks Fire at Oil Facility in Russia’s Krasnodar Region, Authorities Say

 Smoke is seen through the broken window of a residential neighborhood damaged by Russian aerial guided bomb in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP)
Smoke is seen through the broken window of a residential neighborhood damaged by Russian aerial guided bomb in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP)
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Drone Debris Sparks Fire at Oil Facility in Russia’s Krasnodar Region, Authorities Say

 Smoke is seen through the broken window of a residential neighborhood damaged by Russian aerial guided bomb in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP)
Smoke is seen through the broken window of a residential neighborhood damaged by Russian aerial guided bomb in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP)

A fire broke out at an oil facility in Russia's Krasnodar region after debris from a downed drone fell on it, Russian authorities said on Sunday.

According to ‌preliminary reports, ‌there were no ‌casualties.

The ⁠damaged oil facility ⁠is located near Tikhoretsk, where Ukrainian drones struck an oil pumping station on Thursday. The fire ⁠had been extinguished on ‌Friday.

Authorities ‌did not clarify whether ‌it was the ‌same facility.

The Tikhoretsk hub is one of the largest oil points in southern ‌Russia and is the only supply route ⁠for ⁠petroleum products to the key Black Sea port of Novorossiysk.

The attack was the latest in a series of drone strikes on the region's energy and port infrastructure.


Iran Guards Vow to 'Pursue and Kill' Israeli Premier Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a press conference in Jerusalem (archive – Reuters)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a press conference in Jerusalem (archive – Reuters)
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Iran Guards Vow to 'Pursue and Kill' Israeli Premier Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a press conference in Jerusalem (archive – Reuters)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a press conference in Jerusalem (archive – Reuters)

Iran's Revolutionary Guards vowed on Sunday to target Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the war with Israel and the United States continues.

"If this child-killing criminal is alive, we will continue to pursue and kill him with full force," said the Guards on their website Sepah News.