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US Defense Chief Dismisses Russia, China as Not a 'Factor' in Iran War

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi pose for a photo as they meet on March 14, 2025 in Beijing, China. Pool via REUTERS
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi pose for a photo as they meet on March 14, 2025 in Beijing, China. Pool via REUTERS
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US Defense Chief Dismisses Russia, China as Not a 'Factor' in Iran War

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi pose for a photo as they meet on March 14, 2025 in Beijing, China. Pool via REUTERS
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi pose for a photo as they meet on March 14, 2025 in Beijing, China. Pool via REUTERS

The US defense chief on Wednesday dismissed China and Russia as non-factors in Washington's decision making when it comes to the war against Iran.

"I don't have a message for them, and they're not really a factor here, and our issue is not with them," Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told a press conference, adding that the US focus was purely on ending what he called "the nuclear ambitions of Iran."

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 to topple the Iranian government and destroy its military.

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World

UN Watchdog Says No Damage to Iran Sites Housing Nuclear Material

A satellite image shows a closer view of the Natanz Nuclear Facility with new building damage, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, near Natanz, Iran, March 2, 2026. (Vantor/Handout via Reuters)
A satellite image shows a closer view of the Natanz Nuclear Facility with new building damage, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, near Natanz, Iran, March 2, 2026. (Vantor/Handout via Reuters)
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UN Watchdog Says No Damage to Iran Sites Housing Nuclear Material

A satellite image shows a closer view of the Natanz Nuclear Facility with new building damage, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, near Natanz, Iran, March 2, 2026. (Vantor/Handout via Reuters)
A satellite image shows a closer view of the Natanz Nuclear Facility with new building damage, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, near Natanz, Iran, March 2, 2026. (Vantor/Handout via Reuters)

The UN nuclear watchdog IAEA said Wednesday facilities housing nuclear material in Iran suffered no damage in the recent US-Israeli strikes and there was no risk of a radiation leak.

"Based on analysis of latest available satellite imagery, IAEA sees no damage to facilities containing nuclear material in Iran and therefore no radiological release risk at this time," the agency said on X.

Near the Natanz site near the central city of Isfahan, "damage is visible at two buildings" and there was "no additional impact detected" after "damage at entrances" reported on Tuesday, it said.

IAEA inspectors have had no access to the key Natanz site since it was targeted by bombings in June during the 12?day war triggered by an Israeli attack.

The IAEA reported "no impact at other nuclear sites, including Bushehr" in the southeast.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi repeated his call for "utmost restraint" in the conflict to avoid a radiation threat.

World

Iranian Govt Making Case for Demise with Indiscriminate Attacks, EU’s Kallas Says

European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas attends a press conference after an informal meeting of Council of the Baltic Sea States in Warsaw, Poland, 04 March 2026. (EPA)
European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas attends a press conference after an informal meeting of Council of the Baltic Sea States in Warsaw, Poland, 04 March 2026. (EPA)
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Iranian Govt Making Case for Demise with Indiscriminate Attacks, EU’s Kallas Says

European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas attends a press conference after an informal meeting of Council of the Baltic Sea States in Warsaw, Poland, 04 March 2026. (EPA)
European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas attends a press conference after an informal meeting of Council of the Baltic Sea States in Warsaw, Poland, 04 March 2026. (EPA)

Iran's government is making a strong case for its demise by indiscriminately attacking its neighbors, EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas told reporters on Wednesday.

"Iran's strategy is to sow chaos and set the region on fire," ‌Kallas said.

Türkiye ‌said earlier on ‌Wednesday that ⁠NATO air defenses destroyed ⁠an Iranian ballistic missile headed into Turkish airspace.

Asked about the incident, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said: "Iran is broadening the war ⁠to countries that did not ‌attack ‌it ... there is a well-known ‌saying it's worse than ‌a crime, it's a mistake."

Kallas said the war in the Middle East is diverting attention from ‌Ukraine, but it was important not to let ⁠the ⁠war in Ukraine recede into the background.

She added that the conflict in Iran has cost Russia an ally, but cautioned that Russia could benefit from a spike in oil prices stemming from the crisis.

World

Israel Initially Planned to Strike Iran in Mid-2026, Reveals Minister

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz makes statements with his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias after their meeting in Athens, Greece, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP)
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz makes statements with his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias after their meeting in Athens, Greece, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP)
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Israel Initially Planned to Strike Iran in Mid-2026, Reveals Minister

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz makes statements with his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias after their meeting in Athens, Greece, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP)
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz makes statements with his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias after their meeting in Athens, Greece, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP)

Israel had initially planned to strike Iran in mid-2026, but developments inside the country and shifting regional dynamics brought the timetable forward to February, Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday.

"An operation was planned for the middle of the year with the same target set," Katz said in an address to military intelligence officials, according to a statement issued by his office.

"But due to developments and circumstances -- mainly what happened inside Iran, the position of the US president and the possibility of creating a combined operation -- it became necessary to move everything up to February."

During mass anti-government protests in Iran in January, which were suppressed in a violent crackdown by security forces, Trump pledged support for demonstrators, declaring that the United States stood with the people of Iran.

Top Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, made similar remarks, urging Iranians to rise up against the country's clerical leadership.

The United States and Israel jointly launched strikes on Iran on Saturday, and in the initial wave of attacks, they killed supreme leader Ali Khamenei.

Iran retaliated swiftly with missile fire targeting Israel and also launched strikes against several countries in the region, saying it was aiming at US assets.

Iran's official IRNA news agency said Wednesday that US-Israeli strikes had killed 1,045 military personnel and civilians since the start of the war. AFP was not in a position to independently verify the toll.

Iranian strikes on Israel have killed 10 people and injured scores more, according to Israeli authorities.