Kremlin Declines to Say if US Warned Against Iran Intel Sharing

This photograph shows Tehran's skyline covered with clouds and smoke after overnight strike on the Tehran Oil Refinery, on March 8, 2026. (AFP)
This photograph shows Tehran's skyline covered with clouds and smoke after overnight strike on the Tehran Oil Refinery, on March 8, 2026. (AFP)
TT

Kremlin Declines to Say if US Warned Against Iran Intel Sharing

This photograph shows Tehran's skyline covered with clouds and smoke after overnight strike on the Tehran Oil Refinery, on March 8, 2026. (AFP)
This photograph shows Tehran's skyline covered with clouds and smoke after overnight strike on the Tehran Oil Refinery, on March 8, 2026. (AFP)

The Kremlin declined on Tuesday to say whether the United States had warned it against sharing intelligence with Iran, as the war in the Middle East entered its 11th day.

The United States and Israel began striking Iran on February 28, prompting a storm of retaliatory Iranian strikes across the Gulf.

The Washington Post reported on Friday that Moscow had passed sensitive intelligence to Tehran, including the locations of US warships and aircraft in the region.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff said Saturday he had "strongly" communicated to Russia not to share targeting information with Tehran.

When asked by AFP about Witkoff's statement, or whether US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin had discussed this in a phone call on Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said:

"All I can say is that Witkoff is in constant contact with his Russian counterparts, and that this channel of communication indeed allows us to hand each other signals about the most sensitive issues."

Trump said Saturday he had no indication Russia was supporting Iran in the war, but that if they were, it was not "helping much".

Russia is a close ally of Iran, with the two agreeing last year to help each other counter "common threats".



Iran Not More Formidable than Thought, Top US General Says

US President Donald Trump takes a question as he speaks during a press conference at Trump National Doral Miami in Miami, Florida, US, March 9, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
US President Donald Trump takes a question as he speaks during a press conference at Trump National Doral Miami in Miami, Florida, US, March 9, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
TT

Iran Not More Formidable than Thought, Top US General Says

US President Donald Trump takes a question as he speaks during a press conference at Trump National Doral Miami in Miami, Florida, US, March 9, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
US President Donald Trump takes a question as he speaks during a press conference at Trump National Doral Miami in Miami, Florida, US, March 9, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

The top US general said on Tuesday that while Iran was fighting, it was not more formidable than Washington had thought, as the United States geared up for the most intense day of strikes against Iran in the war so far.

General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters that the United States was carrying out strikes against Iranian mine-laying vessels and the Pentagon would look at a range of options if it was tasked with escorting ships through the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported.

The war has effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for global oil and liquefied natural gas transport, leaving tankers unable to sail for more than a week and forcing producers to halt pumping as storage fills.

"I think they're fighting, and I respect that, but I don't think they're more formidable than what we thought," Caine said.

US President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to escalate the war with Iran if it blocked oil shipments from the Middle East, even as he predicted a quick end to the conflict.

During the press conference at the Pentagon, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the United States would carry out the most intense day of strikes against Iran on Tuesday.

Hegseth reiterated that this would not be an endless war and said Trump would decide when the US campaign would end.

The United States has carried out strikes against more than 5,000 targets in the first 10 days of the campaign, including against more than 50 naval ships, Caine said.


Merz Says Sees 'No Common Plan' to Quickly End Iran War

Policemen stand on top of their car with pictures of the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, right and left, and his son Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, the successor to him, center, during a rally to support him in Tehran, Iran, Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
Policemen stand on top of their car with pictures of the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, right and left, and his son Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, the successor to him, center, during a rally to support him in Tehran, Iran, Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
TT

Merz Says Sees 'No Common Plan' to Quickly End Iran War

Policemen stand on top of their car with pictures of the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, right and left, and his son Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, the successor to him, center, during a rally to support him in Tehran, Iran, Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
Policemen stand on top of their car with pictures of the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, right and left, and his son Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, the successor to him, center, during a rally to support him in Tehran, Iran, Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz voiced concern Tuesday that the United States and Israel appear to have "no common plan" for bringing the war against Iran "to a swift and convincing end", AFP reported.

"The United States and Israel have been waging war against Iran for over a week. We share many of these goals, but with each day of the war, more questions arise," Merz said.

"We are particularly concerned that there is apparently no common plan for how this war can be brought to a swift and convincing end."


China Lifts Military Budget to Modernize Weapons, Defense Technology

Bull statues near screens showing the Hang Seng stock index and stock prices outside Exchange Square, in Hong Kong, China, February 3, 2026. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu//File Photo
Bull statues near screens showing the Hang Seng stock index and stock prices outside Exchange Square, in Hong Kong, China, February 3, 2026. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu//File Photo
TT

China Lifts Military Budget to Modernize Weapons, Defense Technology

Bull statues near screens showing the Hang Seng stock index and stock prices outside Exchange Square, in Hong Kong, China, February 3, 2026. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu//File Photo
Bull statues near screens showing the Hang Seng stock index and stock prices outside Exchange Square, in Hong Kong, China, February 3, 2026. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu//File Photo

China's increased military spending will fund its military modernization and help develop advanced weapons and defense technology innovation, the spokesperson for the military delegation at its annual parliament meeting, Zhang Xiaogang, said Tuesday.

The Chinese government has kept defense spending growing at a steady and reasonable pace in recent years, coordinated with economic development, Zhang said, Reuters reported.

China's nationwide defense spending in 2026 is set at 1.94 trillion yuan ($282 billion) in the national public budget, up 6.9% from the previous year. That includes 1.91 trillion yuan from the central government, a 7% increase on the year.

The increased spending will be used for China's military modernization, optimizing joint combat systems, speeding up development of advanced weapons and defense technology innovation, as well as military personnel and training.

The military will promote reform of military budget management and strengthen full-chain control and performance evaluation to ensure efficient and effective spending.