Press review: India eyes Russian LNG as Rubio’s visit pushes Central Asia minerals trade

The United States struck targets located in southern Iran, including Qeshm Island and the port city of Bandar Abbas. Overall, according to Reuters data as of June 10, approximately 20 targets were hit. In response, Iran attacked US facilities located in neighboring Arab states and US partners Qatar, Jordan, and Bahrain. The latest attacks represent not the first significant violation of the ceasefire reached between the United States and Iran in early April, nearly a month and a half after the launch of the US-Israeli anti-Iranian operation.

According to Alexey Yurk, a Research Fellow at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies of the Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations, the overnight exchange of strikes was intended to demonstrate strength and resolve amid the obvious lack of progress in negotiations. In his view, both sides are attempting to extract concessions from one another, although the limited nature of the strikes is unlikely to achieve the desired outcome. The expert told Vedomosti these actions may remain isolated incidents but warned of the risk of an uncontrolled escalation caused by unforeseen circumstances. Theoretically, the United States and Iran could reach a peace agreement, but it would most likely take the form of a nonbinding memorandum. "However, even achieving such a result against the backdrop of profound distrust between Tehran and Washington would require serious diplomatic efforts," he noted.

A new round of violence in the Middle East was predictable from the outset, while the negotiation process does not preclude preparations by either side for a possible return to war, Iran expert and editor-in-chief of the Iran-1979 website Ismagil Gibadullin told Vedomosti. This time, however, neither side appears eager to fully resume hostilities, and instead they are exchanging limited and carefully calibrated strikes, much like moves in a chess match. "In this way, Iran and the United States are probing one another and searching for vulnerabilities, demonstrating their readiness to back political intentions with immediate military responses, but without inflicting full-scale damage. Theoretically, this could be described as a form of ‘ranging fire’ ahead of a renewed conflict and as one of the methods carefully devised by the Trump administration to push Tehran toward a deal," the expert argued.

India is ready to purchase Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG), Indian Ambassador to Moscow Vinay Kumar told Izvestia. Imports of Russian LNG could help reduce the country's energy deficit, which has