COMBATE Digest - combate-20260925-0000Z

🌍 WEST ASIA

Reuters: US and Iran Discuss Phased End to War

The US and Iran are discussing a phased end to the war that would include reopening the Strait of Hormuz and lifting the economic blockade, Reuters reported (sputnikglobe). Tehran would reopen the strait in exchange for Washington lifting the blockade and potentially releasing frozen assets, with neither side willing to give up leverage first; Iran is weighing dropping its demand for transit fees while keeping administrative control of the strait, a prospect opposed by Gulf states (tabzlive). Araghchi said Iran has submitted a proposal through mediators to reopen Hormuz and resume talks on a final agreement, giving Washington seven days to fulfil conditions after accepting; the demands do not go beyond the Islamabad MoU, which included sanctions relief, frozen assets and an end to military operations (tabzlive). Rubio said Trump remains open to a deal to make Iran prosperous (cgtn_europe). Media reported stepped-up US reconnaissance flights around Hormuz as tanker traffic rises (rt_all). Israeli Channel 14, citing a source close to the IRGC, reported fear in Tehran before the Trump-Xi summit, with the source warning "China may abandon Iran" (Hidcunim_news).

Pezeshkian: Iran Would Give Up 60%-Enriched Uranium Under a Deal

In a Fox News interview, Pezeshkian said Iran may give up its highly enriched uranium — reported at 60% purity — if a deal is reached, and would comply with an agreement within international law and the NPT (tass, sputnikbrasil). He told NBC Tehran wants a deal before the November US midterms: "We don't want it to get to the midterm elections," referring to the June agreement that established a temporary ceasefire before collapsing (tabzlive, sputnikvietnam). He said Yemen's Ansar Allah "are responsible for their own actions" and "don't take direction from us," with contacts but "no systematic relationship" (tabzlive), described Iran's leader as in complete health after a seven-hour meeting with him (rt_spanish), and said the strait was open when Iran was attacked without legal justification (tabzlive).

UAE Closes Airspace to Iranian Flights; Iran Reciprocates

The UAE fully closed its airspace to all Iranian flights, and Iran closed its airspace to UAE carriers in response, with a FlyDubai aircraft from Azerbaijan observed diverting (guerrasygeo). Iranian civilian airliners are being prevented from landing at neighboring airports as Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and the UAE comply with US sanctions; Iraq closed Baghdad airport to Iranian carriers while other Iraqi airports welcomed them (mintpress_news).

Netanyahu Booed at UN as Delegations Walk Out

Dozens of delegations, including Brazil's, left the UNGA hall as Netanyahu began speaking, and he replied: "If there is any other moral coward who has not yet left this hall, please do so now!" (rt_spanish, sputnikbrasil). Iran's delegation was absent, with a portrait of Qassem Soleimani placed at its seats (rt_spanish, guerrasygeo), and the UAE representative was reported to be among the few who stayed (WarSaWitness). Netanyahu held up a Starlink device, saying he would leave it "so when they inevitably defect, they too will be able to freely tell their story" (tabzlive), displayed a pager — "Hezbollah certainly remembers them" (rt_spanish) — predicted Iran's government will fall, saying "the power of the people will overcome the people in power" (tabzlive), and claimed many leaders privately thank Israel for "taking out Iran's nukes" (tabzlive). Thousands protested outside the UN demanding an end to arms supplies (rt_spanish), where actress Susan Sarandon was among those detained (yt_lajornada2023). Netanyahu greeted Argentina's Milei with "Amigo!" (rt_spanish) and met Greece's PM Mitsotakis (abualiexpress).

Yemen Strikes Riyadh and Aramco; Greek Patriot Intercepts Over Yanbu

Yemen's armed forces said they attacked a "sensitive target" in Riyadh and facilities of Saudi Aramco (sputnikserbia), and Al-Masirah reported a broad preemptive operation with dozens of ballistic missiles and drones hitting operations rooms, command and control centers and weapons depots at Al-Tuwal in Jizan, two months into what it called the "blockade for a blockade" equation (meo_verified). A Greek-operated Patriot shot down one ballistic missile and one UAV launched toward Yanbu — the fifth interception by that system since late February (tabzlive). Macron said France will deploy troops, radar and air-defense systems to protect the Yanbu terminal, which exported over 5 million barrels per day before the attack — "not military engagement, but protection" (sputnikbrasil). Yemen's government asked Trump for military support against the movement (sputnikserbia).

UN Sidelines: Portugal Demands Toll-Free Hormuz; UAE Seeks Permanent Peace

Portugal's PM Montenegro said Iran's "aggressive actions must cease," demanding the Hormuz blockade end and "safe and toll-free passage" including through the Red Sea (tabzlive). UAE presidential advisor Gargash said the "no war, no peace" state cannot continue and the region needs a lasting peace, with any settlement including Tehran-Gulf dialogue (sputnikarabic). Lebanon's PM Salam told Pezeshkian that Lebanon "does not want to be an arena for regional conflicts or exchanges of messages" (sputnikarabic). Russia's Vienna envoy Ulyanov called the IAEA board's anti-Iran resolution disgraceful, citing the West's dropped "level of expertise" (tass), and Lavrov met IAEA chief Grossi to discuss the US and Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear sites (tass).

Abbas: Palestine Faces One of Its Most Dangerous Moments

Speaking by video after Washington denied visas to the Palestinian delegation, Abbas said ongoing actions across Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem "threaten the very existence of the Palestinian people" and asked how long the world would stay silent toward Israel (yt_telesurenglish, N12chat, MBSRsi98).

Around West Asia

The son of Israel's ambassador to the US was injured in a West Bank car-ramming (cgtn_europe). Lieberman's proposal that Jordan administer the West Bank stirred anger among Israelis and in the region (sputnikarabic). Yosef Haim Ben David, convicted of the 2014 murder of Palestinian teenager Mohammed Abu Khdeir, died suddenly in prison at 42 (Hidcunim_news). Former US ambassador Dan Shapiro said Israel's popularity in the US has fallen to unprecedented lows, including among Republicans (irna_1313).

🌍 EUROPE

United Russia Claims Record 349 Duma Seats; SVR Alleges EU Interference

Medvedev called the party's result a historic success, saying it may take 349 mandates — "a historic record" (tass_agency). SVR director Naryshkin said the EU interfered in the campaign and that the European Commission had prepared a document criticizing the vote in advance (rt_french, sputnikserbia).

Elite Ukrainian Units Encircled at Dobropolye, Russian Sources Say

Experts cited by Russian media said elite Ukrainian units are encircled in the Donetsk republic, suffering dozens of casualties and shortages of food, ammunition and medicine (sputnikmundo). The Defense Ministry said Dobropolye is key to the complete liberation of Donbass (tass), with forces destroying encircled Ukrainian troops and advancing toward Aleksandrovka (sputnikvietnam). Russia struck an Odessa logistics center storing and distributing European military supplies (sputnikvietnam) plus warehouse terminals and vessels delivering military supplies to Ukraine (sputnikglobe).

Moscow: Kyiv Cries Truce Under Pressure; Asset Transfers Are "Theft"

Ryabkov said Ukraine calls for a truce each time it feels pressure and seeks time (rt_french). Dmitriev's office denied any Russia-US-Ukraine trilateral meeting in New York, calling such reports fake (sputnikarabic). Peskov branded the EU's transfer of €8 billion in revenues from frozen Russian assets to Ukraine illegal and "theft" (irna_1313); the EU Council simultaneously released a further Ukraine Facility tranche (rtde). Zelensky told the WSJ he wants to remain in Ukraine after the conflict but fears being hated or targeted, admitting many mistakes (rt_french); Tucker Carlson called him "a lunatic and a tyrant" holding his people hostage (rt_spanish).

NATO Steps Up Intelligence Sharing; Allies Split on Russian Threat

SACEUR Grynkewich said NATO is increasing intelligence sharing over suspected Russian sabotage, called a limited Russian attack on alliance territory "unlikely but something that we can't rule out," and answered "Absolutely not" when asked whether Moscow might exploit depleted US missile stockpiles after the Iran war (tabzlive). Estonia's Foreign Ministry secretary general urged NATO partners to calm down, saying reports of an imminent Russian attack are unfounded (rtde), while Poland's Sikorski said Warsaw is preparing to contain Russia (rtde). NATO's UK-led Strike Warrior-26 drills, running to October 9, are practicing closing the Baltic exit to the Atlantic and the GIUK gap to Russian submarines (sputnikmundo, sputnikarabic).

Europe Briefs

The EU said it is concerned about a possible US diesel export ban and is in contact with Washington (sputnikglobe, irna_1313); Macron said he will not "participate in the escalation" with Russia (rt_french), while French media revisited the army's readiness to regenerate Kyiv's forces after a ceasefire (rt_french). The EU sanctioned Xenia Fedorova, former head of RT France (rt_french). Croatia approved extraditing to Germany a Ukrainian suspected in the Nord Stream sabotage (sputnikserbia). Montenegro will introduce visas for Russians, Belarusians and Turks from November 1 (sputnikserbia), and Speaker Mandic said another attempt to shut down the policy of reconciliation had failed (sputnikserbia). Vucic said Serbia must remain a "hard nut" with alliances with Russia and China (sputnikserbia) and expects news on NIS after talking to Putin (sputnikserbia). OpenAI gave Kyiv access to its Daybreak AI cyber-defense program to protect civilian infrastructure (rtde). Le Pen warned against provoking Russia (sputnikvietnam). Germany entered the world's top three arms exporters for the first time with a record $8.9 billion in 2025 (rtde).

🌍 NORTH AMERICA

Trump Hosts Xi: B-2 Flyover and "New Trade Agreement"

A B-2 stealth bomber flanked by four fighter jets flew over Washington as Trump welcomed Xi to the White House (sputnikglobe). Trump said AI would be a "big topic" of the talks (sputnikserbia); Xi said the two sides' economic teams held a new round of consultations and reached a new trade agreement — good news for the world economy (sputnikserbia) — and called for AI to remain under human control and serve the public good (yt_telesurenglish). Russia said it would welcome a Putin-Trump-Xi meeting at the APEC summit in Shenzhen in November (sputnikserbia). Chinese experts assessed the US debate over slowing AI development as designed to contain China before it closes the tech gap (sputnikglobe), and 23 US states urged Congress to adopt AI regulations (sputnikglobe).

US Activists Sue to Declare the Iran War Illegal

Plaintiffs including the National Iranian American Council will seek a DC court ruling recognizing the operation against Iran as a war, NIAC president Jamal Abdi said (tass). Human Rights Watch's former chief Kenneth Roth wrote in the Guardian that Trump's latest threats against Iran could amount to a clear war crime (irna_1313).

🌍 SOUTH AMERICA

Colombia Breaks Relations with Iran

Colombia's foreign ministry announced it had severed diplomatic relations with Iran effective September 19, accusing Tehran of "presumed ties to international terrorist groups" (tass, sputnikvietnam, sputnikbrasil). The rupture, announced by the country's recently installed government, came amid its realignment toward Washington (informador_global).

Venezuela Works the UN Sidelines

Acting President Rodríguez held bilateral talks with Chile's President Kast at UN headquarters (yt_telesurenglish, yt_tvfanb), and Venezuela's defense minister met Brazil's ambassador to deepen security and defense cooperation (yt_tvfanb). Reactions in Caracas to her UN appearance were divided (yt_france24es).

Around South America

Santa Marta faced an armed strike by the Autodefensas Conquistadoras de la Sierra Nevada after the death of "el Cholo," the group's second-in-command, and the government attributed a freight-train attack in La Guajira to the ELN (yt_france24es). Díaz-Canel answered Trump's UN charges on live radio, defending 176 approved transformations and reaffirming the socialist path (yt_canalcaribe); Uruguay's Orsi condemned the "iron" US blockade of Cuba at the UNGA (sputnikmundo, informador_global).

🌍 AFRICA

UPDATE: Tigray Rebels Launch Large-Scale Offensive

Tigray rebels in northern Ethiopia have launched a large-scale offensive and taken control of regional airports, government officials said, threatening to reignite civil war after months of rising tensions (sputnikserbia).

Morocco's PAM Wins Parliamentary Elections

The Authenticity and Modernity Party won 97 of 395 seats, ahead of the RNI and Istiqlal, on 38.08% turnout — the highest abstention in two decades (rt_french, yt_france24es).

Africa Briefs

Lavrov invited Senegal's President Faye to the third Russia-Africa summit in Moscow in late October (rt_french); Senegal's SAR signed an MoU with Turkey's Yamata group for a second oil refinery (rt_french).

🌍 CENTRAL ASIA

Pashinyan Courts Turkey and Iran; Moscow Warns Yerevan on US Guarantees

Pashinyan told the UNGA he is "resolutely" advancing Armenia-Turkey normalization and that relations with Iran and Georgia remain of exceptional importance (tabzlive). Russia's Security Council deputy secretary Salyukov said US "security guarantees" may leave Yerevan disappointed, calling the transfer of Nagorno-Karabakh under Azerbaijani jurisdiction largely the result of post-2018 Armenian policy (tass).

Central Asia Briefs

Six Ukrainians accused of providing drone-warfare training to armed groups in Myanmar were granted default bail by a New Delhi court (rt_india).

💬 NOTABLE QUOTES

"If there is any other moral coward who has not yet left this hall, please do so now!" — Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister (rt_spanish)

"We had not closed the Strait of Hormuz. It was open. Without any legal justification or framework, they attacked us." — Masoud Pezeshkian, Iranian President (tabzlive)

"You wanted to drag Iran back to the 1970s? Nobody told you that Iran is not for arrogant amateurs?" — Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iranian Parliament Speaker (rt_spanish)

The EU's transfer of €8 billion in frozen-asset revenues to Ukraine is "theft." — Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin Spokesman (irna_1313)