US attacks two missile launchers in Iran
On August 30 (local time), US forces attacked two missile launchers on Larak Island, southern Iran, after detecting Iranian forces preparing to launch mine-carrying missiles into the Strait of Hormuz.
The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said many soldiers and civilians were killed or injured.
The IRGC declared that the attack would be retaliated against and warned of "punishment for the aggressor".
US officials said two Iranian launchers were hit. According to this source, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) completed mine clearing on international shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz last week.
This is the first US attack on targets in Iran in more than a month.
Iceland does not resume EU accession negotiations
On the same day, Icelandic Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir announced that the current government will not restart the negotiations to join the European Union (EU), after voters in this country rejected the proposal to resume the process.
According to TASS, the referendum was held on August 29 (local time). Updated results show that about 52% of voters oppose resuming negotiations. Opponents worry that joining the EU could limit Iceland's sovereignty and affect autonomy in fishing activities.
Ms. Frostadottir affirmed that the government will respect the voting results, and said that Iceland will still be a reliable partner in the European Economic Area (EEA), similar to Norway and Liechtenstein.
Iceland applied to join the EU in 2009, but the negotiation process was suspended in 2013 after a government with a skeptical view of the EU came to power. Currently, Iceland is a member of the Schengen Area and the European Economic Area (EEA).
Russia sets conditions for 3-President summit
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could only take place to officialize the agreements reached in the peace process.
According to Mr. Peskov, a trilateral meeting should not only aim to discuss the details of the negotiation process. Leaders should only meet when agreements have been prepared to be completed.
Mr. Peskov emphasized that these agreements are not a "simple agreement" but the result of a complex peace process, including many issues and details to be resolved.
The statement was made after information that CIA Director John Ratcliffe arrived in Moscow on August 25. According to sources, during the visit, Mr. Ratcliffe was said to have proposed holding a meeting between the leaders of Russia, the US and Ukraine.
