Iran is striving to take a dominant position in the region, and its nuclear program is the most suitable means of achieving this.

Russia will search for ways of settlement without sanctions and the use of force ... but Iran must show wisdom and flexibility. If Iran doesn't help, Russia won't be able to do anything.

Russia wants to play mediator between the West and Islamic world. But that won't bring any good because Russia is more vulnerable to Islam than the West.

Russia wants to win global clout by acting as a mediator amid growing tensions between the West and the Islamic world.

If Ukraine does not sign the contract for gas supplies in the hours remaining until the New Year, Russian natural gas supplies for Ukrainian consumers will be stopped at 10 a.m. Moscow time [7a.m. GMT]. The actions will be clear and decisive.

If in the remaining hours, Ukraine does not sign a contract for gas, then at 10 a.m. Moscow time (0700 GMT) on January 1 the Russian Federation will completely sever supplies to the Ukrainian customer.