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Russia has charged Telegram’s founder Pavel Durov with facilitating terrorism over allegations the messenger app has been used for recruitment by Ukrainian secret services.

The FSB – Russia’s domestic security service – said Telegram had been used “to prepare and co-ordinate acts of sabotage and terror” inside Russia and had failed to remove channels, chats and bots used by Ukraine.

An international arrest warrant has been issued for the Russian-born Durov, who lives abroad.

Shortly after the charge was announced, Telegram’s account on X posted an image showing Durov holding up his middle finger. He has previously accused Russian authorities of “fabricating new pretexts to restrict Russians’ access to Telegram”.

Telegram is popular in Russia and is used by tens of millions of people, although authorities have been restricting access as part of a wider crackdown on internet freedom. The app is also popular in Ukraine.

Multi-billionaire Durov, 41, has lived outside of Russia for many years and holds French and United Arab Emirates (UAE) passports.

It is unclear whether other countries or authorities would comply with an arrest warrant issued by Russia.

Durov left Russia in 2014 after refusing to comply with government demands to shut down opposition communities on the platform. He had previously founded popular Russian social media company VKontakte – dubbed the “Facebook of Russia”.

Telegram is used by around 950 million people worldwide and has previously positioned itself as an app focussed on its users’ privacy, rather than the normal policies prioritised by other global social media companies.

The platform has previously faced criticism of its app moderation, but has denied having insufficient practices.

Durov was arrested and placed under formal investigation in France in 2024 over allegations of failure to properly moderate the app to reduce criminality. He was allowed to go home months later, with the investigation continuing.

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Iran’s army has warned that the conflict in the Middle East could expand further if the United States launches additional attacks on the Islamic Republic, ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington this week.

Army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia issued the warning during an interview with Iranian state television on Sunday, July 26, saying any renewed US military action would widen the geographical scope of the conflict.

“I believe that if the Americans once again fall for the Zionists’ deception, or move in line with them, and insist on continuing the war, particularly through air strikes, geographically this will expand further,” he said.

Akraminia claimed the conflict had already spread to the Bab al-Mandab Strait at the entrance to the Red Sea, referring to the recent escalation involving Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement and Saudi Arabia. “The scope of our operations now encompasses the entire region, from US bases in Jordan to the countries along the Persian Gulf,” he said.

He added that the United States now faced an increasingly unstable security environment in the Middle East and suggested Washington was reassessing its approach. “The situation in the Middle East for the United States is difficult and unsettled,” he said, adding that the US was looking “for a new strategy.” “We are prepared for each of the options and scenarios that appear likely.” The comments come ahead of Netanyahu’s scheduled meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday.

According to the Israeli prime minister’s office, Netanyahu will depart for Washington on Monday before meeting Trump and attending the funeral service of Senator Lindsey Graham, whom the statement described as “a friend of Israel.” Since Trump’s return to office last year, the two leaders have met six times, most recently in Washington on February 11.

While Trump and Netanyahu initially presented a united front following the launch of military operations against Iran in late February, reports suggest differences have since emerged over whether to continue military action or pursue diplomatic efforts.

Netanyahu has previously described Trump as “the greatest friend” Israel has ever had in the White House. Earlier this month, Trump also spoke about their relationship during an interview with Axios. “We get along very good. (Netanyahu) knows who the boss is,” Trump said.

Relations between the two leaders reportedly came under strain during ceasefire negotiations between the United States and Iran in April. The ceasefire has since collapsed.

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A senior Iranian military commander has threatened that one US soldier would be killed for every Iranian citizen killed in US attacks, marking a sharp escalation in rhetoric as tensions between Tehran and Washington continue to intensify.

Ali Abdollahi, commander of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters, said on Friday that what he described as a principle previously demonstrated on the battlefield would now become an official equation governing Iran’s response.

According to Abdollahi, any US attack resulting in the death of an Iranian citizen would trigger a direct response against American forces.

“For every martyr from the proud people of the Islamic Republic of Iran, one American force will be eliminated,” he said.

He concluded his message with a strongly worded warning directed at US forces, saying they had been issued what he described as “a one-way ticket to hell.”

The remarks come as military tensions between Tehran and Washington continue across the region, with both sides exchanging threats amid the ongoing conflict.

Separately, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran would not accept a temporary ceasefire under any circumstances unless its demands regarding the Strait of Hormuz are met.

Araghchi said the current dispute with Washington is not the result of a lack of mediators, noting that Pakistan and Qatar continue to play mediation roles. Instead, he argued that the core issue lies in US policies, which he said must change.

Responding to a question about discussions with counterparts from Russia, China, Ukraine, and Pakistan, Araghchi said Iran maintains continuous and organized consultations with Moscow and Beijing and engages in dialogue whenever opportunities arise.

He added that recent meetings with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov provided an opportunity to discuss the conflict in greater detail.

Regarding Pakistan, Araghchi said it was natural to discuss mediation initiatives and proposals with Islamabad but reiterated that the fundamental problem between Tehran and Washington is not the absence of mediators but US policy.

Araghchi also stressed that Iran would not yield to what he described as American pressure or intimidation.

“Iran has shown that it will not bow to US coercion. We do not respond to the language of force, pressure, or threats. We are not afraid of threats, we do not submit to pressure, and we do not accept the language of intimidation,” he said.

He reaffirmed that protecting the Iranian people and safeguarding Iran’s interests in the Strait of Hormuz remain fundamental and non-negotiable principles for Tehran, adding that Iran would maintain its current position until what he described as the legitimate demands of the Iranian people are achieved.