Slovakia files lawsuit to challenge EU ban on Russian energy

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said Saturday that Slovakia has filed a lawsuit with the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) challenging the EU's ban on Russian natural gas imports.

If the EU further mandates the cessation of Russian oil imports, Slovakia will continue to file lawsuits with the court, he said.

Under the ban adopted by the EU in January of this year, imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) will be completely prohibited starting January 1, 2027, while a comprehensive ban on Russian pipeline natural gas will take effect in the fall of 2027.

In April of this year, Slovakia filed a lawsuit with the CJEU in Luxembourg regarding the natural gas import ban.

Currently, Slovakia continues to import Russian natural gas via the TurkStream pipeline and Russian oil via pipelines passing through Ukraine.

Slovakia files lawsuit to challenge EU ban on Russian energy

Several explosions were heard Saturday night in the four southern Iranian counties of Qeshm, Sirik, Jask and Bandar Abbas, state-run IRIB TV reported.

It was not yet clear whether the blasts resulted from an enemy attack or from the Iranian armed forces firing at "violating" vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the report.

The official Iranian news agency IRNA earlier reported two explosions on Qeshm Island, citing its correspondent as saying that the blasts had occurred inside the island.

Iranian officials have not yet released any details.

The U.S. Army reportedly carried out "minor" attacks targeting Qeshm Island early Saturday.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that U.S. forces launched new strikes targeting Iran's air defense systems, describing the action as "minor."

Explosions heard in Iran's southern counties