A Russian rocket has sent an Iranian communications satellite into orbit, highlighting strong ties between the two countries

It is another symbol of deepening strategic cooperation between Russia and Iran, a point of concern for U.S.-led Western allies.

Russia successfully launched the Soyuz-2.1b rocket carrying Iran's Nahid-2 communications satellite and 18 other small payloads from the Vostochny Cosmodrome.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard on Wednesday declassified additional materials on the intelligence community's assessment of Russia's actions in the 2016 election, claiming in a social media post and at a White House press briefing that they showed Obama administration officials "manufactured" information in order to undermine then-candidate Donald Trump.

One day after President Donald Trump accused former President Barack Obama of treason over the intelligence assessment that Russia interfered in the 2016 election and sought to help Trump, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard declassified a highly sensitive congressional report she claimed was more evidence of a “treasonous conspiracy.

An passenger plane crashed in Russia's far east and initial information suggested that everyone on board was killed, Russian emergency services officials said.

The Angara Airlines passenger plane “disappeared from radar” before it was found near Tynda, in Russia’s far east, authorities said.