Lavrov told Araghchi about Russia\u2019s stance in favour of de-escalation of the conflict and a return to a political and diplomatic settlement, adding that Moscow is ready to mediate between the three sides to deter escalation<\/p>\n
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held a phone call with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, to discuss the recent developments in West Asia. The two ministers noted that the attacks by the US and Israel against Iran \u201cundermine the fundamental norms of international law\u201d.<\/p>\n
Lavrov told Araghchi about Russia\u2019s stance in favour of de-escalation of the conflict and a return to a political and diplomatic settlement, adding that Moscow is ready to mediate between the three sides to deter escalation.<\/p>\n
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADWhat has Russia said?<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, Moscow warned that the war launched by the US and Israel against Iran could result in the very outcome they were seeking to prevent, by spurring both \u200bIran and its Arab neighbours to seek to acquire nuclear weapons.<\/p>\n
Russian \u200bForeign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the logical consequence would be that \u201cforces will emerge in Iran… in favour of doing exactly what the Americans want to avoid \u2013 acquiring a nuclear bomb. Because the US doesn\u2019t attack \u200bthose who have nuclear bombs.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe seemingly paradoxical declared noble goal of starting a war to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons could stimulate completely opposite trends,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The minister added that Russia has still not seen any evidence suggesting that Iran is developing nuclear weapons, adding that Israel is the only country in the region to be nuclear-armed.<\/p>\n
\u2018Cynical murder\u2019<\/p>\n
Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the killing of Iran\u2019s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and members of his family as a \u201ccynical murder\u201d that violated human morality and international law, expressing condolences to Iran\u2019s leadership.<\/p>\n
Putin slammed the United States and Israel for their military operation in Iran. On Sunday, the Kremlin published a letter that Putin sent to his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, in which the Russian leader expressed his deepest condolences for the assassination of Khamenei.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease accept my deep condolences in connection with the murder of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Syed Ali Khamenei, and members of his family, committed in cynical violation of all norms of human morality and international law,\u201d Putin says in a note to Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian.<\/p>\n
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD<\/p>\n