Russia has described the military strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel as “a pre-planned and unprovoked act of armed aggression” against a sovereign member of the United Nations.
Moscow which stated this while condemning the strikes on Iran, pointedly described the attacks as “dangerous and destabilising”.
These were contained in a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, in which the Russian government specifically denounced what it termed escalating assaults on Iranian territory.
The Russian government therefore demanded an immediate cessation of hostilities and challenged all parties to return to diplomatic engagement.
Moscow particularly accused the U.S. and Israel of exploiting concerns over Iran’s nuclear programme as a pretext to pursue regime change.
It stressed that the continued bombardment of Iran risks triggering severe humanitarian, economic and even environmental consequences across the Middle East.
This was as Russia signalled its willingness to play a mediating role in efforts to de-escalate the crisis, while placing responsibility for the current tensions squarely on the United States and Israel.
The Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, had claimed that the United States used nuclear negotiations with Iran as a cover while preparing military action.
The Russian Foreign Ministry particularly urged the international community to carefully evaluate what it described as irresponsible actions capable of further destabilising an already volatile region.
The latest position by Russia clearly underscored the deepening global divisions over the strikes on Iran, as fears mount of a likely broader regional confrontation.
