Russia, Oman call for diplomatic solution to escalating Middle East crisis

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Omani counterpart, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi, jointly called for an immediate cessation of hostilities between Israel and Iran, emphasizing the urgent need for a diplomatic resolution to the escalating conflict.

“The top diplomats emphasized the importance of ceasing the hostilities as soon as possible, and the need to prevent the conflict from expanding to new territories, as it may lead to tragic consequences for the entire region,” a statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry said, Caliber.Az reports.

During their discussion, Lavrov and Albusaidi underscored the significance of “continuing joint efforts to take the confrontation to the diplomatic dimension and to create optimal conditions for a sustainable negotiation process.” Lavrov also expressed appreciation for Oman’s mediation efforts, particularly regarding Iran’s nuclear program.

The conversation, initiated by the Omani side, focused on the “unprecedented escalation of tensions in the Middle East, caused by Israel’s large-scale military operation against Iran, carried out in breach of the UN Charter and international norms,” according to the ministry.

The current conflict erupted overnight on June 13, when Israel launched Operation Rising Lion targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities. Iran retaliated within 24 hours, and subsequent days saw continued exchanges of strikes between Tel Aviv and Tehran. Both sides have reported casualties and damage, acknowledging that several facilities were hit, though they describe the overall damage as limited.

By Vafa Guliyeva