Russian FM warns attacks on Iran extending beyond Middle East

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned that U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran could destabilise global trade, energy security, and international transport routes, stressing that the situation is already spreading beyond the Persian Gulf and the Middle East.

According to TASS, Lavrov made the remarks during a meeting of the board of trustees of the Gorchakov Fund.

He stated that not only military targets but also civilian infrastructure were being hit, including nuclear energy facilities under the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Lavrov criticised the agency’s response as inadequate in the face of threats to nuclear safety.

“Among the targets—declared as legitimate—are Iran’s top leadership and civilian infrastructure, including nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards,” Lavrov said, adding that the agency’s leadership had reacted “inadequately” to the risks created by what he described as aggression.

The Russian foreign minister also pointed to the widening geographical scope of conflicts, noting that some experts are already viewing the developments as signs of a “third world war.” He argued that the escalation is linked to attempts by Western countries to maintain their dominance on the global stage.

“Over the past months and weeks, we have witnessed very dramatic developments both in Latin America and in the Middle East—events that directly stem from attempts by the Western minority to preserve the remnants of its dominance on the international stage through the use of crude force, disregarding previously signed and ratified obligations under international law,” he said.

Sergey Lavrov emphasised that Russia supports a diplomatic resolution and is holding consultations with both Iran and the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

“A similar initiative was recently put forward by China, and our Turkish colleagues are also ready to join mediation efforts. We are currently discussing all these issues and, of course, conveying our assessments and the evolution of our views both to the Iranians and to the GCC member states. <...> I would also like to recall that quite recently, Iran’s Foreign Minister, my colleague Abbas Araghchi, spoke in favour of a collective negotiation process. So there is clearly goodwill here, and we hope it will be reciprocated,” the Russian foreign minister said.

According to the minister, Moscow is also concerned about the impact of the conflict on Iran’s relations with neighbouring countries and supports the implementation of an initiative to create a collective security system in the Persian Gulf based on trust and mutual guarantees.

“We are convinced that this is precisely the path—the path of negotiations, of bringing together and aligning the balance of interests—that serves the interests of this entire region, one of the most important regions in the world, rather than attempts to force any country, especially the Islamic Republic of Iran, to follow dictates from abroad,” the Russian foreign minister concluded.