ISTANBUL / MOSCOW

The US-Israel "aggression" against Iran could spur a movement in the country and its neighbors in favor of developing nuclear weapons, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday.

Addressing a press conference after talks with Brunei's Second Minister of Foreign Affairs Erywan Yusof in Moscow, Lavrov said "the seemingly paradoxically declared noble goal of starting a war to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons could stimulate completely opposite trends."

"This action, this war that has now been started against Iran, could, firstly, spur a movement in favor of developing nuclear weapons, and not only in Iran," but in neighboring Arab countries as well.

Lavrov underlined that the threat to global nuclear security is escalating and growing due to the Middle East conflict.

He added that there is confirmation from the International Atomic Energy Agency and US intelligence that Iran was not attempting to make nuclear weapons.

Asked about sanctions against the US and Israel amid their attack on Iran, Lavrov said: "It is obvious that no one would dare to resort to such steps."

As for the UN possibilities, the minister said with the start of the aggression in Iran, Russia, together with China, initiated a meeting of the Security Council, where principled assessments were voiced, adding that he believes this was "the maximum possible under those conditions."

"The US, as a permanent member of the Security Council, of course, will not allow the adoption of any decisions that would contradict its interests," he said.

The top Russian diplomat highlighted that this crisis is "a reflection of the deepest problems that have now come to the surface, which consist, first and foremost, in the clash between international law and the absence of international law."

Lavrov reiterated Russia's willingness to provide mediation services, adding that for that "one must have a clear understanding of the direction in which the parties are moving."

"So far, we do not see such clarity regarding the goals of our American colleagues. But under all circumstances, we have never interrupted open dialogue with them or with Israel," he said.

As for how serious the threat to global nuclear security is today in connection with the conflict in the Middle East, Lavrov said it "is intensifying and growing."

Lavrov also said that Iran, as a party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), has "an inalienable right to enrich uranium."

For his part, Brunei's foreign minister said Brunei strongly condemned the US-Israeli attack on Iran, pointing out that it occurred during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

"Brunei can only state that we strongly urge and encourage the upholding of international law, particularly the principles of the UN Charter in terms of respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty, and to use dialogue and diplomacy for regional peace and stability," he said.

In a separate statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Lavrov discussed the situation in Iran with his Omani counterpart, Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, and that both spoke in favor of finding a diplomatic solution.

The US and Israel launched a large-scale attack on Iran on Saturday, killing several top Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tehran has responded with drone and missile attacks targeting Israel and US-linked sites in Gulf countries.

US President Donald Trump has vowed to destroy Iran's missiles, raze its missile industry to the ground, and annihilate the navy, reiterating that it cannot have a nuclear weapon.

The strikes came as talks between Washington and Tehran over the latter's nuclear program were ongoing under Oman’s mediation.