Russia blames US, Israel for trying to stymie normalization efforts between Iran, its neighbors

MOSCOW

Russia on Tuesday blamed the US and Israel for attempting to stymie normalization efforts between Iran and its neighbors, with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov criticizing US President Donald Trump for saying he "is not interested in international law."

"What we are now observing in relations in this region shows that the United States and Israel are trying to prevent this normalization between Iran and its neighbors and are even trying to 'set' the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council against Iran," Lavrov said at a meeting of the Russian Council on International Affairs in Moscow.

Lavrov criticized US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's statement that Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz was a "gross violation of international law," recalling that two days earlier, US President Donald Trump had said he was not interested in international law.

According to the minister, current conflicts are a struggle for leading positions in the world.

The minister said he held a video conference with the foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council on Monday, which lasted over two hours.

Some countries insist that Iran "was simply waiting for an excuse to attack them," Lavrov said, noting that Moscow categorically disagrees with this assessment.

Russia considers the use of military force against civilians and civilian infrastructure unacceptable, he said, calling for an immediate end to the US and Israel's aggression against Iran.

He said Moscow is willing to assist the parties involved in the Middle East conflict in resolving the situation through diplomatic means.

"Russia advocates for an immediate cessation of the aggression by the US and Israel against Iran. We consider the use of military force against civilians and civilian infrastructure unacceptable, wherever they may be—whether in Iran or in the states of the Gulf Cooperation Council," he added.

"One could say that we are in the midst of a restructuring of the world order, leading, we hope, to the formation of a stable and just multipolar world. But for now, this restructuring looks more like a breakdown, in every sense of the word," he said.

The minister added: "Overall, the struggle for leading positions in the new world is being waged extremely seriously—a life-or-death struggle. We see this almost daily."

As for Russia's relations with the West, Lavrov said they are going through the most severe crisis, adding that Moscow is ready for dialogue but "has no intention of running after anyone."

"The door is open, and it is open for those who wish to come, setting aside their whims, and who wish to say something intelligible about what is being offered to us. And we will then decide how to respond to any ideas that may yet come from Western elites. But we certainly will not run after anyone," Lavrov stressed.