Russia urges end to Middle East hostilities, condemns US-Israel actions

On Monday, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a strong statement that condemned the recent rise in violence in the Middle East. Russia blamed the United States and Israel for what it called a "treacherous and unprovoked attack on Iran," and called for an immediate stop to the fighting. The ministry accused Washington and Tel Aviv of provoking an "unprecedented spiral of violence" that has resulted in many civilian casualties and serious damage to infrastructure throughout the area. The official statement noted that the number of victims from what Moscow describes as "American-Israeli aggression" has reached "hundreds and thousands," with significant harm caused to civilian facilities. The statement highlighted the Strait of Hormuz, an important route for global shipping, which it claims has been nearly paralyzed by ongoing Iranian retaliatory strikes. Once seen as a stable and thriving region, the Persian Gulf now faces "chaos and uncertainty," with economic impacts felt far beyond the conflict zone. The ministry criticized the ongoing increase in hostility, stating that instead of finding ways to de-escalate and return to diplomatic talks, the involved parties are making the situation worse with "increasingly lethal and destructive strikes." It expressed special concern about attacks on civilian infrastructure, emphasizing that these actions must end to avoid further death and suffering among innocent people in Arabian Gulf states and Iran. In its plea, the statement reaffirmed Moscow's "strong call to all parties for an immediate halt to hostilities and a shift towards political and diplomatic solutions." The ministry stressed that political negotiations, not military conflict, are essential for a lasting resolution to the crisis. The Russian government also stated its willingness to help, "within the scope of its available capabilities," to achieve a long-term and stable settlement of the conflict. This aligns with other diplomatic moves by Russian officials, including discussions between President Vladimir Putin and Iran’s leaders, where Moscow reiterated its support for de-escalation and political solutions during the growing Middle East crisis. This statement is part of a wider global reaction to the situation, with international leaders and organizations calling for calm and warning of serious economic and humanitarian consequences if the conflict worsens.