Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met on Wednesday with ambassadors of Arab states to discuss the latest escalation in the Middle East, as announced by Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova during a briefing.
“Today, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a meeting with the heads of diplomatic missions from Arab states accredited in Moscow at their request,” said Zakharova. “The request was made late last night, and the meeting was promptly arranged. During the exchange of views on the developing situation in the Middle East, the focus was on the unprecedented escalation of violence.”
Zakharova emphasized that all parties involved must refrain from provocative actions, exercise restraint, and adopt a responsible approach in line with United Nations Security Council decisions.
Participants at the meeting called for the immediate cessation of hostilities in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone. They expressed deep concern over the growing risk of a large-scale war in the Middle East with devastating consequences for the entire region, particularly following Iran’s retaliatory missile strikes on Israeli territory on October 1.
Zakharova also pointed to the role of Western members of the UN Security Council in contributing to the current crisis. “Moscow is deeply concerned about this new dangerous escalation. We have repeatedly warned that unresolved crises in this region, particularly the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, threaten to escalate into larger conflicts,” she stated.
Zakharova further underscored that the United States bears significant responsibility for the current situation, noting that the US has been blocking the adoption of a UN Security Council resolution demanding a cessation of hostilities in Gaza and the provision of humanitarian aid to its population for nearly a year.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry
Based on TASS materials