“If we are talking about the latest swirl of US-Iranian escalation with which the current year started, then our position is known. We condemn any actions that contradict the principles of the UN Charter and lead to increased tensions in the region,” Lavrov was quoted as saying by Sputnik.
“The Pentagon attack on the airport in Baghdad organized on January 3, which killed the commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, Qasem Soleimani, became a flagrant violation of international law,” Financial Tribune quoted him as saying.
The Russian foreign minister pointed out that it was a civilian airport, emphasizing that “these actions on the part of Americans are beyond the limits”.
“Russia advocates overcoming the existing differences solely through dialogue, at the negotiating table. This is what the Russian concept of collective security in the Persian Gulf region, presented last summer, is aiming for,” he said.
“So, in contrast to the confrontational schemes promoted by a number of states, we are offering the region a constructive, unifying agenda, and are calling for the formation of mechanisms for joint responses to challenges and threats.”
Lavrov noted that a consistent implementation of the Russian initiative would become an important step toward improving the situation across the Middle East and promoting mutual trust in the region.
Tensions between Iran and the United States escalated after the assassination of the top Iranian general on the orders of US President Donald Trump. Tehran launched missile attacks on bases hosting US troops in Iraq in response to the killing.
Also last month, Iran announced that it was discontinuing all remaining obligations under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, often referred to as the Iran nuclear deal, which was signed in 2015 by Iran, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Russia, China and the United States.
In May 2018, the United States pulled out of the agreement, which had succeeded in curbing Iran’s nuclear activity, and reintroduced sanctions against Tehran.
Iran started to gradually reduce its JCPOA commitments in May 2019 when the economic benefits promised under the deal did not materialize.
However, Tehran said it was ready to return to fulfilling its obligations if sanctions were lifted and in the meantime was continuing its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency.