US-Israeli ‘military gamble’ has destabilized entire Middle East – Moscow

The nations attacking Iran should “stop their aggression and return to the negotiations table,” the Foreign Ministry has urged

The US-Israeli attack on Iran has destabilized the entire Middle East and poses growing threats to all nations in the region, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned on Thursday.

Speaking at a regular press briefing, Zakharova urged the attackers to “stop their aggression and return to the negotiations table” and reiterated Russia’s goal of seeking de-escalation as soon as possible.

Zakharova cited civilian deaths in Iran and elsewhere, damage to Iranian cultural heritage, the environmental harm caused by Israeli strikes on fuel storage facilities near Tehran, and other recent episodes rapidly escalating the cost of the attempt to topple the Iranian government through military force.

”The conflict is not under control and is spiraling out, which we predicted would happen and which causes deep concern. The US-Israeli military gamble in Iran has destabilized the entire Middle Eastern region,” the diplomat stressed.

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”The hostilities, which evidently pose catastrophic risks – including environmental and radiological – to the region must be immediately stopped. A search for a diplomatic off-ramp must be renewed as soon as possible,” she added.

Zakharova cautioned against whitewashing the role the US and Israel played in igniting the war. She said that singling out Iranian attacks on non-military targets while ignoring similar tactics by its opponents was counterproductive.

”The Islamic Republic of Iran – just like any other nation – has the right to self-defense,” she said. “We consider unacceptable strikes on civilian targets and infrastructure in Iran, neighboring Arab nations, and everywhere else.”

The spokeswoman also ridiculed Western attempts to frame the bombing campaign as aimed at defending the Iranian people’s interests and bringing freedom and prosperity to their nation.