The Kremlin warned on Friday that the Middle East is plunging into “an abyss of instability and war” and expressed concern about the worsening regional situation. Moscow said it was ready to act as a mediator in the face of escalating tensions involving Iran, Israel and the United States.
Russia, which has close relations with Iran and also ties with Israel, has also called on the US to refrain from any attack on Tehran and to seek a diplomatic solution to the crisis over Iran's nuclear program. Asked whether Moscow had any "red lines" in the situation, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that "regional countries should have their own red lines."
“The region is plunging into an abyss of instability and war,” Peskov said. “This war is fraught with the risk of geographical expansion and unpredictable consequences. This region is on our borders. Therefore, it is potentially dangerous for us and we are concerned.”
Although Russia does not have direct borders with Middle Eastern countries, its southern region, in the North Caucasus, borders the neighboring former Soviet republics of Iran and Turkey — which, according to the Kremlin, increases the level of strategic risk for Moscow.
Nuclear alert and attempts at diplomatic containment
Peskov said Moscow maintains open channels of communication with Israel, the United States and Iran. He said Russia is closely monitoring Israel's intention to pursue military action. According to the spokesman, it is difficult to predict whether a possible mediation offer by President Vladimir Putin would be accepted. Still, he reiterated that Russia advocates an end to hostilities and a return to diplomatic channels "as soon as possible."
At the center of Russian concerns is Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant, where hundreds of Russian technicians work. The head of state-run Rosatom, Alexei Likhachev, said on Friday that the situation at the plant remained "normal" and under control. The previous day, the Israeli military announced that it had struck Bushehr, but later corrected the statement, calling it a mistake.
Likhachev warned that any attack on the facility could cause a disaster comparable to Chernobyl. “We sincerely hope that all our signals from yesterday have reached the Israeli leadership,” he said Friday in St. Petersburg.
According to the executive, around 300 Russian employees currently work in Bushehr, in addition to their family members, totaling approximately 500 people under Russia's direct responsibility.
Source: Guy Faulconbridge and Dmitry Antonov | Notícias Agrícolas
