Russia urges restraint as US builds up military assets near Iran
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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov urges “our Iranian friends and all parties in the region” to prioritise political and diplomatic means in resolving any problems.
PHOTO: REUTERS
MOSCOW – Russia said on Feb 19 that it was seeing an unprecedented escalation of tension around Iran as the United States moved military assets into the Middle East, and the Kremlin urged both Tehran and “all parties” to exercise prudence and restraint.
The US has deployed warships near Iran
Russia has a strategic partnership treaty with Iran, although it does not include a mutual defence clause. A Russian naval corvette conducted manoeuvres with the Iranian navy in the Gulf of Oman this week, according to Russia’s Defence Ministry.
“These are planned exercises; they are coordinated in advance. Russia continues to develop relations with Iran, and in doing so, we call on our Iranian friends and all parties in the region to exercise restraint and caution, and we urge them to prioritise political and diplomatic means in resolving any problems,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
“Right now, we are indeed seeing an unprecedented escalation of tensions in the region. But we still expect that political and diplomatic means and negotiations will continue to prevail in the search for a settlement.” REUTERS
