On the 16th, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement, sternly condemning the United States and Israel for attacking Iran, causing dire consequences that have affected the entire world, and calling on all parties to immediately cease hostilities, while stating that Russia is prepared to help resolve the current conflict.
The statement pointed out that the U.S. and Israel, in breach of faith, conducted an unprovoked attack on Iran, triggering an unprecedented cycle of violence in the Middle East with no end in sight.
The statement said that the aggressive actions by the U.S. and Israel have led to hundreds and thousands of deaths, and civilian infrastructure has suffered irreparable damage. Iran's counterattacks have also caused losses to neighboring countries, and shipping through the globally important economic artery, the Strait of Hormuz, has come to a standstill, while the once stable and peaceful Gulf region has rapidly fallen into a quagmire of chaos and unrest. The actions by Washington and Tel Aviv are bringing "economic repercussions that are spreading from the conflict zone to the entire world."
The statement noted that what people are witnessing in the Middle East now is not an attempt to de-escalate the situation or seek the resumption of negotiations, but rather increasingly intense actions and attacks that are ever more destructive and damaging.
Russia once again strongly calls on all relevant parties to immediately cease hostilities and return to the path of political and diplomatic resolution. First and foremost, attacks on civilian infrastructure in Gulf Arab states and Iran should stop, in order to avoid civilian casualties. As always, Russia is willing, within its capabilities, to contribute to efforts to resolve the conflict.