Lavrov: U.S. Must Cease Hostilities Against Iran

Tehran - BORNA - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Russia is in close contact with Iran and the Persian Gulf countries to settle the regional crises. Speaking at a press conference in Moscow following a meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Lavrov said: "We are in very close contact with our Iranian colleagues."

He added: "Yesterday, I had a telephone conversation with [Iranian] Foreign Minister Araghchi and, of course, with our friends from the Gulf countries."

Lavrov also remarked that the draft resolution proposed by Bahrain, currently under consideration at the UN Security Council, is unlikely to improve the prospects for resolving the Iranian crisis. "The draft resolution submitted by Bahrain, which has been circulating in the UN Security Council for several days, can be discussed... this is the professional approach of those who are ultimately responsible for the product issued by the Security Council," he noted.

He further added: "But even if we accept this purely expert view, a multitude of problems will arise. Certainly, such a resolution from the Security Council is unlikely to create a prospect for a peaceful settlement."

The Russian Foreign Minister emphasized that the United States must stop its hostilities against Iran and cease rhetoric regarding the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

"President Trump said two days ago that as soon as the war ends, shipping in the Strait of Hormuz will immediately resume as normal," Lavrov emphasized. "This means the issue is not simply asking Iran to do something; rather, the war must be stopped, and then the normal functioning of the Strait will be restored."

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