Russia’s Lavrov warns against any new US strike on Iran

February 18 (Reuters) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview made public on Wednesday that any new U.S. attack on Iran “will have serious consequences” and called for restraint to find a solution that would “enable Iran to pursue a peaceful nuclear program.”

Lavrov’s interview with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Arabiya television was broadcast a day after US and Iranian negotiators held indirect talks in Geneva to prevent a new escalating crisis between Washington and Tehran.

“The results are not good. In Iran, attacks on nuclear sites under the control of the International Atomic Energy Agency have already taken place. ‌As far as we could judge, there were real risks of a nuclear accident,” Lavrov said in an interview published on his ministry’s website. he said.

“I am carefully watching the reactions in the region from Arab countries and Gulf monarchies. Nobody wants tensions to increase. Everyone understands that this is playing with fire.”

He said rising tensions could undo positive steps taken in recent years, including improving relations between Iran and nearby countries, especially Saudi Arabia.

Iran is expected to submit a written proposal on how to resolve its dispute with the United States following talks in Geneva, a senior US official told Reuters on Wednesday.

US national security advisers met at the White House on Wednesday and were told that all US military forces deployed to the region should be ready by mid-March, the official said.

The United States wants Iran to abandon its nuclear program, and Iran has staunchly denied that it is trying to develop atomic weapons.

Lavrov said Arab countries had sent signals to Washington that they “clearly call for moderation and seek an agreement that will not violate Iran’s legal rights and ensure that Iran has a completely peaceful nuclear enrichment program.”

Russia, he said, remained in close, regular contact with Iran’s leaders “and we have no reason to doubt that Iran sincerely wants to resolve this problem on the basis of observing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty”.

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)