Lavrov explains Russian support for Iran

Moscow’s primary focus is on upholding international law amid US-Israeli strikes against Tehran, the foreign minister has said

Russia’s support for Iran in the US-Israeli war against Tehran is primarily rooted in a commitment to international law and a desire to stabilize the Middle East, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said.

Lavrov made the remarks in an interview with France Televisions published on Thursday while being pressed on why Moscow stands by Iran after the US and Israel launched strikes on the Islamic Republic in late February, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other top officials.

“Our primary focus was on upholding international law, not so much on defending Iran, which is more than our ally but is our strategic partner,” he said. “I do not think that the French, who have historically declared their commitment to international law, fail to see what is happening.”

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According to Lavrov, Russia cannot agree with US President Donald Trump’s claims that he “doesn't need international law and is guided by his own morality and his own mind.” Every American military intervention over the past 20 years – in Iraq, Syria, and Libya – had made things worse, Lavrov said, adding that “the same is now happening with the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

He also accused the US of diplomatic insincerity, recalling that Washington for the second time in a row launched its attacks “at the height of negotiations” with Tehran.

When US officials boast “with bravado and pride about the cold-blooded killing of Iran’s supreme leader, one can hardly see this as anything other than cynical behavior,” Lavrov added.

He also addressed statements by Arab states saying they are now witnessing two wars – meaning US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran’s retaliation, which has targeted Gulf countries. “I find it difficult to accept this logic, because the underlying cause – the US-Israeli aggression – holds the key to settlement.”

When pressed on reports that Moscow is providing Tehran with intelligence, Lavrov noted that the “media is blowing [the topic] out of proportion.” 

“We have supplied certain types of military equipment to Iran, but we cannot agree with accusations that we are providing Iran with intelligence,” he said, adding that the location of US military bases in the Gulf which have been targeted by Iran is public knowledge.